Rent a tech Union debate

[B.PRESGROVE]

If Im not mistaken isnt a union based on the senority rule?  (only the senior unionees get free coffee, everyone else must pay 10% more dues to get free coffee).  STRIKE!!!!

[B.PRESGROVE]

Great points.  Another question, wouldnt a union make the pay and per-d flat across the board?  From east to west they will pretty much stay the same?

[nowhereman]

As said a union is not a perfect thing........

But without a formal training/apprenticeship program we are migrating towards going to  meter reading tests, (and some hp's don't do so well on them?).....uh was that 40 mr/hr or 40 R/hr......doh.....

it's in our interest, the NRC's interest, and the utilities interest to make sure we have it right.......the utilities skate out on costs by dumping training onto Bartlett and I don't see Bartlett helping much........well As far as Linn State Tech.......who is going to go to college for two years and sign up to be a road tech with all it's benefits.....for the time spent in college you would expect a house job.......

[Already Gone]

Great points.  Another question, wouldnt a union make the pay and per-d flat across the board?  From east to west they will pretty much stay the same?

No.  No other trade does this.  There doesn't seem to be a reason to do it for HP's.  Why would you want the same per diem at Palo Verde that they are poying at Hatch?  If they standardize it, it will be set at the lowest rate for everybody.

[PWHoppe]

Does anyone know how much these guys want for dues? I looked at their website and couldn't find it anywhere. I wonder if anyone would really agree to send their picture ID to these folks?

What's that old saying , something about suckers being born every minute

[RDTroja]

What's that old saying , something about suckers being born every minute

PT Barnum underestimated the American public... there are several born every minute.

[Brett LaVigne]

I believe that it is an attempt to form a union. Obviously we are not at this time unionized. I believe they are trying to generate enough interest for a vote, they have not asked for any funds and the personal info. seems to be for a record of interested parties and a means of communication with us techs.

It looks to me that it is in the very early stages and I am not going to discount them until we see what the real story is. If the information on the site is really what they are trying to do, I would listen to them before the IBEW any day. Maybe we should just stay tuned.

[illegalsmile]

that's an interesting name..."Union Leadership"
Sure, send your money to an anonymous web site.....apparently in Ukraine. Sounds legit to me.

[DJ@Retired]

So are you saying that you were unable to get a good paying job based on your own qualification and abilities, you needed a union to do that?
No I'm saying you would be protected from the B.S.

The union is not a perfect thing, a work in progress!  So how many years have they been around?  The Nation Labor Union was formed in 1866, the Knights of Labor in 1869 and the American Federation of Labor in 1886.  How many more years are the unions going to need to get it right?

I'm sorry, but the ONLY advantage to the contractors at Clinton when they are forced to join the union to work there is a little extra pay.  No other benefits are offered and no representation.  But the union is more than happy to reach into your pocket for their dues.
Wrong you are not force to join anything. You could opt out. You would still pay a fee. You are represented. You get to pick your own stewards and you have in put to the new contract

The union will only take away your ability to make decisions on your own, where you will and when you will work.  As I have stated several time before, no thanks.  I've been able to take care of myself, my family and my future without the interference of a union, and if I am force to join a union to do my current job, I'll look elsewhere for a profession.
Wrong again. The only 3 decision you can't make is the date you get laid off, your day off & if you get night shift or day shift. The rest is up to you.

[B.PRESGROVE]

  Ok from what I saw, that whole Ukraine thing is just a web host for this union web site.  But who are these guys?  Give us names .  This forum is full of very "intelligent" (spell check) folks who dont just throw thier money at anything (well almost anything )  We need more info.  Dont just tell us to email you with questions, give it to us straight.

1. Who are you
2. Where is the home office going to be (Moms basement doesnt count)
3. How much more of my money is going to be taken to fund you
4. How much say do I have in the goings on in this organization
5. Votes
6. If I am laid off are you going to be there for me and my family
7. Can we count on you to get us regular stedy work

These are just a few.

[B.PRESGROVE]

Yah I saw the pay scale, it is nice.  But again give us the basics.  We are Nukewokers not cavemen.  (uh yah I think thats right)

[Dave Warren]

Doesn't everyone get double time on Sundays??
Wow, you guys are missing out....
You need to form a union...

[Brett LaVigne]

I can't help but think it's a scam.  Some 'old HP' is thinking he can get a contract at a nuclear plant if he can get some HP's to hold out...  Remind you of anyone?

These people would say who they are if they were a legitimate organization.

Can you imagine NukeWorker being successful if I hid our identity?

I think all of the bashing is a bit premature.

I am remaining a skeptic, but I am willing to reserve opinion until it unfolds instead of jumping all over someone that may just have our best interests in mind. It would take HUGE Kahonies to take the lead in a movement like this...so I will just wait and see what the deal really is.

By the way...I did a search for the IP address on the following.

http://www.selfseo.com/find_ip_address_of_a_website.php

It came back as a USA address. Just FYI.

[Dave Warren]

Us liberals like to keep our Democrat's pockets full, so they can get us all those extra bennies.......

[Nuclear NASCAR]

From January 1, 1993 through June 30 2006, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers contributed a total of $3.727 million to Illinois candidates for statewide and legislative office

That works out to $324,086.96 per year.  The next things to know would be 1. To how many candidates?
2. How many IBEW members are there in Illinois for each year?  3. Is this money given through a PAC or straight from the IBEW treasury? It does make a difference.  My local (IUOE) has a PAC that is totally voluntary that contributions are made from.

As far as them giving to candidates (better than calling them names, don't you think?) they probably don't have any money to do that with yet do they?

[McBride]

We are not accepting anything from anybody at this point...
We will be releasing the information...
We are still working ..."

"We" being the complete non-professional who spent $25 to put together a page and the virtual female companion he downloaded to his parent's computer?

[RADBASTARD]

I found this very interesting web site the other day.It was about how we could better our wages,benefits,per diem.
Everybody should take a look at this.It was very intriging.



Moderator note: Web Site link removed to disassociate this site from theirs.

[Rad Sponge]

I found this very interesting web site the other day.It was about how we could better our wages,benefits,per diem.
Everybody should take a look at this.It was very intriging.

I prefer to better my wages through performance based raises and not being controlled by a third party that gets a portion of my money. There are already enough hands in my pocket, why should I invite another to take my money?

Isn't there a huge thread addressing union vs non-union. Can this be merged with that?

[PWHoppe]

Isn't there a huge thread addressing union vs non-union. Can this be merged with that?

Jason you are correct, merge complete 

I found this very interesting web site the other day.It was about how we could better our wages,benefits,per diem.
Everybody should take a look at this.It was very intriging.

RadBastard, check out some previous posts in this thread regarding the npua.

[nowhereman]

Looking at the NPUA website leaves me a little uneasy......

first who is this "we"
second ...it will not be a self sustaining idea if "we " forgets about a viable training and apprenticeship program.....

third EPRI, INPO, the NRC and the utilties are skating on their responsiblties on training a contractor apprentice workforce.......throwing deconners in a corner to read procedures, and then having to implement meter reading ability tests does not make a very viable training program........well that said.....thats the direction we are currently heading, its a broken down system being made to work....to meet the letter of the law(barely)......

as far as wages/benefits go, a apprenticeship program has to addressed, otherwise you will have people wanting a raise because they aced the meter reading test...

to be only concerned about who is worried about who is reaching into their paycheck  is very naive and self centered.........(as far as who is reaching in there now, anyone of a few bean counters at some investment group)if they can't make the profits they want, who is to stop them from selling the group to "another investment group"

anyway the NPUA has some good ideas however from what the website says sofar.....it will be poorly implemented......

[alphadude]

at this point who cares?

[volfireman07]

I noticed some signs posted around the DOE Reservation in Oak Ridge yesterday (heard they were up Saturday) trying to organize the RADCON/HPs into the IBEW.

[thenukeman]

Thats is laughable. They will fail worse here than they did with Progress Energy.  No one I know wants a union here. 

[alphadude]

are we talking rascals and scoundrels???

[thenukeman]

Here is a story of Union Decertification, Be careful what you wish for.  This woman's home was destroyed after she voted in good faith to decertify her union.  I guess the Union cronies who were no longer getting checks had her whacked.

By the way this union was decertified. I just wish my grandfather could have realized this was the answer to the union he belonged to.

The Monroe County (TN) home of a woman who crossed a picket line at Maremont Exhaust Products this year was vandalized Tuesday, causing damages totaling $20,000 to $30,000.

The company called it an "act of domestic terrorism." According to a Monroe County Sheriff's Department incident report, the vandalism was probably related to an eight-month strike at Maremont in Loudon County.

The vandalized home belongs to Della Thomas, who crossed the picket line and backed the dissolving of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local 2545. In October, the National Labor Relations Board effectively dissolved the union after workers and strikers voted 223 to 141 to decertify the union.

The article can be read here. http://theunionnews.blogspot.com/2007_09_29_archive.html