Pike Gives Christmas Gift Today 3% CUT

[hookit01]

We had our weekly safety meeting today and we got a 3% pay cut !! Company wide for distribution and high line. Merry Christmas!!!!!!! What's next ? Any feedback

[topgroove]

why anyone would work for that rat scab outfit is beyond me.

[electric squirrel]

You got a pay cut so they can keep buying ad space at them Pro Bull Rider events!!!!!:p E.S.

[Pootnaigle]

And this sums up Swamps outlook ............ just be glad to have a job. Dont matter that Pike has already made a fortune on YOUR labor and YOUR Knowledge. Its Inconceivable that someone could have that attitude. Has your rent went down? the price of a gallon of milk?maybe a doctors visit?The price of fuel? They had to give an inderlaying reason for a wage cut, wonderwhat that was?
Dont really matter Pike is non union and you dont have any voice in it. Its an edict plain and simple. I bettcha if his social security got cut he would be standing on his soapbox screaming at the top of his lungs. Maybe your kids will be willing to forego christmas so Pike can continue to earn a profit.

[Edge]

Whats next???

maybe another kid hangin from the crossarm for Easter...

Edge

[topgroove]

That's... fu$ked up man...I mean...Really.:(

what's so fu$ked up with that. pike has one of the worst safety records out there. you can be hired fresh out of school and find yourself pushing a crew in less than three years. I don't feel too sorry for your 3% pay cut. you'll make that up ten fold when you scab for mid american next month.

[blik]

Just keep cuttin got some calls already. The good ones will find there way over to the light.

[Pootnaigle]

That's right poot. :cool:

Take a cut in pay...To KEEP your job.:cool:
WHAT a concept, huh?

Not like Union....that would rather...just "sign the book".....and collect..."benifits".

Fu$k You Poot...Most "Respectfully".:D

How the heck can you respect me when you have no respect for yourself?
And would allow some pencil pushin geek to cut your pay to save his without even puttin up a fight?Oh thats right a fight would automatically insure that you became unemployed and stayed that way as far as Pike was concerned. Oh and by the way I have never ever drawn one damn dime from unemployment and I am approaching 63... But even at that ripe old age I would still have the right to voice my opinion collectivley and raise hell, something Pike hands cant do without fear of reprisals.

[west coast hand]

Wow why anyone would work there i don't know

[topgroove]

these poor bastards don't have a chance. There fresh young recruits that learn crapy work practices from git r done type foreman who've adapted to pikes work methods. In todays economy where else can a young man make $20 bucks an hour to start. These kids think they've won the lottery.

[halfhitch]

[QUOTE=topgroove;73229]these poor bastards don't have a chance. There fresh young recruits that learn crapy work practices from git r done type foreman who've adapted to pikes work methods.QUOTE]

I couldn't have said it better!!

[climbsomemore]

UE Benefits are insurance...not welfare. Employers pay into the system and pay a penalty when they reduce forces. Layoffs are a fact of life for those of us who sign the books... and being able to "layoff" when a contract wraps up helps out contractors bid jobs a profit... and pay into pension funds, training, etc.
Going from 60 hours a week to $300 a week for unemployment is the only thing a Union hand gets... and that UE figure is less than that in some states. So much for your mis-information about "signing the books"... it's never "paid" for a union hand to sit home.


That 3% cut probably paid the fines and lawsuits if the truth was known.

I feel a lot better knowing that the wire that fell in OKC was "fixed" by a crew of guys to stupid to take in the rear without a reach around.

[IBEW?]

what's so fu$ked up with that. pike has one of the worst safety records out there. you can be hired fresh out of school and find yourself pushing a crew in less than three years. I don't feel too sorry for your 3% pay cut. you'll make that up ten fold when you scab for mid american next month.

you saying that really does prove what you think of your fellow lineman-not union then who cares - well we do, thank God that there seems to be more people who do care than those like you who don't
also why should those lineman care if they do happen to go work while the union figures out what is going on. if you are going to slander these men then you shouldn't be to suprised if they do not care about a walkout.

although i do agree that a 3% cut does beat no job;


be careful and work safe

[IBEW?]

UE Benefits are insurance...not welfare. Employers pay into the system and pay a penalty when they reduce forces. Layoffs are a fact of life for those of us who sign the books... and being able to "layoff" when a contract wraps up helps out contractors bid jobs a profit... and pay into pension funds, training, etc.
Going from 60 hours a week to $300 a week for unemployment is the only thing a Union hand gets... and that UE figure is less than that in some states. So much for your mis-information about "signing the books"... it's never "paid" for a union hand to sit home.


That 3% cut probably paid the fines and lawsuits if the truth was known.

I feel a lot better knowing that the wire that fell in OKC was "fixed" by a crew of guys to stupid to take in the rear without a reach around.

what can you tell me about that wire in OKC? thanks

[climbsomemore]

I can only tell you for a fact what the news says... that somehow the wire ended up in the Broadway Extension (US77) and tore up a tractor trailer and crashed 5 cars if I remember right.

From observation... that section crosses a wide swale, median, and 4 lanes at a diagonal.... from some very tall mono poles.

I have to think they had brakes fail on a wire cart or something and just couldnt stop the pull before the wire got low.

I never saw any guard structures go up.. and from the news I observed a high ranger parked to catch low wire on the boom (aka using a bucket as a guard structure)

Waiting to see the "official" report myself.

Note to Swampster... you are a sidesteppin son of a gun. I am still waiting for you to describe the "perks" union hands get from being out of work..you brought it up pal... back it up.

[climbsomemore]

read this slow... Unemployment money is paid in by the employer. NOT ONE NICKLE of tax money goes into unemployment. It isnt charity or welfare.

Health Insurance... most IBEW outside locals work with LINECO. The premium is paid totally by the contractors we work for (nice to have a contract, isnt it)

The rates are based on the hours you work... if you have been employed and turning in hours for a couple of years you could have a few months of premiums banked up as credit to your favor.

So your not a sidstepper... you just rant about stuff you dont really know about. That's what I thought.

[oldtimer]

Well, I gotta say that ole pike sure ain;t what it used to be in any kind of way at all, having been working there when Floyd Pike was running it. It has done a 360 in the last 10 years. It just pisses me off good to see what its become nowdays. I am a g/f and have been for years and I am amazed at what goes on in some places, I hate to agree with some of ya;lls stuff thats said on here, but I have to. A rookie has no damn business even being on a pole, much less in the primary zone or in a bucket period. they need to watch and learn and slowly work their way up, even if they went to so called lineman school. sure they learn to climb , but you gotta know what to do when you up there too. Hell a monkey can climb but I ain;t seen one as a lineman yet. In my thinking it ought to take a man at least 5 years to be able to work on primary at all. i do hate to see Eric getting blamed for all that happens. He has made some good rules ( except that damn rubber glove 24/7 shit) But the foremens have got to see that the workers obey them instead of riding off in the truck looking at bullshit or something. If a young hotshot wants to climb , let them but somebody needs to be with them and just smack the shit out of them if they even think of doing something stupid. thats the way i was brought along and it worked so far anyway. And yep that 3% pisses me off too, but i like my job and will keep it, Times are hard for everybody and i am grateful to have a job at all. Everybody needs a job in this ****ed up economy.:confused::confused:

[topgroove]

thank God Pike still has expierenced Foremen like you. I'm getting the feeling its pockets of unsafe crews spread out over 19 states. Do you think the Red Simpson aquisition had something to do with this? That was about ten years ago and things started going to $hit after that. If you had the power to change their safety practices where would you start?

[oldtimer]

Well, one of the first things i;d do is when a lineman is hired he;d have to prove he is a lineman to me and several others that i would pick. Next if a new man was hired he;d start at the bottom of the food chain and learn it like that, no matter if he says he has done it before. then i;d have a different kind of saftey dept then whats there now. Sending out papers don;t mean chit.I;d have some roaming saftey instructors go to crews, work with them and have the power to do whatever it took to get everyone on the same page throughout the company. Pike has some really fine people working, some just need guidence, they also have some that need running off period. I think everyone wants this work to be idiot proof and that would be nice, but it ain;t that way and won;t be. As far as these younguns go. I just find it hard to believe they were made to do some of the things that has gotten them hurt and killed, some are just too gung ho for their own good. If i was told to do something that i thought was too dangerous I;d just go home before I;d do it, that choice has always been there and always will be. In my opinion since the red simpson thing and pike becoming a public company, it ain;t been good.I know Eric wants things to be good and make some money also cause thats the whole purpose of being in business. Well i could go on for hours but i don;t type that well (as you may have seen).

[oldtimer]

Well I knew I;d forget to say something thats important, We do have the rules in place to be safe, they just got to be followed period

[topgroove]

Thanks old timer.... What do you think of the Red Simpson aquisition ten years back? My thinking is it poisoned the well.

[oldtimer]

Well, I may get in trouble before this is over , but I really don;t give a damn . I kinda think that was the begining of what has followed, that and going public i forget what came first.I guess it might be called getting too big for your britches. We used to have what I thought was one of the best companys anywhere, but now we are just a company.I still think that Eric means well but now all the higher ups are nothing but bean counters mostly and thats all they care about. But I still like my job and the men who work their asses off, and there is no I;ll leave unless I get ran off, the bottom line is what I was told many years ago by an old lineman, He said son, always watch your tail both of them and you will be ok.

[tramp67]

Well...
to the best of my knowledge, when ya "sign the books", and are waitin for the "Next job"...collectin your $300 bucks a week...you're still gettin your union "Healthcare benifits"...as long as ya keep payin your monthly "input" into it.

I don't "sidestep" shit man. Is that $300 bucks a week "Unemployment"...from the Govt?? IE...American Taxpayers?

Honestly...don't know what "Other" benifits you get for bein OUT of a Job...from your Union. How bout tellin me.

I just always looked at...
Bein a "Contractor"....ya Know what you're gettin into. "Have Tools, will Travel"...so to speak.

Jobs like that... have a "duration" factor. When you're a "Contractor". Goes with...bein a "Contractor". Union or Not.

Along with the health insurance benefits, Swamp, we also have a pension that stays with us, regardless of which contractor or which Union Local we are working out of. Something that has been established way back in the beginning of the IBEW. Unlike working for Pike, or Braun, or some other non union contractor, where you lose everything if you quit or get fired or "downsized". Whatever we earn, we get to keep, no worries about the 3% Christmas pay cuts or our pensions being eliminated or reduced because another one of the Cayman Islands came up for sale.

[Joe Guy]

Yeah....Just heard about that today.

AND....They ALL.... STILL got Jobs....in this miserable Fu$king economy. 3% cut...., and still keepin everybody EMPLOYED.... and gettin a CHECK, I think says alot.

Yes. "Merry Christmas". Ya still got a god damn Job. Ya don't like it? Go "sign the books".:rolleyes:

I sense a bit of hostility there. I do feel for you. Doesn't make sense how they can do that, poor economy or not. I mean you guys have been there for a while, you should have some say in it. Not to sure how things work without a union. I feel for you man, nothing sucks more than not getting what you rightly deserve. I dont understand why this one guy is so hostile. Anyway play safe, sorry to hear about your pay cut, that blows

[west coast hand]

Well, I may get in trouble before this is over , but I really don;t give a damn . I kinda think that was the begining of what has followed, that and going public i forget what came first.I guess it might be called getting too big for your britches. We used to have what I thought was one of the best companys anywhere, but now we are just a company.I still think that Eric means well but now all the higher ups are nothing but bean counters mostly and thats all they care about. But I still like my job and the men who work their asses off, and there is no I;ll leave unless I get ran off, the bottom line is what I was told many years ago by an old lineman, He said son, always watch your tail both of them and you will be ok.

What he should have said tuck that tail between your legs and cross that picket line??? You rats are something else they kill so many guys and some of you stick up for them they pay you pennys on the dollar and all you can say is they used to be a good company what a joke it sad to say but I bet I made what 3 or 4 pike lineman made last year togather but he'll ya like you said your a slave to the big yellow machine???

[Hurricane Harry]

You just need to read around a bit more young man.

I ain't hostile. I'm just an opinionated "retired", non union asshole.:D

By your age....you were 14 when I first joined this board.

My join date may say "02" but that is only when Byron upgraded to this software format.

This board was around 2 years before that....And....there's been Alot of things that have transpired over those 12 years in conversations on here. Ya might not want to form opinions on people so fast. Or, maby ya do.:D

Your just an grouchy old POS, who thinks because he's old, he should be respected.
You have no other way to earn respect, because you don't work anymore, and that was supposidly your one talent in life, because it for sure wasn't people skills.
The only reason you remain on this forum, is because you have free reign.
There is no one to keep you in check, so you just sit all day like a troll and harass people who have legitimate questions.
Think I'll structure my retirement a little different.

[oldtimer]

Well, I wondered how long it;d be before that shit started. Yep I have crossed the line and will do it again if need be, not a problem for me. I can;t help but wonder why if somebody makes all that money they;d be worried about what a damn rat like me would be doing. I don;t begrudge what ya;ll union boys make, not a bit. It just amazes me that folks making all that money and with all the beanies ya;ll have, why would you strike anyway. But that is ya;lls business not mine. And i guess you are right i;ve been a slave to ole yellow for 35 yrs. They have been good to me and yeah i;ll take up for them. I am also amazed that folks want to call us ugly names like rats, puke killers etc, we don;t do that to ya;ll and ya;ll ain;t no better than we are, just men period

[tolex42]

Well, I wondered how long it;d be before that shit started. Yep I have crossed the line and will do it again if need be, not a problem for me. I can;t help but wonder why if somebody makes all that money they;d be worried about what a damn rat like me would be doing. I don;t begrudge what ya;ll union boys make, not a bit. It just amazes me that folks making all that money and with all the beanies ya;ll have, why would you strike anyway. But that is ya;lls business not mine. And i guess you are right i;ve been a slave to ole yellow for 35 yrs. They have been good to me and yeah i;ll take up for them. I am also amazed that folks want to call us ugly names like rats, puke killers etc, we don;t do that to ya;ll and ya;ll ain;t no better than we are, just men period

I don't call non-union linemen names, except when they cross a picket line. Then they are SCABS who are stealing another man's job. That's as low as you can go.

[MI-Lineman]

Well, I wondered how long it;d be before that shit started. Yep I have crossed the line and will do it again if need be, not a problem for me. I can;t help but wonder why if somebody makes all that money they;d be worried about what a damn rat like me would be doing. I don;t begrudge what ya;ll union boys make, not a bit. It just amazes me that folks making all that money and with all the beanies ya;ll have, why would you strike anyway. But that is ya;lls business not mine. And i guess you are right i;ve been a slave to ole yellow for 35 yrs. They have been good to me and yeah i;ll take up for them. I am also amazed that folks want to call us ugly names like rats, puke killers etc, we don;t do that to ya;ll and ya;ll ain;t no better than we are, just men period

We wouldn't make " all that money and beanies(?)' if ya kept crossin the line! Yep you're right...."It's our business" and you're f$ckin with it everytime ya cross!:mad:

Ya can't spell but you're good at askin and answerin your own questions?:rolleyes:

[topgroove]

Hey MI... when Oldtimer finally dies how bout we drink a few beers and piss on his grave? Ya with me:)

[LINEHAND]

Hey MI... when Oldtimer finally dies how bout we drink a few beers and piss on his grave? Ya with me:)

Ill buy the beer!!!

As dumb as SR is he does have my respect with the fact that he has principles

[topgroove]

Ill buy the beer!!!

As dumb as SR is he does have my respect with the fact that he has principlesdeal... I drink heineken. Hey oldtimer:rolleyes: , How ya feeling man? any health issues.Would ya mind dying in the summer. I'm hung pretty good but I don't want these guys seeing my pecker while I piss in cold weather;)

[MI-Lineman]

What if I don't have to pee?

Number two then?:D

[oldtimer]

Why Mr topgroove, i sure would not want you to be embarrassed so i;ll croak when its 95 in the shade, just for you.But i really hope that is a ways off yet.I am still in pretty good shape, so you go ahead and start drinking just in case, you never know about that stuff.

[oldtimer]

Mr Linehand, Its good of you to buy all that beer, just keep drinking til you gotta piss. And by the way, don;t splurge on that high priced beer for topgroove, get the cheap stuff it;ll all make you piss lol

[oldtimer]

As far as swamprat goes, I;d say he has earned respect, he made it to retire and says a lot, he has probably worked his ass off to get there, he has my respect anyway, for whats thats worth.

[MI-Lineman]

As far as swamprat goes, I;d say he has earned respect, he made it to retire and says a lot, he has probably worked his ass off to get there, he has my respect anyway, for whats thats worth.

Well if your done blowin Swamp here's a little lesson on respect!

Mr. Swamps a self proclaimed rat, worked nonunion tried union and didn't like it but HE NEVER CROSSED A PICKET LINE OUTTA RESPECT!! HIS WORDS!!:cool:

[oldtimer]

Well, I got to come clean about one thing here, I have not ever really crossed a picket line myself. In fact i;ve never even seen one except on tv. I did spout off that I had crossed one and would again. I really don;t know what I;d do if that ever came up. I guess it would depend on how bad i needed money at the time. I just said that stuff because I got a little pissed at some of the remarks that were made. I guess having a union card means you got to be a wise ass too. i am thinking that some folks need to lighten up a little damnnnnnnn

[LINEHAND]

If that be the case its B.Y.O.B. boys!:D:p;)

[wudwoker51]

I don't like to hear of anyone taking a wage reduction because of the harm it does to their families. Have you men that have chosen to work non-union ever considered sending a group of your most experienced or respected hands to bargain for the group? If you stick together they can't fire all of you. United you bargain divided you beg! If the company is losing $ that's different, but I doubt if Pike fits that bill just not making as much. The current economic situation makes for tough bargaining and we (union hands) are not seeing the wage increases we are accustomed to, but I have not heard of any reductions maybe some short term freezes. To cut wages right before X-mas should speak volumes about how much respect Pike has for their workers and how much they care about their families. Men should be willing to give up personal achievement for the achievement of the group. That is the American Way!

[topgroove]

Well, I got to come clean about one thing here, I have not ever really crossed a picket line myself. In fact i;ve never even seen one except on tv. I did spout off that I had crossed one and would again. I really don;t know what I;d do if that ever came up. I guess it would depend on how bad i needed money at the time. I just said that stuff because I got a little pissed at some of the remarks that were made. I guess having a union card means you got to be a wise ass too. i am thinking that some folks need to lighten up a little damnnnnnnnWell.. I guess we now know your a rat scab and a lier:(

[electriklady]

Well, I got to come clean about one thing here, I have not ever really crossed a picket line myself. In fact i;ve never even seen one except on tv. I did spout off that I had crossed one and would again. I really don;t know what I;d do if that ever came up. I guess it would depend on how bad i needed money at the time. I just said that stuff because I got a little pissed at some of the remarks that were made. I guess having a union card means you got to be a wise ass too. i am thinking that some folks need to lighten up a little damnnnnnnn

Oldtimer,
(pardon my intrusion again:rolleyes:) This is just my humble opinion but...here goes
I think there are a couple kinds of people who become union members...
1. A man or woman who purposely goes out and seeks a union job, most likely that is what they grew up with(like my dad was a Teamster) so they know what unionism is and truly believe in it upon entering the work force.
2. A young person applies for a job they want and it happens to be a closed shop. Dont know $hit about unions, but they want the job so ie *poof* they are a union member
now..of these two young people entering the world of "organized labor" the second person(who just wanted the job which happened to be union) he will evolve. He will either decide he doesnt want to be part of a union and leave and work non-union(more power to him) or he will work for the good of his union and his coworkers(not just himself) and support the organization that ensures his fair treatment in the workplace, or he will stay union, sittin on the bench, pi$$in and moaning about everything that is going on and blame it on his union, they sold us out, etc, but loving the pay and bennies he is gettin....
When someone says to a person who truly believes in organized labor and works hard to promote it," I have crossed a picket line and would do it again", you have to understand how offensive that is to such a person. I dont belittle anyone who is non-union, that is your choice, but when someone like that makes a choice to "fu$k with my choice" we tend to get pi$$ed off. We are exercising a right given to us by law, and a scab is infringing on that right by saying "hell ya, I'll do their job, even though they are on strike, even though it undermines their cause, because my only concern in life is me and mine." Truly offensive sir. And I have seen it in real life, undermining a cause I believe in, not just on tv.

I work hard to promote the good of unionism, to expose the blatant anti-union propoganda, to conduct myself in a way that is appropriate as a member of a union, to educate young people on what real "brotherhood" is, but bottom line union member or not, we are all still human, so emotions will run high when someone is "belittling" something we truly believe in, thus the comments that pi$$ you off.

Bottom line is this.....I would not interfere with anyone else's job, even if I had to work 2 or 3 minimum wage jobs flippin burgers to survive. That is just not an option for me. But your company sure had no problem crossin our picket line this summer. I wonder.....were they starving? or like Chain and Mastec who crossed with big freakin smiles on their faces everytime they drove thru our line, was it just funny to them? Just some food for thought!

[oldtimer]

Thank you Electrik lady, That was a good explaination about that stuff, I had never realized how serious ya;ll take it and I do see your point.But it does get old reading about how sorry the rats are. Rats are just people trying to make a living too. I would prob be a good union man had i ever got in one, but its a little late in the game for me. I doubt that pike will ever be unionized.

[oldtimer]

Well, i am not going to keep trying to write in here because its a waste of time i guess, all it does is let smartasses like topgroove talk big. also mi lineman, i don;t blow. Sooooooooooo topgroove i say to you a hardy f#%k you.

[electriklady]

Oldtimer, you are right, pike will never be unionized as long as pike employees don't want more than what they have. Let me ask you, when pike gave you a 3% pay cut at CHRISTMAS(of all times) did management take a cut in pay? Did you guys have any representation in that decision?
I am sure pike is not losing money, they are just not making as big profits as before the economy went down the tubes. I am sure pike is expecting you to do the same amount of work for 3% less pay. It sounds like a company whose only concern is themselves and that feels employees are a liability. Don't get me wrong....they are among many other companies with that employee attitude. Aren't we all getting sick of it, all getting sick of the threats, the disrespect, the take aways, the "do it my way, or the highway" mentality, companies that put ruthless people in positions of power that only have THEIR best interest at heart. The corporate culture that fosters fear in a new employee, that if he is not 100% gung ho for the company, he will lose his job, thus many times putting his life in jeopardy(for we do work in a dangerous industry) You at pike have no recourse, pike can fire you for looking at a manager wrong. I am sick of hearing that America was built on capitalism, America was built by working men and women, our labor and sweat does the work. What would a company like fe or pike for that matter be without employees to do the dirty work? nothing!

i would love to see pike unionize, up your safety, up your $ and bennies(although I dont know what you get now), stop taking away, and most of all be taken down a notch or two by you having a collective voice to speak up in defense of you and your rights at work.....but as I said......it is a fight, and if your people are happy with the way things are, that is you all's choice. "You can lead a horse to water, but......ya an't make him drink" my pops used to say

[topgroove]

Well, i am not going to keep trying to write in here because its a waste of time i guess, all it does is let smartasses like topgroove talk big. also mi lineman, i don;t blow. Sooooooooooo topgroove i say to you a hardy f#%k you.wow I sence a little hostility here.:confused:

After all I've done for you:confused: look I've even picked out your burial plot:D

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:yxfOS7VuEaGgkM%3Ahttp://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2009/06/25/toilet-graveyard_vSucZ_6648.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2009/06/25/toilet-graveyard_vSucZ_6648.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ready2beat.com/entertainment/amazing/toilet-graveyard-%25E2%2580%2593-latest-form-funeral-art&usg=__Nha1cBlhdFmbp7jMmg6lNiaKrXc=&h=371&w=549&sz=63&hl=en&start=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=yxfOS7VuEaGgkM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtoilet%2Bgraveyard%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D 1R2DKUS_enUS334%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1)

[MI-Lineman]

Thank you.

I appreciate ya quoting me correctly.:cool:

And....I'm proud of everything you quoted, AND what I am. I just don't understand your problem with that.....:confused:

A man can't or shouldn't.... be like what I am?.... in your opinion?

Uh? What problem with what?:confused: You can be a ra...I mean non-union hand or a Republican or what ever ya want? I thought I've said in the past it takes more than one side to make things work or it'll always end up one sided eventually and not usually in the little guys (and gals) favor!

Crossin picket lines is what I don't agree with!

[MI-Lineman]

Well, i am not going to keep trying to write in here because its a waste of time i guess, all it does is let smartasses like topgroove talk big. also mi lineman, i don;t blow. Sooooooooooo topgroove i say to you a hardy f#%k you.

Thick skin bro, Thick skin! Somethin the Unions have taught me!

Also not to make sh!t up to start a fight or MAKE IT UP TO GET OUT!

Hope you're being honest this time but you should understand why I personally will doubt you every time for now on!

[heelwinch]

Well.. I guess we now know your a rat scab and a lier:(

You know in all my years of linework and dealing with other lineman, between you and John Bellamy, I don't think I've ever met any two men I had less respect for then you two.

You have done just as much lying on this forum as anyone, and yet most, rather than call you out tend to just let it ride to try and save face.

Most times men like you who feel the need to make others feel less superior, tend to have low self esteem. Not to mention trouble handling there own job.

You are nothing more than a lamplighter with a JL ticket, and would bet you are not too handy at that.

[MI-Lineman]

You know in all my years of linework and dealing with other lineman, between you and John Bellamy, I don't think I've ever met any two men I had less respect for then you two.

You have done just as much lying on this forum as anyone, and yet most, rather than call you out tend to just let it ride to try and save face.

Most times men like you who feel the need to make others feel less superior, tend to have low self esteem. Not to mention trouble handling there own job.

You are nothing more than a lamplighter with a JL ticket, and would bet you are not too handy at that.

Man Heel I've slowly gained a little respect for ya but man I swear I remember ya callin us "bucket babies" and sayin we like playing with the joysticks (actually we call'em pistol grips:D) or somethin like that when ya first came on? In fact ya did it again above! Did that make you "feel superior"?

I mean I'm sure guilty probably too but I'm not talkin like I'm perfect either! I HOPE!:o

AND DAMN IT I'M NOT GETTIN INTO IT WITH YA AGAIN SO TAKE IT EASY ON ME!:D

COME ON HEEL THE JETS WON FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!:)

[topgroove]

http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2009/06/25/toilet-graveyard_vSucZ_6648.jpg

Hey I found the perfect burial plot for oldtimer and heelwinch.:)

[oldtimer]

Why Mr. Topgroove, Was you at the graveyard paying respect to others like you? I had a look, raised the lid and saqw your face in there, what a sight it was

[oldtimer]

Electriclady, Thank you for an intelligent responce, yep they say management took a bigger cut than we did. No we had no say about any of it and never will I don;t expect. When it was a family owned company things were much better and I guess i better shut up about all that.

[topgroove]

Oldtimer and heelwinch lived in a retirement center and were sitting on a bench under a tree when heelwinch turned to oldtimer and said, "oldtimer, I'm 72 years old now and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age. How do you feel?"
Oldtimer says, "Well, I feel just like a newborn baby."
heelwinch Said, "Really! Like a baby!?"
To which Oldtimer replied...
"Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just shit myself."

[heelwinch]

Oldtimer and heelwinch lived in a retirement center and were sitting on a bench under a tree when heelwinch turned to oldtimer and said, "oldtimer, I'm 72 years old now and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age. How do you feel?"
Oldtimer says, "Well, I feel just like a newborn baby."
heelwinch Said, "Really! Like a baby!?"
To which Oldtimer replied...
"Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just shit myself."

Good one...

If it weren't for the no hair and no teeth thing ( got most my hair and all but 2 of my own teeth) , it's almost true. I crap myself on a daily basis.











reading your posts about linework.

Tell us more about the lamp lense you changed today.

[electriklady]

Electriclady, Thank you for an intelligent responce, yep they say management took a bigger cut than we did. No we had no say about any of it and never will I don;t expect. When it was a family owned company things were much better and I guess i better shut up about all that.

Well I gotta wonder Oldtimer........worst enemy reduced a lot of peoples wages this summer(due to the economy), some union(they agreed to it) and some management people. At the same time the CEO said he was going to take a percentage decrease.........It is a lot easier to take away from millions and millions of dollars than it is from 50 to say 80 or 90,000 dollars. I have to think I wouldnt be feeling too much pain to be dropped down to 8,9, or 10 million a year.....IN ONE FREAKING YEAR.....I have said it before and I will say it again, any CEO making that kind of obscene money a year should have electricity shooting out his a$$ on command. 3 or 4 company jets.....for what? to fly between PA, Jersey, and Ohio...come on...lets get real. Did I get a raise this year.....no...we did not strike over money. That was not an issue for me........not because I felt sorry for the big broke fe.......maybe just out of respect for the people who lost their job or had their hours cut, and how some of them are struggling to pay to keep their lights on, in the industry I work in. It was more of a quality of life issue for us, fe wanting us to have none, and us wanting to keep some kind of life outside of work. It was about being threatened in negotiations, and maybe a bit about respect, retaining the respect we have for ourselves even if fe thinks we are worthless pieces of $hit...........Contrary to what some think of union utility workers we are not lazy spoiled brats, many many of us work our butts off everyday, and at one time took great pride in the company we worked for(pre fe) I used to be proud of the company I worked for and was not afraid to admit it to anyone.....no more....so like you said with pike....it was better when it was family run.....I dont know your story, but I sure do know mine, and that is why when you work for a immoral, unethical, employee hating company, no matter who it is..........I have a voice, I have the right to fight, and I have brothers and sisters to back me up, and in that I can still be proud.....so yeah....some of us do take unionism very seriously, and we only ask non union men and women to respect that, I will never stop trying to spead the word, but I wil not impose my will on you, nor respect you any less, until a non union person crosses my picket line smiling ear to ear, calling my brothers, sisters or I "lazy assholes." Just a little more "union" food for thought..........take what you like and leave the rest.:)

[loose neutral]

Well said sister, It's really nice to work in an organized labor environment. We can count on our brothers, sisters and union leaders to have our back, instead of sticking a knife in it. It is also really nice to have a voice and be able to stand up and fight for what's right, rather than bending over and taking whatever the company thinks you deserve. That's right, some don't understand how we can make great $, have great bennies, have steady work, and still go on strike. They say we don't appreciate what we have. YES WE DO !! That's why we went on strike, and fought to keep it. Why? Because WE CAN, and WE DID. We did it as a group, a gang, a family, a UNION. Non union employees will never know how that feels. Please do not misunderstand this. I have no disrespect for non union workers whatsoever, UNTIL you cross our picket line. When you cross our line, you are in our business. You are keeping us from accomplishing what we are there to do. Union employees throughout history have fought, gone to jail, and some even died to provide a lot of the benefits that we still enjoy today. If you think we want to just give them away, you're nuts !!!! Many have already been taken away so that the greedy execs can get another plane, yacht, home in the Bahamas, etc. from your sweat. If you think that's OK? Well keep the KY handy and be thankful for what you get. Now, maybe I should be thankful just to have a job? I am much more thankful that I have a great job and I am proud that I, alongside my brothers and sisters, took a stand to keep it that way. OH, I almost forgot. Back to corporate greed. First Enemy, after a NET profit of over a $ billion in 2008 and a CEO who made a bonus of over 12 times his $1.3 mil salary, feel the need to raise customer's electric rates because they say they can't survive in this tough economy..PLEASE !!!! And people think we are the bad guys? !!!! Old timer says that Pike will never organize. Of course they won't if they keep saying, " well I guess that's just the way it is". I just hope they know that it doesn't have to be that way. Get in touch with the IBEW and get organized. You'll never regret it. I consider my dues to be money well spent. THANK YOU IBEW LOCAL 459 !!!!!

[topgroove]

Good one...

If it weren't for the no hair and no teeth thing ( got most my hair and all but 2 of my own teeth) , it's almost true. I crap myself on a daily basis.











reading your posts about linework.

Tell us more about the lamp lense you changed today.I've been on this board since byron started it. Everybody knows me and I certainly don't have to prove a damn thing to you. I Worked as a construction lineman for 19 years and the last three in trouble. Changing a streetlight is not beneath me. For $120,000 bucks a year I'll do whatever work they put in my box. At least once a shift I respond to a 911 MVA. Say what you want about me but I could work for any Utility in the country. Done everything from transmision to URD and everything in between. I've never gotten hurt or had anyone on my crew get hurt.

[heelwinch]

I've been on this board since byron started it. Everybody knows me and I certainly don't have to prove a damn thing to you. I Worked as a construction lineman for 19 years and the last three in trouble. Changing a streetlight is not beneath me. For $120,000 bucks a year I'll do whatever work they put in my box. At least once a shift I respond to a 911 MVA. Say what you want about me but I could work for any Utility in the country. Done everything from transmision to URD and everything in between. I've never gotten hurt or had anyone on my crew get hurt.

I new you couldn't ignore me forever. The Hypocrite comments didn't seem to get a rise out of you, but that "lamplighter" comment made you sputter.

You don't have to prove anything to me, if making 120k a year changing light bulbs and opening cutouts on an MVA, bring you the satisfaction you need to consider yourself a contributing factor in our society, then so be it man.

I'm sure it allows you ample time to research more dirt on Pike and look up poems that are intended to insult old retired lineman.

Don't take this as being duragatory but I really don't know any other way to ask this:.... Are you one of them Polocks from Buffalo? Knew quite a few of them in my hayday.

[west coast hand]

Complain and complain about pike but some of you still work there how does it feel to know you got a cut IN pay and we got a raise 3
more dollars oh wait that's probaly what you make at pike you 3 dollars a hour got cut to 2 bucks. Ha just think you got a cut in pay and you still have to pay for your insurance LOL...we call you RATS for a reason???

[heelwinch]

Complain and complain about pike but some of you still work there how does it feel to know you got a cut IN pay and we got a raise 3
more dollars oh wait that's probaly what you make at pike you 3 dollars a hour got cut to 2 bucks. Ha just think you got a cut in pay and you still have to pay for your insurance LOL...we call you RATS for a reason???

I have never worked west of the rockies, in the "land of fruits and nuts". But it seems that our union is very prevelant there.

How long before Pike infiltrates your fairy land, and you are working hand in hand with them. Here's a thought, maybe instead of belittling them you assure them they have a future should they choose to follow in your footsteps. Or is that beneath you??

I am going to stick my neck out here and, any Non union lineman who is in the jurisdiction or willing to relocate to the jurisdiction of the local 1249, I am willing to do what I can to see you get yourself an interview.

PM me your name and contact information and I will respond.

I will make NO promises but I have a few friends left, that are worth an attempt.

[oldtimer]

Well I said i was gonna quit this butttttttttt, I;d damn sure change light bulbs and the photocells too for 120 and never gripe about nuttin.I just can;t get over how someone who don;t even work for a company can do all that bitchin about it.I kinda like to think that linemen are linemen whereever they work, I work for pike and have a long time and ya;ll work for whoever it is and thats good. I personally don;t call folks lazy asses unless they are, I figure that some work was done or they;d not be there.Maybe someone would answer a question for me, would a general foreman be in the union if there was one?

[MI-Lineman]

I have never worked west of the rockies, in the "land of fruits and nuts". But it seems that our union is very prevelant there.

How long before Pike infiltrates your fairy land, and you are working hand in hand with them. Here's a thought, maybe instead of belittling them you assure them they have a future should they choose to follow in your footsteps. Or is that beneath you??

I am going to stick my neck out here and, any Non union lineman who is in the jurisdiction or willing to relocate to the jurisdiction of the local 1249, I am willing to do what I can to see you get yourself an interview.

PM me your name and contact information and I will respond.

I will make NO promises but I have a few friends left, that are worth an attempt.

You think that organizing them into a Union you said yourself has issues is a good idea? I've told ya before that we need to fix the problems in our Unions and I don't see how organizin former nons into a "broken" system is goin to help? Especially with right to work states cause it'll be just as easy for them to say F$ck this and keep all the benefits of belongin and not pay dues?:eek:

What if they see the bad in the Union with out seein or knowin the good like some of us members have seen in the past and think "I was right they are lazy or greedy or what ever"?:( Remember most of them would be steppin into a new world so to speak and first impressions are the most important! So far on here we're not doin so good!:rolleyes:

Maybe the west has good locals but I guess I would like to see just as much effort from ALL of us in fixin and RE-strengthening our Unions before we bring more new people in! I mean we're startin to sound like the Nationals who are more worried about gettin more dues payin members than turnin out quality Union hands and quality jobs!

I definitely would not turn nons away from joinin but we as members (past or present) are goin to be just as responsible for turnin them into TRUE UNION laborers!

Just my "young" opinion but Heel does make a point about how we should treat nons of course the first lesson every non needs to learn is crossin picket lines is serious sh!t and lying about it will only bring ya greif!:mad:

[MI-Lineman]

Well I said i was gonna quit this butttttttttt, I;d damn sure change light bulbs and the photocells too for 120 and never gripe about nuttin.I just can;t get over how someone who don;t even work for a company can do all that bitchin about it.I kinda like to think that linemen are linemen whereever they work, I work for pike and have a long time and ya;ll work for whoever it is and thats good. I personally don;t call folks lazy asses unless they are, I figure that some work was done or they;d not be there.Maybe someone would answer a question for me, would a general foreman be in the union if there was one?

At 17 they paid non working dues at a much lessor rate and kept their rights to go back to work and their benies I believe!

[oldtimer]

Ohhhhhhh, I did forget one thing, I still got hair, tho it is getting a little thin on top, and mosy of my teeth, and you know them depends? wonderful invention:D

[MI-Lineman]

Ohhhhhhh, I did forget one thing, I still got hair, tho it is getting a little thin on top, and mosy of my teeth, and you know them depends? wonderful invention:D

Yea especially if you're a love sick sicko lookin to drive long distance to kill your astronaut lover's wife!:D

Oh and Oldtimer if you're thinkin a Union outfit will just bring ya in as a G.F. I know in 17 you'd be wrong and rightfully so! At least I hope it's still that way?

Edge and a few others would answer that best but haven't seen Edge here lately?

[heelwinch]

You think that organizing them into a Union you said yourself has issues is a good idea? I've told ya before that we need to fix the problems in our Unions and I don't see how organizin former nons into a "broken" system is goin to help? Especially with right to work states cause it'll be just as easy for them to say F$ck this and keep all the benefits of belongin and not pay dues?:eek:

What if they see the bad in the Union with out seein or knowin the good like some of us members have seen in the past and think "I was right they are lazy or greedy or what ever"?:( Remember most of them would be steppin into a new world so to speak and first impressions are the most important! So far on here we're not doin so good!:rolleyes:

Maybe the west has good locals but I guess I would like to see just as much effort from ALL of us in fixin and RE-strengthening our Unions before we bring more new people in! I mean we're startin to sound like the Nationals who are more worried about gettin more dues payin members than turnin out quality Union hands and quality jobs!

I definitely would not turn nons away from joinin but we as members (past or present) are goin to be just as responsible for turnin them into TRUE UNION laborers!

Just my "young" opinion but Heel does make a point about how we should treat nons of course the first lesson every non needs to learn is crossin picket lines is serious sh!t and lying about it will only bring ya greif!:mad:

Well FOR GODS SAKE THEN... quit callin them RATS and talkin down to them.

WHAT THE **** IS YOUR THINKING MAN. First you call them rats cause they are non's then you say you don't think you want them, well then leave them the **** alone. there must be enought work for everyone or there wouldn't be one or the other.

Holy shit man you are worst than any woman I've known, flip floppin your mind, want this then don't want it.

Are you a hypocrite too??? Never really thought that of you until this last post. You sound like the catholic priest that wouldn't let the whores join his parish.

[oldtimer]

Well I wasn;t looking to go in anywhere, I;m staying right where I am for 4 more years. Even I have enough sense to know I couldn;t go in as a g/f.That would not be right. It was just a question

[oldtimer]

Thank you Heelwinch. I think that;d be a great idea. Having a card don;t make nobody a better man or lineman.

[MI-Lineman]

Well FOR GODS SAKE THEN... quit callin them RATS and talkin down to them.

WHAT THE **** IS YOUR THINKING MAN. First you call them rats cause they are non's then you say you don't think you want them, well then leave them the **** alone. there must be enought work for everyone or there wouldn't be one or the other.

Holy shit man you are worst than any woman I've known, flip floppin your mind, want this then don't want it.

Are you a hypocrite too??? Never really thought that of you until this last post. You sound like the catholic priest that wouldn't let the whores join his parish.

See their's the real Heel we all know and love?:rolleyes: Your not as smart as you'd like us to believe are ya? I ASKED YA A SIMPLE F$CKIN QUESTION! I thought I'd get an intelligent answer from a "72" year old? WRONG AGAIN!

See what we're doin is debating this topic! Just cause you feel I'm goin against your way of thinkin doesn't give you the right to blast off at the mouth like your the "Supreme F$ckin Ruler" of this place or somethin! Is that what you want? Ya need me to go after ya again? Board or somethin? WTF? Does this mean you're gonna talk about whores and "Ragheads" (YOUR WORDS!) again?:eek:

WHO'S THE SELF RIGHTEOUS HYPOCRITE HERE NOW HEEL?:rolleyes:

JUST A F$CKIN DEBATE MAN! MAYBE YOU SHOULD'VE FOUGHT SO HARD TO CORRECT YOUR LOCALS PROBLEMS AS HARD AS YOU'RE FIGHTIN FOR THE NONS? If you can't discuss issues with people like the adult you're always claimin to be then you should find a different hobby for the remainder of your time!

[MI-Lineman]

Well I wasn;t looking to go in anywhere, I;m staying right where I am for 4 more years. Even I have enough sense to know I couldn;t go in as a g/f.That would not be right. It was just a question

I didn't think you would want to make a move this late in the game dude!

Just an answer that's all......DON'T GO ALL HEELWINCH ON ME NOW!!!

GOOD LUCK IN YOUR 4 OR MORE YEARS!:)

[heelwinch]

I didn't think you would want to make a move this late in the game dude!

Just an answer that's all......DON'T GO ALL HEELWINCH ON ME NOW!!!

GOOD LUCK IN YOUR 4 OR MORE YEARS!:)

Typical answer from some one that has none.

YOU my boy are the one carrying the torch for the IBEW vs the NON's. That's all I've seen from you from day one.

Now you say you need to fix things before you let any one else on. Give me a break.
Fix your friggen keyboard. Or quit smackin your lips.

Show me one comment on here that I have made that makes me a hypocrite.

I worked all my years union and I hated all the BS. BUT THAT DOESN"T MEAN I DIDN"T WORK MY ASS OFF FOR THEM, and it doesn't mean I don't think it;s a good way to earn a living.

I also don't think that just because I was working Union that the guy down the street had to follow suit. As long as I didn't have to contribute my tax dollars to support him and his 11 kids I could give a **** how he earned his living. But I also would have respect for the fact that he was earning his own way, and if I thought I could do him better I would offer him some SOUND advice, not call him a RAT out my window as he was driving home at night to see his family.

This conversation is getting over your head, you need to consult with your peers. And that may be a problem as it looks like they have abandoned you.

My blood pressure is fine, I stroked out 7 years ago. It'll take more than you to do it to me again.

[MI-Lineman]

Now I guess someone's gonna start showin his a$$ and duckin for the door every time so I'll take this moment to retterate.....I believe in the ideas of Unions but I also believe like our government they have become some what corrupted like our government! So do we throw more politicians at government or fix the f$ckin problem to begin with? Kinda like throwin fuel at a fire or water?:rolleyes:

I have called nonunion workers rats and probably will when they cross lines or make up stories to start conflicts with in our group! If I have ever gave the impression of being perfect or righteous I'm sorry for the confusion! Unlike Mr. Heelwinch I'm AM IN NO WAY PERFECT!

Though I do try not to call women "whores", terrorists "rag heads"( or any criminal names referring to their race!), young Lineman "bucket babies", make derogatory comments about priests, bad mouth Unions, imply my opinions are facts and yours are ignorant, and on and on, I do sometimes make mistakes as I am only human!

I am also sorry I do not have an answer for everything as you may want to confer with the "All knowing Heelwinch"! He is God just ask him!

Plus I do try to hold up my end of agreements but will fire back when fired on!:cool:

Chill Heel! Life's to short and yours is that much shorter!:D

[MI-Lineman]

Typical answer from some one that has none.

YOU my boy are the one carrying the torch for the IBEW vs the NON's. That's all I've seen from you from day one.

Now you say you need to fix things before you let any one else on. Give me a break.
Fix your friggen keyboard. Or quit smackin your lips.

Show me one comment on here that I have made that makes me a hypocrite.

I worked all my years union and I hated all the BS. BUT THAT DOESN"T MEAN I DIDN"T WORK MY ASS OFF FOR THEM, and it doesn't mean I don't think it;s a good way to earn a living.

I also don't think that just because I was working Union that the guy down the street had to follow suit. As long as I didn't have to contribute my tax dollars to support him and his 11 kids I could give a **** how he earned his living. But I also would have respect for the fact that he was earning his own way, and if I thought I could do him better I would offer him some SOUND advice, not call him a RAT out my window as he was driving home at night to see his family.

This conversation is getting over your head, you need to consult with your peers. And that may be a problem as it looks like they have abandoned you.

My blood pressure is fine, I stroked out 7 years ago. It'll take more than you to do it to me again.

Unbelievable! Are you confusin me with the other guys you been fightin with here? I call Swamp a rat regularly CAUSE IT'S A JOKE WITH HIM!

Carrying the torch? You sure you're not goin blind too? Fix my keyboard huh? Who has their grandkids helpin them again? My peers already gave me sound advice about guys like you who DON'T NEED HELP STEPPIN ON THEIR PEETER LIKE YOU KEEP DOIN!! Hey that's cool! Don't be jealous!

When you criticize the way others treat people and then do it yourself...THAT'S HYPOCRITICAL!!

I NEVER SAID YA DIDN'T WORK YOUR A$$ OFF FOR ANYONE ALTHOUGH I'M STARTIN TO WONDER HOW WELL YA DID IT? YOU HAVEN'T HAD VERY MANY POSTS THAT DIDN'T SLAM SOMEONE (OTHER THAN YOUR NONUNION BUDDIES OF COURSE!) AND MAKE ANY ATTEMPTS TO CONVEY YOUR OPINIONS HERE FUTILE??

You claimed to get on this site cause you thought it was funny to see Lineman with the same old bitch's! As angry as you are I'm not sure your laughin anymore! Kinda think ya done buried yourself before the damn funeral!:rolleyes:

And once again you still never reply directly to what anyone throws at ya? Some things never change!

Is this where I start crying about you callin me names like YOU did HYPOCRITE??:rolleyes:

[MI-Lineman]

Typical answer from some one that has none.

YOU my boy are the one carrying the torch for the IBEW vs the NON's. That's all I've seen from you from day one.

Now you say you need to fix things before you let any one else on. Give me a break.
Fix your friggen keyboard. Or quit smackin your lips.

Show me one comment on here that I have made that makes me a hypocrite.

I worked all my years union and I hated all the BS. BUT THAT DOESN"T MEAN I DIDN"T WORK MY ASS OFF FOR THEM, and it doesn't mean I don't think it;s a good way to earn a living.

I also don't think that just because I was working Union that the guy down the street had to follow suit. As long as I didn't have to contribute my tax dollars to support him and his 11 kids I could give a **** how he earned his living. But I also would have respect for the fact that he was earning his own way, and if I thought I could do him better I would offer him some SOUND advice, not call him a RAT out my window as he was driving home at night to see his family.

This conversation is getting over your head, you need to consult with your peers. And that may be a problem as it looks like they have abandoned you.

My blood pressure is fine, I stroked out 7 years ago. It'll take more than you to do it to me again.

Well so far Heel (I KNOW YOUR WATCHIN/SWAMPY TAUGHT YA THE STEALTH MODE HUH!) I've gone back through my own posts (which I'm sure you're now doin cause you realized ya stuck your foot in your mouth (HYPOTHETICALLY OF COURSE!) to the last time ya showed your a$$ and the only so-called examples of the above are once I made references to "rats" in a reply to I think J.B. Oh wait! Oh yea I was makin a point IN FAVOR OF THE "RATS" THOUGH!:rolleyes:

Plus I found where Swampy wished I would die? But I have thick skin and plus he doesn't mean it? Really? Uh Swampy? You don't Right!:o

Oh and I made a few cracks at Swampy! Course like I told ya the last time we have f$cked up senses of humor so I'm sure he knows I'm kiddin! Plus I was non union once (I guessed ya missed that too?) so I know what it's like and I've never denied help to ANY HONEST MAN!

HEY HEEL!!!!! "YOUR STICKERS PECKING OUT" AND YA JUST STEPPED ALL OVER IT (AGAIN HYPOTHETICALLY!)!:D

P.S. I guess you would know what abandonment is like huh? Is that why your angry? DOES SOMEONE NEED A HUG? SWAMPY GIVE YOUR BOY A HUG!:)

[NMSA122-G]

Oh my,, what pile of steaming crap have I found here? :)

[west coast hand]

I have never worked west of the rockies, in the "land of fruits and nuts". But it seems that our union is very prevelant there.

How long before Pike infiltrates your fairy land, and you are working hand in hand with them. Here's a thought, maybe instead of belittling them you assure them they have a future should they choose to follow in your footsteps. Or is that beneath you??

I am going to stick my neck out here and, any Non union lineman who is in the jurisdiction or willing to relocate to the jurisdiction of the local 1249, I am willing to do what I can to see you get yourself an interview.

PM me your name and contact information and I will respond.

I will make NO promises but I have a few friends left, that are worth an attempt.Hahaha pike working here you must have smoked yourself STUIPED I don't see that happening first off you guys KILL PEOPLE all the time you think these power companys would put up with that most of the reason pike has the work that they do is because you work In a right to work state or not a strong union state. I have no problem with a non union hand that come over BUT aslong as they don't bring there ratty ways with
them and aslong as they never go back oh ya irby is in California down in the imperial valley don't know how long but along time and they never have got work anywhere else on the west even when San Diego had all those fires sdge didn't won't there help even with over million people out so you not welcome here pike in California I'm still laughing about that......

[oldtimer]

To Mr West coast hand, Just a little thing to think about, if I;m not mistaken pike has an office there now since they bought shaw

[west coast hand]

To Mr West coast hand, Just a little thing to think about, if I;m not mistaken pike has an office there now since they bought shaw
Where is pikes office and who is shaw if pike rolls in here it will hit the fan the utility hand hate us because we are contractors and us and the utility are union if they bring in rats. Like think about it if you had to have surgery would you want a dr that has been to medical school and is well trained right or would you go with Joe blow that is cheaper but has no collage or medical school???same goes for this we are well trained if you don't know IBEW trained people are the most well trained people in the electrical trade that's why we are called journeyman lineman not an A class lineman or whatever you rats call yourselfs bottom line is you get what you pay for ya pike is cheaper but I will bet that you give a JL test to most pike hands they would not pass it you get payed less for a reason knowledge is power and where does pike send you to school what training do you get.what a guy like you yelling from the ground Yeeh ha get it done got a guy in the air working hot primary by himself and he has been in the trade 6 months??? pikes a joke...

[MI-Lineman]

I think it's time for us to bring this to a conclusion! Oldtimer you brought up a sore spot with some of us and it eventually brought out the true feelings of some! I know you know that these feelings about nonunion hands are nothin new so realize it will take time for some to change the way they think! Some may never but that's life!

Realize the goal of Unions is truly to "organize" every worker but we do have our problems also for sure! Don't let the first thing ya see sour your view on Unions? Give'em a chance and you would see the good also!

I personal don't like seein Unions AGGRESSIVELY organizin when little is done internally to fix our image with the "outside world" so to speak! Now that doesn't mean I would turn away anyone as I too was brought in to the Union at one time!

I am sorry to anyone (except Swampy!:D JOKING) if I helped to push you away from the unions because of a poor choice of words!!! This forum and it's members is a small example of what is really out there for you in the Unions! Call your local halls! Use the internet (wisely) and get informed!

[oldtimer]

Yep,I also think this needs to be ending. Sometimes things just get out of hand too easy for no reason. I personally have no problem with a union man, but I do hate being dogged out, hell we are all just people. i know that I;m not gonna get back into it, no sense in argueing with folks I don;t even know nor do they know me. Hell there is an outside change that we maybe could drink beer together somewhere someday lolllll. All this amounts too is opinions anyway.:D

[oldtimer]

The cal. offoice is in San Ramon, I have no idea what goes on there and don;t want to know. I got no interest in cal. or anywhere near thare. I am an old southern redneck:D

[MI-Lineman]

Yep,I also think this needs to be ending. Sometimes things just get out of hand too easy for no reason. I personally have no problem with a union man, but I do hate being dogged out, hell we are all just people. i know that I;m not gonna get back into it, no sense in argueing with folks I don;t even know nor do they know me. Hell there is an outside change that we maybe could drink beer together somewhere someday lolllll. All this amounts too is opinions anyway.:D

Well said! As soon as I'm off on-call Friday afternoon I'll be havein one (or more!;))!!:D