New Haven Independent

posted by: Threefifths on September 4, 2012  4:07pm

Bill Henderson.You are the man.Hang tight.Remember Daniel did not take the Kings Meat.Money and Corruption Are ruining the land Crooked politicians Betray the working man, Pocketing the profits And treating us like sheep, And we’re tired of hearing promises That we know they’ll never keep”
Ray Davies

posted by: new havener on September 4, 2012  4:13pm

this is childish behavior…who does it make feel better? certainly does not seem to bother those that belly up to the buffet. the convention needs to be about unity behind the dems, not one-off crying because someone is not getting attention, be it deserved or not.
i wonder if malloy ate or not. i bet he did.
this is kind weird, a union protesting at a democrat function.

posted by: iamjh on September 4, 2012  4:33pm

Melissa—Bill Henderson is the elected president of his local.  “Union Boss” is a tired cliche that does not apply.  Maybe you have referred to a “corporate fat cat” when reporting on a business person, but I doubt it.  Whatever you think of him, as the Governor says, Bill Henderson never quits.  I think he’s a great guy.  I know he’s no “union boss.”  Sharpen your writing—or the writing of whomever does the headlines.

posted by: Dave13 on September 4, 2012  5:28pm

If AT&T were such upstanding citizens the could have settled with the CWA. Then again if they were such upstanding corporate citizens AT&T would not have paid for William Leahy, the Vice President of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs of AT&T’s Atlantic Region
(http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Corporations) to be on the American Legislative Exchange Councils “Private Enterprise” Board of Directors.  ALEC is the darling of the Koch Brothers, the Tea Party folk, and is a resource for people that want to promote Voter Fraud Laws, eliminate all gun control laws and other right wing causes.  Looks like the only Dems with integrity down there are Henderson and Olsen.

posted by: 82lrrp on September 4, 2012  10:33pm

So the AT&T workers are suffering unfair practices while earning 80k-120k per year??????

posted by: iamjh on September 5, 2012  6:36am

Reply to 82lrrp: you seem to imply that if workers make make a good wage, it is permissible for the employer to violate their legal rights.  Some kind of sliding scale application of the National Labor Relations Act?  Diminishing coverage based on your previous success at the bargaining table and the skill base of the unit covered?

posted by: 82lrrp on September 5, 2012  9:30am

Just thoughts you’ll never agree with from someone who earns 40k-100k less than anyone at AT&T.  And yes, I would personally put up with their violations of my rights to take away things other than my pay for double or 100k more because if I had that much more, I would be able to afford to buy on my own whatever they took away.

posted by: Threefifths on September 5, 2012  10:07am

posted by: 82lrrp on September 5, 2012 9:30am

Just thoughts you’ll never agree with from someone who earns 40k-100k less than anyone at AT&T.  And yes, I would personally put up with their violations of my rights to take away things other than my pay for double or 100k more because if I had that much more, I would be able to afford to buy on my own whatever they took away.

Then you should form a union on your job and you would not have to give up your rights.

“Although it is true that only about 20 percent of American workers are in unions, that 20 percent sets the standards across the board in salaries, benefits and working conditions. If you are making a decent salary in a non-union company, you owe that to the unions.  One thing that corporations do not do is give out money out of the goodness of their hearts.” 

Molly Ivins

Without unions, workers will lose many of the protections against abusive employers.  Wages for all will be depressed, even as corporate profits soar.  The American Dream will be destroyed for millions.  And we will have a government of the corporations, by the already powerful, for the wealthy. —Kenneth Bernstein

posted by: 82lrrp on September 5, 2012  12:23pm

There already is one and the only thing I give up is $10 per week/$520 per year.

Well, not only. 

I work 3rd shift and my production output is greater and quality of work more accurate than anyone else at the shop.  This has been consistent since I began nearly 5 years ago.

However, posted in plain sight, my pay is considerable lower than those that produce less with far more inaccuracies who have been in service in the Union for more years.

I brought this to the Shop Steward, told me the contracted pay was the contracted pay…...

I know you’ll have the last word tell me this is in my best interests but when my boss tells me he’d like to pay me more for the work that I produce compared to my co-workers but he’s not allowed to coupled with the response from the Union, I’m sorry but all the pundit quotes, invoking of laws and the evil boss argument are just falling flat on me.

I will say this, I will not be demotivated or motivated to reduce the amount & quality of work I produce even if I’m denied being rewarded for it, regardless of who’s doing the denying.

posted by: Ladybug on September 5, 2012  4:51pm

Mr. Henderson deserves support and respect. AT &T is a ruthless company and a horrible employer..People before Profits!

posted by: Threefifths on September 5, 2012  5:49pm

@82lrrp.You said the follwing.

There already is one and the only thing I give up is $10 per week/$520 per year.Well, not only.I work 3rd shift and my production output is greater and quality of work more accurate than anyone else at the shop.  This has been consistent since I began nearly 5 years ago.my boss tells me he’d like to pay me more for the work that I produce compared to my co-workers but he’s not allowed to coupled with the response from the Union.

The question I have to ask you is this.Is you Job pay scale based on the number of years you have with the company.Most companies pay scales are based on the number of year the worker has on the job.Also what other type of union benfits are you geting.In fact most of the time unions foght more for work place rights,Then pay raise. I know people who make good money,But have no rights when it comes to the job.

posted by: iamjh on September 6, 2012  7:59am

To 82lrrp - Seniority was rewarded by mutual agreement between employers & workers at a time when employers wanted longevity, based on the value of accumulated & refined skills.  From workers’ point of view, seniority provides protection especially for older workers, who the boss night want to bypass with young hotshots.  And almost nobody prefers layoff by “merit” as determined subjectively by the employer.  Some union contracts now have “pay for knowledge” provisions, or piecework rates that reward fast and/or knowledgeable workers.  Lots of shops use promotions (often into salary jobs) as a reward for exceptional performance. 
If other union embers in your shop felt as you do, you could insist in alternative raise procedures in your contract proposals.  I would guess the majority would not be in favor.  That’s workplace democracy.  If you don’t have a say on your contract proposals, you should be looking on the web for a union democracy group to advise you.
But this line of discussion began with you suggesting AT&T workers give up legal protections because they are well-paid.  Dragging them down does not help your situation.
Good luck.

posted by: 82lrrp on September 6, 2012  8:25am

From what I understand the contracted pay is based not on how well you do your job but how long you’ve done it. 

So there’s no incentive to those who’s performance is high. 

But again,  I will not be demotivated or motivated to reduce the amount & quality of work I produce even if I’m denied being rewarded for it, regardless of who’s doing the denying.

Other benefits like sick, vacation time & medical benefits?

Yes, sick time, only used it once at a former job when I broke my leg, only vacation time taken is once a year and since my wife’s non-union employer offers a better medical insurance option I do not use it from my work.

Rights? Like being able to not do something my boss would ask me to do?

Really what are we talking about here, being allowed to not produce work at a higher output with less inaccuracies while being rewarded more than those around you who do the opposite - as I encounter?

C’mon this article and this union guy is all about GREED.

Am I greedy for wanting to be paid for the work I do?

I know sure wouldn’t give a darn if my boss was greedy if I were paid 40k-100k more for the work I do.

posted by: new havener on September 6, 2012  3:05pm

this whole thing about the union, pay, and productivity intrigues me.

companies that have unions bargain with the union for collective benefits, like pay and medical, where everything is equal. I cannot imagine a union anywhere allowing a more productive employee to paid more, or for more productive employees to be saved from layoff at the expense of senior members. it just does not happen. pay-scales are usually progressive, until you reach your maximum rate, and at that time all future ‘raises’ are distributed equally. the only thing seniority gets you are better vacations, and better layoff protection.

reminds me of the old adage ‘what is the largest union in the world?’. The soviet union—-where communism, not capitalism, rules. everything, for everbody…unless you happen to be somebody. then you get somethings no one else gets.

posted by: 82lrrp on September 6, 2012  7:32pm

Kinda makes sense why people were willing to jump a wall and risk getting shot.

Even more why someone else wanted them shot and/or did the shooting.

Thanks for the suggestions, but I am the smallest minority - an individual.