Supervisors/ Bargining Agreement

[old horseman]

Friday at our Local meeting we were told of a new law that passed and is being appealed. The law simple states supervisors cannot be covered by a Bargaining Agreement. The law is very broad and ambiguous. Does this mean that a crew leader has no representation? what about a General Foreman. Does a JL training an Apprentice have representation? Has anybody else heard this? if so how do we fight the legislation. Sounds to me like the Federal Government is trying to bust unions.

P.S. I also learned that the Enron fiasco is going to affect the way our pension money is invested and we may endup being paid by a lower multiplier when we retire. Just some food for thought.

[Trampbag]

Is this law in a certain state or is it Federal? USA or some other country?

You’re kinda vague.

[Orgnizdlbr]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0610040171oct04,1,395200.story?coll=chi-business-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

[Orgnizdlbr]

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061007/EDIT/610070304/1003

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-05-2006/0004446384&EDATE=

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/10/06/18318648.php

[Trampbag]

George W. Bush is the sneakiest President since Trick ****y, or so it seems. He does everything insidiously and surreptitiously.

At the end of his term will Americans have any freedoms left?

[wormy]

I read about this in the newspaper yesterday. Bush has pushed this through while everyone is focused on other stuff. It is union busting. Lets all work for 7$an hour

[wormy]

It is no coincidence that under GOP rule Republicans control all branches of government, including the executive and legislative branches and the Supreme Court), wages have gone stagnant, jobs are going overseas, traditional pensions are nearly gone, employer-paid health insurance is disappearing, the minimum wage is not a living wage and workers have fewer options in disputes with management.

This is from one of your links. Thank a republican if you can find one. They are keeping a low profile right now.

[Trampbag]

It’s amazing how low your profile gets when you have been supporting a child molester unknowingly.

All politicians aren’t hypocrites but it sure seems a lot are. On both sides of the house.

[Orgnizdlbr]

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/10/10/bushs_war_on_unions.php

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/opinion/15720688.htm

http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061010/APC03/610100607/1888/APCbusiness

[Trampbag]

I harp on the need to be vigilant about laws that are snuck in by politicians that drastically affect our lives, both working and private, and it doesn’t seem to matter which side of the fence they come from. It is just the sort that has been brought to our attention here. Thanks Horseman.

Fortunately many of these laws are so convoluted they cannot hold up in court and I suspect this will be another such law. Geo. W hasn’t been too successful in having a lot of his stand the test but there are plenty that will.

[Orgnizdlbr]

I harp on the need to be vigilant about laws that are snuck in by politicians that drastically affect our lives, both working and private, and it doesn’t seem to matter which side of the fence they come from. It is just the sort that has been brought to our attention here. Thanks Horseman.

Fortunately many of these laws are so convoluted they cannot hold up in court and I suspect this will be another such law. Geo. W hasn’t been too successful in having a lot of his stand the test but there are plenty that will.

Sad thing here Tramp is the NLRB's ruling is in response to NLRB v. Kentucky River a case heard in Federal Court....meaning the court has ruled!

[Trampbag]

What exactly is the ruling saying?? Media reports are always suspect to me, they have an agenda of their own.

What some media are reporting is that the NLRB has ruled but there is an appeal process available. Also this ruling appears to apply to “professionals” which, of course, nurses fall under that category. Our trade definitely is not defined as “professional”.

There in lies the convoluted part. It can be a “double edged sword”.

We should seek an opinion out of the IBEW IO on this ruling.

[old horseman]

Sorry I have'nt checked in lately been supervising some apes. This is just one more example of politicians thinking we rurbs from the country or the city are just dumb! They think all we are concerned about are the box scores on the sports page. Like trmpbag said its, on both sides of the house!! I say lets clean house!!! Mike Savage tells it best "REPULICRATES & DEMOCINES. Why can't the IBEW run some old line dogs who know what the American working men wants and needs and who'll represent us in Washington? Its time we the silent majority take OUR house back. Any takers???

[old horseman]

[QUOTE=old horseman]Sorry I have'nt checked in lately been supervising some apes. This is just one more example of politicians thinking we rurbs from the country or the city are just dumb! They think all we are concerned about are the box scores on the sports page. Like trmpbag said its, on both sides of the house!! I say lets clean house!!! Mike Savage tells it best "REPULICRATES & DEMOCINES. Why can't the IBEW run some old line dogs who know what the American working men wants and needs and who'll represent us in Washington? Its time we the silent majority take OUR house back. Any takers???[/lead follow or get the hell out of the wayQUOTE]

[Orgnizdlbr]

What exactly is the ruling saying?? Media reports are always suspect to me, they have an agenda of their own.

What some media are reporting is that the NLRB has ruled but there is an appeal process available. Also this ruling appears to apply to “professionals” which, of course, nurses fall under that category. Our trade definitely is not defined as “professional”.

There in lies the convoluted part. It can be a “double edged sword”.

We should seek an opinion out of the IBEW IO on this ruling.

Heres what the Supreme Court said in 2001, a typical Scalia opinion I might add...

http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99-1815.ZO.html

[edski104]

this is what the bush admin. has been waiting for and working towards.why did they set up the dept. of homeland sec. not to help out,but to drop 650,000 union members off their ranks. this is just another step in the plan by the corporations to undermine the workforce and make everyone work for less and like it.look around, the entire southern half of the country,with a few exeptions,hates the thought of being in a union, even tho we're in the UNITED States.why? great advertizing! plus having their asses kicked by the union doesn't help. sooner or later the powers that be will come after us as supervisers for overseeing apps. i'll walk.give up my ticket because of a padded bench of the nlrb,bull****. watch what happens.it is too bad sometimes that the IO doesn't talk to the members more. it would help to have the right point of view.stay safe. :mad:

[Orgnizdlbr]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061011/OPINION01/610110322/1008

[Trampbag]

Someday it may become clear to the majority of workers that our rights are being stripped continually and that since Ronnie fired the opening salvo in the war against workers by firing the aircraft controllers in 1981, and getting away with it. Our buying power, the amount one can buy with an hours pay, has eroded making workers having to put in more hours to just keep their standard of living.

Unions have less and less power and are frustrated.

Where will it end? God knows.

What I know:

There is more and more homeless.

The middleclass is shrinking while the number of children going to bed hungry is increasing in the USA and Canada.

More children are left to fend for themselves because both parents have to work just to make ends meet.

Medical benefits are disappearing. How does a country prosper when the health of its citizens depreciates?

Education standards are sliding and the high school dropout rate is increasing. Serious crime in schools is on the increase.

Serious and fatal accidents in the workplace seem to be increasing.

Etc.

[GFwife]

unless you really read those articles you do not know:

1) this is not a law, like a one in the Senate sense anyhow.
It's a Labor Board law. A panel of 5...and yes, three are Bush guys. These are the same folks that make that poster that hangs by the time clock. Wanta work? gotta follow that piece of paper.
They are the NLRB, tried to union bust for years and now finally have.
Specifically, they changed the definition of the word "supervisor" Now, anyone and I mean anyone that gives another a single directive or a task to do for the day, is a supervisor. The supervisor is not entitled to any union benefit.
The IO is trying to determine the best way to handle this.
Just think...all Superintendents, all GFs, all Foremen and yes, even a journeyman, got an apprentice or a grunt? a mechanic, a freakin' flagman?
All chiefs with no braves.
2) contractors will not be bound by the agreements to pay
benefits and the hall will not either.

The effect will be huge, you may be classified as an independent contractor and that means big, big tax implications. Pay your SS and medtax in quarterlies.

and about the pension fund? oh yeah that is ugly too.
Your promised benefit, your "projected" benefit will be calculated on the actuary. The "real" money that is held, right now, right this minute. You don't even want to know about that. Especially if the stock market dips.
If the union is busted, they will have to pay out the pension funds. Yeah you want THAT money now? smaller amount than you expect? now, when you can pay off your house? taxed at a higher rate and that pesky 10% penalty
no retirement money.

I am a tax preparer and we already learned this lesson long ago. My guy worked for the same contractor for 23 yrs. was northern superintendent. Good pay, and good incentives.
They took bankruptcy and his pension got paid out on the actuary. A penny on the dollar.

[Bull Dog]

Sounds like you know your stuff! Lots of ideas on here and few facts. Thanks a bunch.