Supervisor Frank Spencer has decided to implement a 60 day delay of the schedule July 1, 2010 carpenter contractual raise.
There was no advanced word given to the rank and file regarding the wage freeze or any attempt by Spencer to get the consent of the rank and file.
This temporary wage freeze "will help work get off the ground or keep going through the summer months", Spencer wrote in a letter dated June 30, and posted on the District Council website late this afternoon.
Spencer did not present any specifics about what projects would "get off the ground" or what jobs would be saved by adopting this wage freeze.
It is also unclear if this action by Spencer violates the National Labor Relations Act or if Spencer has the authority to implement a wage freeze and delay a contractual raise.
Carpenters I spoke with on the condition of anonymity were stunned to learn of the wage freeze, "Once again we have been kept in the dark."
"It's outrageous, we have no input or voice in any decision that affects the lives of the brothers and sisters who strap on the tools everyday and who pay the bills for this union."
"Is this Spencer's definition of a more transparent union?"
Spencer Wage Freeze
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Spencer Unilaterally Freezes Carpenters Wages
5 comments:
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This is very interesting - our "representatives" can on a whim, change CBA's, signed agreements? Hmm. Where are the "new" CBA's or Memorandums of Understanding that show this downward wage adjustment? If this is legal then it implies upward wage adjustments could be possible at any time. Yeah, OK, I'll be holding my breath. What's next? Benefit? Safety, health, and general working conditions? Membership protections, privileges and rights? I guess anything is possible when the CBA's are just "god-damned pieces of paper". This "temporary step" is yet another instance where our representatives' word and signature then meant and now means little or nothing. They'll do whatever they want whenever they want without the support or request for consent of whom they are supposed to be representing. Again we're shown that our union is not a representational democracy but a dictatorship - do what you're told and accept less, otherwise you get nothing! More proof of the transformation of the UBCJA, the labor union, to the UBCJA, the employment corporation.
ReplyDeleteNo warning. Blam! Just shut-up and put-up! Take less or get nothing! Now everybody bow down to the contractors and our "representatives" for being generous enough to allow some us "unionized" employment. You can call and let the DC know you think. It's not going to change their plans. They'll just store our suggestions and complaints in the "Memory Holes". (For those that don't know what a "Memory Hole" is, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_hole .)
ReplyDeleteLike I said for a long time, getting a CBA with raises means nothing when the contractor is paying cash and no bennies. Freezing wages, and having the contractors pay into the funds is the right thing to do now, to try and get things back into balance.
ReplyDeleteFREEZING WAGES? WHAT FUCKING DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE NOW? I'VE ONLY WORKED 2 MONTHS IN THE LAST 10. DIDN'T EVEN GET 1 FUCKING EXTENSION ON UNEMPLOYMENT & DON'T HAVE A FUCKING DIME COMING IN.
ReplyDeleteWhat i'd like to know is how these scumbags Ford et alia, were able to implement an ADDITIONAL ASSESMENT ON OUR VACATION CHECKS FOR YEARS-THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE "TEMPORARY" THAT HAS REMAINED FOR YEARS.
hOW WERE THESE SCUMBAGS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE BENEFITS PACKAGES- UPPING OUR DOCTORS VISITS FROM 10 BUCKS TO 20 & 25 AND ER VISITS TO 50 FUCKING DOLLARS???
SHIT I JUST PAID 32 DOLLARS FOR A PRESCRIPTION WHEN IT USED TO COST ZERO-NOTHING. WHAT DID THIS TRASH-FORDE&CO. GET OUT OF THIS THIEVIERY FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANIES? THERE HAS TO BE BRIBES INVOLVED.-JUST LIKE WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.
ARE THESE SCUMBAGS COLLECTING PENSIONS WHILE UNDER IDICTMENT? HEY FRANK? NOT TALKING? ASKED THAT HERE 10 TIMES.
PJ 608, We were to receive a $2.13 raise in wages and benefits on July 1. Spencer has delayed this increrase for 60 days. The contractors are not paying anything additional to the benefit funds.
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