PSE&G and benefits

[EnlightenedRogue]

I work alongside fellow employees everyday paying the same dues and I don't have the same medical benefits and pension rights at retirement what gives? Shouldn't I atleast be on the reduced dues plan? During our last contract we were told we can't push for more because the members wouldn't be willing to strike. Was it the members or the leadership that was afraid to hit the bricks?

[Jerzzee@PSEG]

What leadership? We have no leadership.

[NJ glove]

Get your training and look elsewhere. I've had many discussions at union meeting and doesn't seem like our leadership cares since it doesn't affect them. The company divided us and they can't see it yet. What happens when benefits 2000(new benefits) out numbers the choice employees (old benefits). It will just hurt them in the future. Thats when the company will go after retiree benefits and we won't stand in the way because they didn't care enough to fight for all employee (present and future). Sounds bad but if they offer us even a little at retirement in exchange for cutting retiree benefits what would u do? I'm in favor of taking this issue head on. The union needs to listen to us and do something. They took away our pension and medical at retirement. Sorry we have that cash balance crap. I did my calculations and when I retire I will get 59000 a yr from that cash balance. sound good right. Except that in 2040 what 5900 a yr worth then. My salary would be 173000 a year. that assuming it goes up 3% a yr. Currently a retiree at our company get a percent of his highest 3 yrs I think. Some guys get 5000 a month or 60000 a yr. Its almost 80% of their base pay. It can't stay like this. Our medical is a different story. We have none at retirement. We work hard and when we need it the most they take it from us. Who's going to take care of us in our Golden years. lol Hopefully at some point we'll stand together and get something done. Most old timers don't seem to want to fight for anything anymore. they just accept it and expect me and everyone else to do the same. Hope we get more people to read these post and give us their input. Looking to go elsewhere I am. :)

[Dave@PSE&G]

I, too, am a Bene****s 2000 victim. The worst part about it for me is I was 34 when I started here, so @65 yrs old, my cash balance will only be valued at around $65,000. Like Roger Daltry sang, "...I hope I die before I get old". I am socking away as much as I can in the 401k, but even if I work until I can get medicare, I'll still need gap insurance for what medicare doesn't cover. That will burn through $$ real quick in 2030!! Unfortunately, unless something changes, I will not be able to retire until 65, which really sucks. New hires were sold out for a raise back in '96. And to think that the "old schoolers" had the nerve to try to convince us youngbloods to shoot down the current contract because it messed with their retirement benefits!! What the hell are retirement benefits? F*** you, now I'll take the raise. Looking back, it's easy to see the devious strategy the company used to divide us. Soon, they will be rid of all pensions (traditional) and retirement benefits, except for the suits in the Ivory Tower in Newark. I'm sure they'll all make out just fine. After the botched Ferland/Rowe Exelon debacle that cost PS over $40 mil, all involved with the decision making should all be stripped of their pensions and retirement benefits. But it's not all bad. PS may be ripping health insurance away from guys who gave 30-40 years to the company, but the Co. will offer benfits to same sex domestic partners. Can someone explain this logic? Where are the priorities in this place?

[NJ glove]

I can go on for ever brother. Look else where con ed still has a nice pension and orange and rockland too. not to bad look into it. and the money is a little more there than it is here. a cheif lineman in orange & rockland I hear make like 40 an hr. not bad.

[shaun]

but the Co. will offer benfits to same sex domestic partners. Can someone explain this logic? Where are the priorities in this place?

Did ya get that fax too? Holy Jesus I thought it was a joke for a minute. GALA or somethin??? They did a great job at fookin us all up. We can't even get along within our own divisions and statewide...forget it. What do we have now, three different plans goin on? Something like that. What we need is somebody to step up, cuz with the merger fooked and the current direction we're headed, it's contractors and wishful thinking. For the time being, it still is better than Shoprite......but not much. Listen, we better man up or it's our own faults.

[NJ glove]

so when r u running for president of our local. I'd vote for anyone but Chip and the rest of those **** heads

[shaun]

That'd be....never. I do know a few people who would be pretty good at it but unfortunately they have nothing to do with generation and it almost seems like that's who runs the show. (with a few exceptions)

[NJ glove]

your an ******* really your just a ***** can't stand for ****. I'm only 21yrs old first off. And I can't wait till I get to vote on your benefits 20 yrs from now. I'll take a 5% raise in exchange for you medical at retirement. You can't see what you guys did will affect you in the long run. Loser

[shaun]

See what I mean. NJTROUBLE, that was pretty poor bro.

[Bull Dog]

Im a retired also and if you think your bendfits are safe your livin in a dream world. The young pup got it right. What goes around comes around. For my brothers out there is one thing i can say and that is its the same all over. The greedy co got there fangs wet and they want more. With willing, spineless, low self esteem non lineman out ther they will get what they want. What is really funny is the attitude of those that say i got mine the HELL WITH YOU. They think if i just cave this time all will be covered for ME. Wake up your day is comming. Who would you give the money to the guy who is still working or someone whos sits on his ass at home costing money. Think about it! The contractors are our brothers too so what if they have work. I dont get your point. In fact you dont make much sense at all. To call your union brothers cry babies give me a break!

[NJ glove]

Bull dog THANKS for the support. That's my point exactly! The guys I work with only think about themselves. I can't understand what's with the mind set here at this company. Unions were started, from my understanding, to keep everyone together and make sure everyone is treated fairly. Not to let the company divide it's workforce. Even when that **** head (njtroubleman) is gone I will still be here fighting to get back what was lost. Not just for me but for those that follow. What if my kids or someone else wants to work here. I'd want him or her to be alright after I'm gone. So, if I end up having my way his retirement would still be there when I retire too. So instead of fighting for pay,cost of living, etc., I have to spend my years at this company starting from scratch. Trying to get what so many before me had. I'm sure the lineman that worked at this company that are no longer with us are turning in there graves. So may of them went on strikes always keeping in mind their brother that were to follow. Just to have it taken away by guys like NJTROUBLEMAN. You're the one that doesn't seem too bright. Look into your craft and see what those before you had to go through just to get fair wages and benefits. You think your safe after retirement? If there's more like you (NJTROUBLEMAN) that follow I feel bad for you at retirement. You won't have a pot to piss in. JUST WATCH! Remember this post when you get it shoved up your ass.

[NJlineman55]

Unfortunatly this seems to be the norm at almost every power company out there with a few exceptions. I talk to many guys that have worked for different power companies all over the country and even Canada and they all say the same ****. Utility companies and this trade are going to ****. These greedy company ****heads just keep taking more and more and we don't have even put up a fight because we are to busy ****ing each other!! This trade has come to the point where there really is no brotherhood anymore and everybody is only worried about themselves. I have said it before and I will say it again, WE ARE OUR WORST ENEMY!!! The big wigs from the utility companies must come on this website and laugh at this ****.

And as far as PSE&G and their benefits go this is becoming a trend for the majority of utility companies out there. 401 k and ****ty or no medical coverage when you retire are the future of working for a utility company. Thats why you are seeing so many people leaving these companies for greener pastures. Why stay there for a bull**** pension and no medical, have no life outside of work cause you are on stand-by your whole life, and after the company uses your body to the point till you can't sleep at night congrats your get no medical coverage!!! At least when you work out of a hall for contractors you get a real annuity and medical coverage when you retire. Cant say the same for PS and believe me when I tell you it is not as bad as you think it is working for a contractor.

NJ glove you are 21 do yourself a favor and use PSE&G school reimbursment for all its worth and get out of this field. You seem smart and you are young so take advantage before you get stuck in this trade like me. It is definitly going down the tubes!!

[Dave@PSE&G]

dont blame us cause you waited till your 34 to start a new career,all ya 2000 guys r nutin but cry babies all ya do is cry about whats owed to ya.do ya think ps will miss ya if ya leave ,doubt it but dont let the rusty gate hit ya in your ass. ****heads
Whoa, who the **** pissed in your Cheerios? I'm not saying anything is owed to me. What I am saying is that I thought being in a union means fair and equitable treatment for all. I don't get a pension like you, but you can get into the company matched 401k. Yeah, nothing unfair there. Well, don't worry about me and the rest of us "2000 cry babies". We have no retirement health insurance now, so we won't be crying like a bunch of *****es when the company finally strips it from the rest of you guys. Now is when I wish that there was a middle finger icon.

[Dave@PSE&G]

Hey glove, now I know why you want to get the hell out of here...

[NJ glove]

Sucks right not ever going to be on the same page> Just work safe and we'll see whats happens in the future I guess

[shaun]

The big wigs from the utility companies must come on this website and laugh at this ****.

[BIGCLAP]!!! My thoughts exactly NJlineman.

[OLE' SORE KNEES]

sorry I'll already be retired you'll never get the chance to vote on my bens. so lets see yur goal is to wait till ya get the chance to vote on benefits for pre 2000 guys what a loser, the contractors will be doin yur job way bfore that time comes did they tell ya that, and ya wont be votin on that either. good luck! looks like yur future isnt to bright and neither r u.


I'd be the first to vote YES to cut your bennies....you are the new union or should I say the old who sell thier brothers out to keep thier jobs and use thier seniority to make others do jobs you can't handle anymore....believe me your time will come ,seen it happpen before, make your enemies now it'll come to haunt you later

[shaun]

TROLL alert. I can't imagine anybody so unfortunate to talk like this. He's fishing right now. Don't even give this guy the gratitude of a reply. I just did and he's BS!! NJTRUOBLEMAN, your'e an a$$.

[OLE' SORE KNEES]

Just look around and research alittle, your "golden parachute" is not protected !!! I've looked at various companies and things do change every contract,not only for active employees but for retirees as well, you"re living in a bubble, your own me-me bubble at that,just keep shoving your work to the junior man because you can't handle it no more, what a sad day in unions with members like you for brotherhood ! Boy you're soo easy, njthinskin.............LOL

[Dave@PSE&G]

you dumb ****ing *******, you dont work here so shut the **** up! whenever the contract is up it doesnt involve retired people thats for the company do determine. contracts only involve the here and now, it doesnt involve retired people. As I stated previously you wont determine my future I'll be gone before this contract ends. as for your future Its not my fault so stop blaming it on the people in the old system and how your gonna get even, read the papers companies are abandoning the pensions in favor of cash balance everywhere as far as medical its only gonna get worse. I've been hearin this **** for so long you guys only talk about leavin but dont cause you really might have to work.and dont tell us how hard you really work cause we're laughin we know the truth. yea the grass is always greener on the other side well lets see if you have the balls.
You are an unbelievable *******. I doubt very much that you'll be missed. Your steward must love having you around. Probably keep him plenty busy.

[NJ glove]

NJTROUBLEMAN U R SO WRONG AS YOUR STEWART in the last contract they had some stuff change for retired employee's. Why don't u go up and grab a and b phase and do yourself a favor. lol your a jerk. Jusk kidding about the phase to phase thing. I wouldn't want anyone to ever get hurt doing this job. Even an ******* like you. Have a nice retirement. And as far as work goes. Why don't you leave the trouble dept and come back overhead. Bet you can't even keep up.

[shaun]

Why don't you leave the trouble dept and come back overhead. Bet you can't even keep up.

Woah, lets not get to carried away. Having bounced back and forth thru overhead and trouble dept for the last 8 months, they do work. It sucks on a rainday to know the overhead is hangin out an I'm soaked........but that's a different story. He's a boob. period. We have young guys, dodgin the force to the trouble dept, who in my opinion are as bad as this guy. You've brought up great points, all correct as far as I'm concerned, but the trouble dept works their arses off. (Well some do anyways. This guy is probably one of those RFO fellas. At least that's my take.) Good to see you care tho Glove! Way to go and wish more felt the way you do.

[shaun]

you dumb ****in asses I"m not a tshooter,I'm chief lineman you stupid **** you think I'm easy, been at for 30 yrs you *******s. your all new and easy to piss off here and on the job by the time you figure whats goin on the jobs done, u r the reason this place went to ****, you *******s would have puked when we climbed everyday, your all talk here but on the job all u say is what should I do now. Big loud mouth ****s!

OK then retire and stop suckin up payroll *******. Your name says troubleman. Ah f*ck, this'll be my last reply to you jerkoff. I fell for it and...fish on. I'll have tro check the IP address and see who's who. Gotta love computers...jerky!

[KingRat]

OK then retire and stop suckin up payroll *******. Your name says troubleman. Ah f*ck, this'll be my last reply to you jerkoff. I fell for it and...fish on. I'll have tro check the IP address and see who's who. Gotta love computers...jerky!
wow, you guys are brutal- have not been on lately, just checked in and saw this, and you guys are brothers? hey loodvig you retired? congratulations, no kidding.

[shaun]

wow, you guys are brutal- have not been on lately, just checked in and saw this, and you guys are brothers? hey loodvig you retired? congratulations, no kidding.

Pathetic isn't it. I blew up and should have kept my cool. I couldn't believe somebody would talk like that.