March 25, 2006

  • So the new union contract at my work has finally been settled. It was a long and hard negotiation because the company was very intent on doing several "take backs." It was so bad that the union suggested that we might even have to go on strike if things didn't get settled. But it did, and while the new contract doesn't effect me too much than what we have now(that remains to be seen though), it does effect future employees. Basically, a lot of the benefits of working for the company has pretty much been taken away from the future new-hires. It's rather unfair for them that's for sure, but the company is looking to save money and that was the only way they can do that without upsetting the current employees (like me).

    If we as fellow employees have a heart to think about the welfare of the future co-workers, we should vote NO on the new contract. But the company is a little smart in getting us to say YES anyway, by "paying us" to favor it. How that's going to work is that if the new contract passes, we'll be getting $100 for every year that we worked for the company; topping off at 28 years ($28,000). As we all know, "money talks" and there is already support to just say yes to the contract. In fact there are already people who has worked for the company over 28 years that are actually complaining that they shouldn't have a limit in that incentive money (like someone who has worked 35 years there). "Everybody for themselves" I guess. That's the reality we live in.

    I decided that from principle alone and the fact that I have a conscience, I'll be voting NO to this new contract. At this point I feel that because of the incentive money, it's almost guaranteed this contract will pass. But if one of my future co-workers asks why they don't have the same benefits that I do, I can at least know in my heart that I had a vote that supported them.