A Christmas Story

"Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead," said Scrooge. But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me!" - A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

It's a nice comparison to what happened here. While summer broke into fall, I found the events that unfolded on both sides of the dividing line were quite unpredictable to me, and most, if not all of the Ousties.

After our campaign was over, some things transpired that were unexpected. A Union Steward invited an Oustie out on the Rally Line before the contract was up. Since then, I've read that some positive conversations are happening between the Oustie and the Union steward. I haven't been able to see this for myself because he works in another building, but the way he's been writing lately is encouraging. The rest of you stewards can learn a thing or three from this guy. The blog entries have changed. The new argument has peaceful rational. This sets up the blog for a good debate between free individualists who ultimately control their destiny, and those who want everyone to pull together for a collective good deal. Those well schooled minds can play here to argue, and since we have "John the Steward" as one of the main bloggers, the readership has spiked! To the others; learn from him. Cooperation is in vogue.

One of the things “Steward” writes about is the different types of workers we have. He speaks of varying degrees of union membership, or non membership, ending in traitor. Talented activism is a gift that can achieve big goals for those people willing to sacrifice their personal quiet time to struggle for whatever cause they support in this free society. However, no meritorious cause, no public benefit, nor victory in a negotiating room is worth giving up your right to choose. Your sacrifice is yours alone. You can’t force your values upon those who do not share them, regardless of the benefits you think you showered them with as a result of self denial. For the haters, I pity you. The benevolence you show strangers contrasted against the contempt you show your coworkers means your charity is null. I whisper to the Lord that people like you could use a dreamy night like Ebenezer’s to show you a better way. I offer a candle.

Now that the Contract is negotiated, and the Union Elections are over, we have a pretty good view of the coming three years. There was a turn-over of a Negotiating Committee spot to a gifted master craftsman from 811, and if John predicts right, there will be a 2nd slot open soon. Jimbo explained a process to John in order to fix the pay disparity issue. I don't care what they call it (level adjustment), if after all is done, the workers with the talent are compensated fairly. In the past I've known this could be done, but doubted it based upon history. With the surprising chain of events over the past two months, I am not sure anything can't be done anymore. The steward asked the Oustie if he could borrow some talent from the Ousties for a project that will benefit both sides. “But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change.” For the better.

May you all have a Merry Christmas this year.

Are you Happy?

The contract is sealed now. What have you got to say for yourselves? Are you happy? Did it work out as you thought it should? Here is a picture of the population chart at RMS. Does it make any wonder who got what around here? RMS gave us quite a generous offer considering the economy. But no effort was taken to repair the wages of the most skilled workers at the plant site. I just can't swallow that 9-80s were denied the work force. The Union Constitution doesn't want it. The members did. Can you live with that? If not, what are you going to do about it? As a non member, I am free to speak out against union policy, without any legal constraints that their constitution places on the members. I have done what I could. Now is the chance for Union members to make a difference. There is a Union Officer election soon. Are you happy with their performance? Make an appointment with yourself to vote for the people who fight for you. Dump those who perpetuated the same old BS. Send a message to the top. Did Jimbo get you what you wanted? Let him know. Did Ed do what a President should? Vote on it. Take command of your Union. Right now, they have command of you.

Hope

You can Hope all you want, but Swanson is going to loosen his belt for the fatted goose this Thanksgiving. Big Daddy Warbucks can sleep well tonight knowing his minions have hashed out a paltry portion for those who actually make the product that makes him his big profits. All I can say is shame on Raytheon for pinching pennies and keeping the best of the golden goose to themselves. I mean really is 0.25% THAT important? We went from 3% to 2.75% "raises". The truth is we haven't gotten ANY raise. It is not even close to a cost of living. Raytheon's position: Be glad you scum gots a job, get back to work morons and stop whining! They'll make great Communist sweatshop overlords for Obama's national CHANGE to Facism! Congratulations, heil Swanson!

A picture speaks 1000 words

Fellow RMS workers, I write tonight to illustrate what I’ve been talking about for a long time. Our pay at RMS is way out of line with what our union should be doing with wages. I got this e-mail attachment a few hours ago. I was told to expect something big on Saturday, but this is great! When I wrote “Just the Facts” on Sept 13th, I wrote about unfair wages and I added a simple chart showing big difference in pay. This paints a much better picture of what I was talking about.
As you have seen over the past few weeks, we’ve taken a conciliatory position with the Union, in an effort to help them get the best bargain possible. Echoes abound with invites to the Rally for those Ousties who feel the desire to join forces with the Union in a demonstration of loyal opposition to the Company’s perceived tight fist over the coin box. Are we really welcome out there IAM933?

This picture illustrates my conviction that many of us have been short changed over the years. I’m not placing blame this time. It is what it is. Just look at the picture and decide for yourselves. Word has it that this same picture, together with others was sent to a union steward. The desire to help is balanced with the reality that our union has its goals different from ours. But if they take these charts and make adjustments to the negotiations necessary, they could earn a lot of members. Time will tell.

So I ask that steward to act promptly and get the charts moving upward today while the money is on the table in the negotiations. I don't think these charts do enough. There is not enough pay directed where I want it to go. But it is moving in the right direction. The biggest impact is for all those jobs that sucked with 46% raises over 16 years.
The other list I read has 34 of 38 classes getting at least a 65% pay increase over 1993 by 2012. That is, IF the Company will give the average sum amount listed in the chart to correct the pay problems. Some workers won’t like it if they are the ones who have enjoyed generous wage increases in the past, at the expense of the rest of labor.

I ask both the Union and the Company to look these charts over well, and come up with a solution to the basic problem that has demoralized RMS workers for many contracts. Lets raise the pay of those fields that we can’t fill because of under pay. And lets raise the pay of the workers who have taken it in the shorts all these years. Technical fields need a boost. We need to recapture the incentive to promote ourselves within Raytheon by making higher skill jobs attractive again.

Poor Lifestyle

This quote appeared on the IAM933.org website: "When challenged as to why the Company is proposing these high rates to our members they say we are 14% higher in utilization, which according to the Company, is related to our poor lifestyles and practices."

I really appreciate "the man's" perspective on my poor lifestyle and practices. Unlike those white collar workers who rarely use their health benefits, I might tend to use them just a bit more. You see I didn't have health care growing up, my parents weren't college educated, so a few health issues had to slide occasionally, poor practice on my part right? Or how about how I did dirty jobs these cuddled, manicured, starched, poised poker faced Daddy Warbucks would run from with their dainty hankies pressed against their Arbonne coated faces?

I got the privilege of cleaning some special juice growing in the bottom of a drink cooler at a restaurant once. Oh yeah that was minimum wage and of course no health care provided. The only thing I could recognize in the special juice was mold and the restaurant didn't have or believe in rubber gloves. I later discovered while reading Science Digest that such water was an ideal breeding ground for tuberculosis, Yeah!

After several more minimum wage jobs for another 7 years and cleaning toilets, grease pits, fryers and mixing Clorox and drain cleaner in confined quarters on an off shore oil rig "under orders" from macho bosses, I finally landed a "good job" in the military! Finally a job with health care. So yeah, I got some things fixed. My teeth really needed some help, they yanked 5 wisdom teeth - no wonder I'm not as smart as when I was a teenager, LOL. Okay the 5th tooth was actually just growing sideways against my wisdom tooth, but I digress. Well the nice thing about working for the government is that they would never violate the law, right? Sorry, but the military is exempt from such b.s. as LAWS. Standard practice at my first duty station was cleaning gage blocks with a super cool substance we called "trike" it really cut the oils especially when your hands were coated in oil. My next duty station actually had MSDS's, so I did a little reading. It seems the cool "trike" stuff was actually trichloroethane and is some pretty nasty stuff "health-wise". Prolonged exposure to the skin can cause kidney damage 10 years AFTER exposure. Try making a worker's comp claim on that stuff - 10 years later! Gotta love the military.

Then I tried to find a job doing what I learned in the military, but no one gives up those cushy jobs, so back to the rat race. I worked for a place making Craftsman tools. Almost every process involves some kind of noxious smell of awful chemicals. I got assigned to work on the primer machine where every tool gets coated before having the handles dipped with that cool soft rubbery stuff. The old primer machine was huge, complicated and costly to maintain, but management had a plan. So they rigged up a really cool 50 gallon bucket of primer. I'd put the tools in a basket, open the door on this metal box, slide the basket onto a spinny thing and close the door. Then the magic happened. The 50 gallon barrel of primer would move up and coat the tools, then it would move down just low enough and the basket of tools would spin and the excess primer spray would go back into the barrel.

Then some 'bean counters' got involved and decided that the door on my metal box was slowing things down. The next day I came to work and the door was gone, I went through my same routine, and now when the basket would spin all those nice primer fumes went into my face instead of being trapped in the metal box. I worked that job on the graveyard shift so I didn't think much about why I started to feel tired at 4:30 in the morning. Then my mom started complaining of headaches from her security guard job at Ulta cosmetic shop, and my lightning fast mind said the reason I was tired and totally exhausted after work was "chemicals".

The next day I checked the MSDS for the primer and discovered all the symptoms I had were exactly the same as overexposure to that primer stuff. I was tired, had heart murmurs, dizzy and had headaches. So I called in sick the next day and went to that company's worker's comp doc and he confirmed that I was overexposed to primer fumes, and my EKG proved heart murmurs, YEAH! I quit that job, that day. I didn't want a respirator, I was tired, really, really tired and not just from primer fumes, but from bean counters. Those measly little penny pinchers who think a person's health isn't as valuable as their bottom line.

Now you know why I'm a Zone Safety Specialist. I care, I really care. It's also why I want strong representation not some ho, hum, yeah we are a brotherhood. Don't give me some gangland mentality. I want 1,000 men with the passion of Sir William Wallace, you know the Braveheart movie character to stand strong against tyranny. Tyranny starts in the boardroom when good men secede their good principles to bad morals by counting beans. If they like beans so much let's mail them some!

So you see the thing I love about working at Raytheon is knowing that sometimes after they make numerous speeches about safety they will actually do something every now and then to back up all those pretty words. And the other thing I like is knowing that if they miss a few "safety things" like non-ionizing radiation, fall or slip hazards, that I have the assurance of knowing that when I'm just following the orders of some macho boss man, I have a good health care plan to back up their stupid, gotta get it done now attitudes.

Sometimes they are the victims too man, y' know that Arbonne stuff is a chemical, and probably goes to their brain, and have you ever sat in a manicure room at Wal-Mart?. Chemicals, dude and not the good kind. So be patient with the starch shirts, but don't blame me for a poor lifestyle. I was just following orders. Poverty and being a single parent will make you do stupid things, and when you have to choose between getting a testicular checkup or putting Ramen noodles on the table, the kids come first. So yeah, the poor workers may not be able to afford those healthful lifestyle choices and gym memberships, but cutting off our health care isn't going to fix our lifestyle, but a living wage could help. I'm sorry Raytheon couldn't find pampered healthy people to do assembly work, but would they be willing to do the work? Not likely. You'll have to settle for the huddled masses, the tired and weary who need to put food on the table, and who's health leaves a little to be desired, because, hey, LIFE happened! Dude did you get run over by a bus? Nope just life. So as long a Raytheon RESPECTS me I'll work for them, but as soon as I feel dissed I'll quit in a day. Been there done that, got the tee shirt.

God bless the negotiating committee on both sides of the table and help them to work TOGETHER for all our good, so we can focus on those we love who need us most. Let them not be petty or small, but RESPECTFUL. AMEN.

Get Off The Fence

Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of this contract!

When I look at the crap this company is trying to shove down our throats it reminds me of the tactics of Obama. You hit people with so much bad that any good that gets salvaged seems like a blessing from above. The last contract wasn't too much to give up, but this is insanely rude. Aerospace workers are few and far between, there are a lot of better places to live than Tucson. I got my sights set on Texas and Monster.com, I'm really tired of working for such horrible wages, plus it would be a great time to transfer my worthless 401K to an IRA by quitting this place.

I didn't start the decertify movement to weaken the union. I want a strong truly local union that isn't sold out at the national level (unfortunately the NLRB rules require me to decertify a perfectly good union -for some people- in order to start another union). It is obvious after 3 years of opposing this union that it is not going away any time soon. The union leaders have finally grown 'a pair' and I am proud of them.

I'm not willing to join the union, but this package is so bad I'm ready to walk the strike line and even almost willing to wear their tee shirt, not because I like the union, but because the company's offer is so bad! It's like the company is saying 'we don't need you just go away'. I for one want to take them up on their bony finger pointing at the door. I've been pro-Raytheon up until now, but enough is enough.

Just the idea of having to pay 10% of a hospital bill is outrageous! One hospital visit could easily bankrupt me and I make a good wage, what the hell is a custodian supposed to do if they end up in the hospital? Does this company really want to create a security nightmare? The kind of indebtedness that could occur from this stingy package could cause a lot of people to become targets of foreign spies. They'd only need to get employed at UMC in the financial department and look for Raytheon employees with huge hospital bills and target them.

This company has made really good profits off the sweat and injuries of every Tucson RMS worker both salaried and hourly. And neither the salaried nor the hourly have been justly compensated. Salaried workers should show this company how screwed they feel by having a blue 'sick' day during the strike (not that I'm actually condoning a strike).

This company could pay each of us a $100,000 bonus and not feel a dent in their bottom line, but they would rather play the poor mouth game. I look at how the auto workers got paid $100/hr for a product no one liked or wanted, and here we are with a lot more talent making a product our customer loves and wants, but we aren't making anywhere near the wage of an auto worker EVEN AFTER the freakin' bailout screwed the auto industry!

That's why I want a new union. I want a union like the auto workers have that will totally shut down the factory to get a good wage. We should be making THOSE kinds of wages. It's not like the government could farm out defense contractor work to overseas companies! Like Duh! If I have to work WITH this union to get what I want then I say it's time to hang up our hatchets and pull together. Let's push back hard this time!

It is time for all the free loaders to join the union or get rid of it. And by free loaders I mean all those people who want the union but won't join it and won't sign our petition to decertify it. Those people make me sick. They are totally useless breathers. They want something for nothing. This country wasn't built by sitting on a fence. And it won't be saved by sitting on your butt either. Either join the union or get rid of it, but do SOMETHING! And these freeloaders are probably the one's eating up most of the union's time representing their slacker butts.

If I didn't feel screwed by the union, I'd join it. But now that I feel screwed by the company I may have to join the union and the cause to get what I want. I certainly don't believe the war in Iraq or Afghanistan is justified. I bought George Bush's lie hook line and sinker, but I don't believe we need to "protect the warfighter" by building a product to kill people for profit. We should have left the Middle East a long time ago. The military industrial complex is paying off boys in Washington to keep the war going, so I feel no loyalty to their murderous game. You want me to work for you then give me the butcher's cut of that fat calf you're carving up.

I'd like to take the time to thank Ed and all the union stewards for their hard work on behalf of those who choose to be members of the union. I think the Bargain Union reps have finally grown some balls. I don't feel represented by this union, but they do work hard and aren't appreciated enough. Let's wear union blue (even you salaried guys) on Thursday or wear a union tee shirt if you have one. Viva la Roadside Rally!! Tomorrow!!! Be there or be broke!!

And visit the union's website already: www.iam933.org

P.S. Keep up the good work of keeping us ALL informed on the screwy negotiations, thanks Ed. I will forward any info the union sends me to the Oust membership. oust933@gmail.com

Poker Face

The Game is on! Everyone has on their poker face. I have to crack a smile though. I would like to call everyone to go visit the Union Website once again. My predictions have come true concerning Medical Benefits if the Chart on Update #6 is true. A quote on the page reads; "Today, the Company gave us their Medical benefit rates applicable to both hourly and salary, which are as follows:". I wrote that would happen here. Look around this blog to see how far back I have been predicting that in our upcoming contract. Pass-Through is a fact, get used to it. The good news is that since they posted a few updates to their web site, it looks like they've gotten the word! All RMS workers deserve to hear about what's going on in the Negotiations. I'm glad they posted numbers and charts showing what looks like a good faith effort to inform us what's being debated in there. That's a major improvement.

However, I have a disagreement with something in update seven. The third paragraph says they want us to demand Management for a GWI for all. That's unacceptable, unless it is combined with a wage adjustment for the classifications that have been robbed over the past 16 years. No matter how big of a GWI you get, the fact that our classes are getting ripped off makes it priority one for you guys to fix. Everybody deserves a raise, and we understand the reality of home economics. But taking from one set of workers and giving it to the others has quite a few people at wits end. All workers deserve equal representation. So lets bring all wages back in proportion with what they were back in '93. We want RONA, optional 9-80s, Merit Pay, and of course, the correction of the wage imbalance. Stewards, you have a meeting to go to on Monday. The best thing you can do is to up-channel this info and ask the Neg-Cmte to resolve these issues. Smile! You've got a full-house.

Rumors

Everyone should look at the Union Website and read "rumors #2".
It reads something like 'rumors can come from anyone with an axe to grind, so you should get all your info from us. We'll spoon feed you, never mind other opinions out there.' That of course is a paraphrase. Is the Union only worried about people with an axe to grind? Or is there another motive? Having absolute control of your mind right now is imperative. They must be capable of motivating a "riot" if need be, so they can use it to influence talks at the table. Do the ends justify the means?
I won't say that's a bad thing for the purpose of crowd motivation. But I feel compelled to speak about it, along with a few things that I heard Friday from at least a half dozen "orange shirt" wearers, and union members alike.
The rumors were about "medical take aways and poison 9-80s". They are the same exact stories I heard over and over again. I wound up telling three people after work today "Yea, I know, I've already heard" when they told me that the union said the exact same rumors to the membership over the past few contracts. Lots of people are onto this game. For those readers out there who have been employed at RMS for more than ten years, look back over your notes, or examine your own memory. 'Didn't this happen before?'
Does Mr. Guth actually look across the table and tell his counterpart "We intend to give you 9-80s, but with a poison pill attached". "We plan to make labor work 7 days a week, and Sundays will no longer be sacred". "We plan to remove seniority as you know it". "We plan to double your Medical".
What does anyone have to gain by releasing these kinds of rumors? Would the Company do it? Well, for one thing, the Company is not spreading rumors because of legalities. It could be considered an unfair labor practice. So that leaves the Union side. What would motivate them to do it? And why do they tell us to only listen to them...it sounds Orwellian to me. Again I ask, does the end justify the means?
Was there any real info released today? Or is it the same old cards played from an old deck of tricks that only comes out every three years? Does the company stand to gain from an angry mob of workers or the union? Why would the Union intentionally play with the minds of its supporters. Why would the Company want an angry mob manufacturing its products? Why would the Company say something as offensive to union bargainers at the beginning of negotiations?
Is this a complete ruse? Maybe none of this stuff was talked about at all! It might be the whole thing is made up. Maybe the purpose of fomenting anger within the worker population serves another purpose to the union. Who really knows. You will get closer to the truth if you examine what motivates each side. Who stands to gain from the released rumors so far? If they are false rumors, then you can ask yourself, is it OK to let them (whomever) to play with my mind? And if they would do that, what else are they willing to do? Is this good for me to go along with it?

Ponder this before the Strike Sanction Vote. Vote accordingly.

Get out of Jail Free

I learned today that there are notices going out to get as many people involved in the union as possible. Why? Because the Union can't tolerate having engineers doing touch labor! Yes, it’s happening now! These are interesting times to be in. Right now you can download your union resignation papers, sign them, and send them certified mail to both the Company and the Union to resign your membership. But the Union is animated in its call for Unity. Or is it? Now that the official decertification window has past with a humiliating dismissal of charges, there is silence. I have yet to hear anyone wants my talents involved with the union for their benefit. Jeff, One guy in our camp was told he isn't welcome to join the union, even if he tried. But the dilemma still exists. Engineers are still doing touch labor. And the Union is still desperate to get more membership. It’s an unthinkable situation with no easy solution.

What is the IAM going to do about it? Are they willing to pay testers a wage good enough to attract talent? Or will they force the company to promote more semi educated workers to get the same wages as the elite former ETTs. "What? The Union doesn't pay workers, the Company does." Yes, I know, but
the Union can give and take a little to get the wages of the PTS class raised to where it should be. "The Union isn't the only person in the negotiating room." True, but the battles that go on in that room are fought there and deals are cut before anyone outside gets word. What happens in there stays in there. It's time for a fighter to fix the past. It’s time for this Union to break from its old form.

It means compromise. And that compromise should come out of the raises of the overpaid. And while we're at it, we might as well include all the other fields that have less than doubled their wages since 93. Somebody with a calculator should be able to fix it so nobody is getting gouged. Bitterness permeates Raytheon because of the unjust wages. Is there a problem with paying low skill workers a high skill pay? You better believe it. Those low skilled workers are invited to get some schooling and promote themselves. Take charge of your life. Don't blame the Company for you sitting for twelve years in a job that never gave a raise. Get a raise by promotion!

I've heard it from two authoritive sides that both the Company and the Union Membership are unhappy with the arrangement having assemblers lumped together with the higher skill workers. And the old labor grade 11s put together with 16s in Test. There are quite a few examples of this in labor. So who has the courage to bring this up as a bargaining chip in negotiations? We posted the ugly truth. Who will carry this message into the negotiating room? Who on the Negotiating team has the courage?

Why isn't this on a poster to be picketed on Monday the 5th of October on Hermans Road? Who is fighting for the worker who studied hard to get the job he has, and now is surrounded by others less skilled and making the same money? Why wasn't this on the questionnaire last August? Why isn't the union making this an issue in public? Why has this argument repeated over the past decade over and over without ever being resolved? What does it take to get this Union to listen to the workforce? Does it take Engineers working touch labor? Wake up Mr. Watson. The workers are restless.

Just the facts

This morning there is a meeting down at the Union Hall. I recommend you go if you want to express your ideas to the committees before the negotiation period begins. Lots of things are on the table today. RONA, 9/80s, Medical, & Pay are a few. Ask a Steward to bring this page up before the meeting at Union Hall.
While I did my morning chores, I took advantage of an old contract I found laying around and used it to illustrate the differences in pay growth over the past decade & 1/2. To those who called me selfish, read it and weep. These are the cold hard facts. Everyone didn't get a fair shake over the past 16 years. Some fared better than others, some faired quite poorly.
Look at all the trades that got 150% increase or less, while one group stands out. I would like to say that Jeff's idea of everyone getting equal growth would have prevented a large part of the rebellion. Jeff is for Equal growth. What says he now? Does anyone dispute these numbers? Is the Union willing to rectify this problem, or perpetuate it?
My request is to adjust raise in pay of all classifications until the growth rate of each of them is equal on the far right column. Percentage of growth is the true measurement of how the Union treats all of its workers regarding pay. When one classification runs away with all the profits, it leaves the rest of us with a bitter taste. Let the numbers speak for themselves. I want no more, nor no less than whatever is needed to balance the percentage of gains throughout the entire labor force. I feel all would agree that is fair. Mr. Watson, can you return the relative pay to the way it was back in October of 1993?
Of course, these are not the only gripes I had with the Union over the past couple of years. But since there is an important meeting today, I decided that this is a good place to start. Now is the time so the truth can be discussed in an open forum with the leadership of the Local Lodge.

Hat's off on Labor Day

Congratulations to the IAMAW Local Lodge 933 for winning this week’s Decertification Petition. A proper salute, in all fairness goes to the Union. Have your party now. Dance, drink and be merry. There is no hate. Today we are celebrating Labor Day where I respectfully take my hat off to Jimbo and the whole team he leads and offer congratulations.
As we have finished our campaign messages, we will continue to observe and comment on the direction the Union takes our labor force. We will criticize if we feel it’s needed. We’ll compliment when it’s appropriate. We’ll take on the role of watchdog for now, so we are not going away. As this entire campaign has been political in nature, we hope that nobody had their feeling too hurt. I plan to put my political hat in a corner for now and let the negotiation process take place.
Thank you Jeff, for an excellent debate. I read the comment section and do not feel an apology is in order. Congratulations are in order for your contribution to IAM933’s cause. Your constant arguments were in the best interest of your side and you represented your position very well. Although I don’t agree with you philosophically, I gather from your passion that you truly believe you work in the best interest of others. I wished that I had the chance to debate with members of the local at the level that you brought here to these pages. You truly are a champion of your cause.
Keep your eyes on November. If Jimbo takes our messages seriously, he will fix the problems that caused this rebellion. So enjoy your victory. Majority rules, remember? We'll kindly remind you of our ideas in October if we feel the need. For the next two months, your team can feel free to tell us what positive things your side is doing for the entire labor force. Lead by example. We’re all eyes and ears.
As a final comment, I present a challenge. A very important comment was made this weekend anonymously. A couple hundred signatures are not enough someone said. You're right. But it's a start. Welcome to your new reality. There are hundreds who voted against you. What are you going to do to correct the problem? We will not hate. In this pluralistic society, there is room for differing ideas. But with the helm of an organization responsible for the well being of all the labor force, you have a big job ahead of you. I offer to answer in good faith any serious questions you may have that would lead to the resolution of the crisis you face.

For the past three years a patriotic group of employees has informed the workers of the big swindle on Ajo Way. These freedom fighters have collected lots of signatures despite the fear of violence and vandalism from thugs. Unfortunately we couldn’t collect enough to rid RMS of the entire group, but hope lives on in a small fight living within the Cal-Tech petition.
On August 31, 2009 a notification was sent to the union from the National Labor Relations Board that a significant group of Calibration Technicians are attempting to win their freedom from oppression by disassociating themselves from the Labor union that has failed to represent their skills for the past decades. We believe this action is legal because the majority of Calibration Technicians have expressed a desire to not be controlled by the union.
The union hopes the NLRB will toss aside this band of freedom fighters, but the problem they have is there is one small instrument of law in the way. That will be tested in the coming weeks, and we'll see if the group is as insignificant as the union claims. Regardless of the outcome, the Decertify Committee plans to continue on our quest to remove the entire bargaining unit from RMS, not just the Cal-Techs. If the Cal Techs succeed, they will be an example to the rest of us on how to finally defeat this goliath that has held us down for so long.
If you know a Calibration Technician who is in the union, ask him why he pays an organization that systematically reduced his earning power by over four thousand dollars a year, while raising other classifications six to eight thousand dollars beyond their skill value. If you know of a Calibration Service Technician who is not in the union, thank him for resisting the onslaught of brainwashing propaganda and for standing up for what is right. When you see union members who have expressed hatred for non unionized employees, let them know that this is one of the reasons you don't support them, and that their attitude is unwelcome.
The only way for the union to quench the flames our quest is to rectify the injustices in pay in writting. Also they must provide reparations to all RMS Employees whose cars were damaged during a period after the strike where a spike in reports of vandalism occurred.
They officially open negotiations with Raytheon on the 5th of October, 2009. Anyone dissatisfied with the union may at that time submit resignation paperwork to both the Company and the union so they may free themselves of the financial burden of the ridiculous dues they charge the working man. It only gets worse in January.

In the Spirit of Liberty,
Superbia Parti

The American Way

The union has outdone itself to blow smoke up your posterior with an onslaught of bogus American themed flyers. Any true American would see this is the same propaganda that Stalin would pass on to the Soviets in his era. These are nothing but patriotic sounding ideas combined with work messages designed to confuse workers and take the bait. The Machinist union has removed your freedoms and is endangering your jobs.

While looking at comments under the previous article here, I looked at some statistics and found there may be a reason jobs can leave out plant. Already NAPI and Camden are taking increasing roles in Missile Systems. Why? One reason is the belligerent union has forced the Company to reduce risk from this bunch of militants. Jobs might go away because the union squeezed the Company so hard they have to look elsewhere for a dependable and loyal workforce. The union will bring a self-fulfilling prophecy to themselves if screw up as bad as they did in '06.

The American Way Flyer by the union is a silly propaganda rag. Are you dumb enough to fall for the "You don't have rights on the job" line? Those Constitutional rights are written to protect individuals from incarceration, not job loss. Ask anyone in jail if there is a difference between the two. Maybe we could get opinions from Sheriff Joe Arpaio's jail residents to get a clue. If you sell your freedom for security, you deserve neither.

It goes on to say "you don't have a say or a vote on your working conditions" Yes you do! You have feet. Use them if you're not happy! How about that unforgettable gut wrenching line "...without a contract you are an at will employee.” There they go stirring the pot of fear again. But what does the union do for you? I know workers in the union who have been lobbying for and voting for good changes for their whole career, and they get ignored. What I can't figure out is, why they keep paying dues? No wonder, these same guys signed my petition last week.

With or without a union contract, this defense contractor will treat you fairly. How many salaried types are fired unjustly? Compare that to how many stupid crooked unionists keep their job and add to the dead weight around here after the union brings those losers back! More unionists are angry that so-and-so kept their job after a major screw up than any rumor of someone getting unjustly fired. It just doesn’t happen.

Now the union wants to give a black eye to our friend and colleague, Gary. The fact is that he wasn't fired, and didn't use their help. He rejected it. He is a guy that fought the system and won all by himself! Who needs the union? Go ahead and speak up! No retribution happens. I see engineers and salaried folks bringing up safety & quality issues all the time. So far, ZERO firings. So their argument doesn't hold water.

Their sheet of paper isn't worth the ink that's on it. You don’t give up your rights except by joining the union. Don’t give the union exclusive representative rights over you. Quit the union now and go back to the way true Americans do business. Go to the petition page and take back your rights!

BOHICA!

Yesterday I got a nice letter from our union DBR, Mr. Watson. "As you know, we will be entering negotiations very soon with Raytheon, and I wanted to contact you and ask you to be a part of the IAM team, to gain a voice and a vote on your future."
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Whew! What a line! Let me see if I got that right. You want me to pay three hours a month of my labor to get a voice? A Vote? Regarding MY future? I invite all of you to read the letter for content. Does it make sense? He wants to protect our jobs, pay & benefits. It goes on and on…yea...OK, that's why the skilled trades at RMS have pay below par. It sounds like he is protecting his job, pay and benefits. IAM is an extremely profitable company. Did any of you know about the IAM Golf Course they own and operate at the Wipisinger Center that is paid for by your union dues? There is more. Since most Americans have tired of union games, it leaves fewer and fewer of you to carry the increasing burden of their luxurious jet-setter lifestyle.
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Jimbo, we understand the game. You make more than double the average pay of the RMS Worker. And as you go up the IAM rank and file, you'll get even more than that! To fund this increase, the union is raising the dues again this year. What was two hours of pay per month in December of 2008 will be three hours a month this January. BOHICA! *

Jimbo, drop the Medical Coverage rants. We've heard that all before. That's why you guys caused the strike last time. You should have asked for a pay raise and let it get eaten up by medical costs back in 2003. If you had done that, the 3+3+3 you got in 2006 would have been 6% ahead of what you gave your workers. You're going to get pass-through language now, just like salary. You just postponed the inevitable, and it cost you 6% in wages forever. Take the medical coverage that salary gets, and shut the hell up! That leaves you in a better position to get wages for the workers. Up until now, you failed us miserably.
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Your ability to bargain is hampered by workers who aren't part of the union. They aren't part of the union, because the disadvantages outweigh the advantages of membership. You caused us to rise up against you. Not only must you face the Company across the negotiating table, but also now you will battle for your right to those negotiations. Some of you claim that if we thought we were so smart, why don't we join forces with you? Some of us have in the past. And we collectively discovered that you are not what you claim you are. It's not that we are so smart. It's that your union is so DUMB!
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Nobody will forget the feeding frenzy the union had on the night of 5 November of 2006. We want no part of that. Your performance falls way short of "protecting our jobs, pay, & benefits."
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"If we stand together we can do better." BOHICA! *
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The union has systematically ripped us all off. If you had not, you would have more loyalty from us. But since before I joined the Company, you guys have fought to reduce the wages of skilled labor in exchange for increasing unskilled labor.
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You violate union ethics to forget the trades that gave you your beginnings. Since the early 90's, wages for all skilled trades have suffered, while a select group got a huge boost. You lie when you blame the company. YOUR union did it. You negotiated it away, just like you did RONA and everything else. The cold wolf makes cute videos of a couple of our supporters, but it still doesn’t change the facts. Your members know this to be true.

Soon the Company is going to drop a nuke on the union when it begins to fill Tester slots with salaried workers this fall. Go ahead and strike. Since your selfish union has seen to keep the Tester Profession pay low, there is a cost to you. The Company can't hire enough to do the work, so they are going to roll you over the log and "give it to ya". You better get generous with the Company and let RMS pay the technical trades what they are worth. I'm really going to enjoy the show when the union goes bezerk over this!

Quote: "And as someone said earlier I have not seen anyone trying to stand up for wips, custodians, material handlers. All these occupations are subject to outsourcing if you lose the union."

BOLSHEVIC! There are quite a few WIPS & Material Handlers who signed the petition. They too have been given the shaft by this union. We know this, and are fighting for them too. Once upon a time, an Assembler could find a better paying job by training up to be a WIP. Thanks to this union, that hasn't been the case for many years. How many red circles did the union cause, and then it lies to cover up deals so they wouldn't complain? The union loves to say, "We'll try to help you, but the Company is greedy". So convenient to say, and so easy to fool the unsuspecting client of the machine that consumes your wealth. Outsourcing won't happen as they claim. There are not enough WIPS & Material Handlers to push the union honchos around. Just like the other skilled jobs, the union has seen fit to screw us. Our movement brings balance to the pay grades here at RMS either by forcing the union to recognize they have to represent, or by removing their right to represent. ALL THE GRADES, not just a couple, deserve fighting representation.
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This means that they will painfully have to undo what they have done, or it will be painful when we undo them. You will put all the wages proportionally back where they were back then, across the entire Plant. Sad to say, you guys are too stupid to understand "proportionally" because you can't figure out "median", so I doubt you guys can fix this problem you created over successive contracts. Separate the skills again! Testers are not EETs! Inspectors are not Assemblers! Bring pride back to your work force again! I'll volunteer to teach you guys what I mean, if you have the fortitude to attempt such an endeavor. Then maybe I for one would lay off your case...a little.

I don't accept the phrase "we will try to do better" from the union. That is a cheap way out. When RMS spends close to 72 Million Dollars a year on labor wages, not including benefits, then you have quite a big pie with which to slice up different ways. It's the union's job to represent skilled labor, the same kind of workers that originally started trade unions so long ago. You guys have forgotten your charter. We're here to help you remember. Because if you won't do your job, other unions are lining up to do it for you. BOHICA! ( Bend over, here it comes again)

If you want to change the union, fight it!

Just the Facts

This weekend I was the recipient of one of these propaganda flyers that the union has been pushing. They must have come by my place and missed me while I was out riding the foothills on Jeff’s 2009 Harley Davidson IAM-Glide Classic. Their flyer has "Just the facts" in bold print on its face.

These "facts" the union is selling is a pack of lies based upon a made up "median" wage for Testers and Assemblers. Either the union doesn't know the definition of "median wage", or they are lying through their teeth. Or worse yet, both. I can’t trust them.

The union claims Tucson Median wages for a Tester is $14.89*. Using a statistics definition, the middle number in a given sequence of numbers, is the median value. Based upon Union math used in the flyer, there are testers working in Tucson for $8.45 if the union wages of 21.33 is the highest in Tucson. Does one of you union guys want to tell me what company pays those wages for testing anything more significant than the taste of a McDLT? *(Wages in May 2007)

Lets look at the claim that Assemblers median wage in Tucson is $10.83*. If RMS Assembly Techs make up to $20.30 an hour, and the Tucson median wage is $10.83, then there are some unhappy souls making $1.42 an hour here someplace. Sounds pretty unrealistic, huh? These are the numbers as the union defines them. Either the union is making up their numbers or they are stu-u-u-u-pid! Do you clowns understand Median Wage?

I don’t think so. They printed a "range of median rate" for both Testers and Assemblers. By definition, median excludes range. It’s a set value, numbskulls. It also seems to conflict with the web page they posted recently. The one I mentioned August 1st. You can visit by surfing below a few entries. I never did get any serious response on that. Just the facts.

I've spent two years answering your silly comments that you say I don't answer. Again I say; Look at the A2 positions across RMS. Look at the Security Guards. There you'll find the answer of "will RMS reduce pay & benefits?" Next time you challenge me on that, bring some RMS Statistics to support your claim that Wages & Benefits go down. Till then, you have no case Jeff, Steve, Smith, etc. YOU are the ones guessing. YOU only take propaganda from an idiot union as biblical scripture. With all the blunders you guys make, there is NO WAY you dimwits have access to more facts than I do. You are just making wild guesses based upon Lenin's theorum.

So if any of you got this silly flyer from the union, look carefully at what they said. Then ignore the whole thing and laugh. These guys are desperate to make you a paying customer. Next year, the dues go up to three hours a month. Assemblers will pay something over 730 dollars a year. Too bad they can’t get my wages to go up by fifty percent over two years.

BTW, I looked up some of my own statistics. In 2008 there were 162,330 Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians in the USA with a median wage of $25.60, regardless of union affiliation. Less than 14 percent of them were in a union. Source? www.bls.gov.2008. So if the average union and non union technicians get ten percent more pay than our UNIONIZED workers, it begs the question; What is this union doing wrong? Didn't their flyers say they get more pay? Shouldn’t they get at least “median" wage? Just the facts!


Union Officers won't respond to critisism of their incompetence.
Union intimidates workforce. Whats with the scab list on RMS Computers?
IAM constitution prevents members from making improvements. A disinsentive to join. If you want to change the union, FIGHT IT!

My Turf

It is interesting that the union's national website uses some very strange terms. You can sign up to get a "my turf" account to monitor issues and lodge information. My turf sounds like a gang term. Why is that? Is this the attitude your union wants you to disintegrate to? Or are they already there? The first tab on their website is called "Pick a Fight". Funny but that doesn't sound like activities a professional should be involved in. It sounds like the activity of a "thug". And there is a tab which would sound innocent enough outside of all these thug terms, it's a tab called Territories.
Speaking of thugs, what about their other wonderful idea? You know "Employee Free Choice Act" which totally eliminates "free choice". Genuine "free" choice does not involve coercion. Recently the union didn't think you got the message clearly enough by all of them wearing their shirts daily, because they got scared by a couple of guys with a petition and a dissenting opinion, LOL! Cracks me the hell up.
So since the 60% of you all who don't care to join this union are obviously blind or stupid according to the union's way of thinking they've been upping the ante. They are sending their goon squads around to people's homes to "encourage" them to join. Good thing the National Labor Relations Board says Raytheon has to give them your home address. Yeah!
Now you get an idea of what the Employee "FREE CHOICE" Act is all about. The free choice this act provides to you under force of law is not being able to complain about the union sending its thugs to your home to "convince" you of the error of your ways. But hey why don't you call your local Tucson police and cry intimidation. Oh, yeah they are union members. They will probably have to arrest you for that broken taillight.
That's how thugs roll. It's time to roll up the sleeves on your tee shirt and wear your Aunt Jemima head band so you can fit in with the gang mentality. The truth hurts and yet this union doesn't recognize that we are the BEST thing that ever happened to this union and they still don't get it. We walk by and get the "evil eye", the shun, maybe a grunt. Hell they should be slapping us on the back and sharing their Kool-Aid with us. We gave their gang bangers what they desperately needed most "solidarity". Tee shirts are worn almost daily, the union is more vocal than ever, they almost have regrown their backbone, apathy is waning and they think we are the bloods or are we the crypts?
Well whatever we are, we are certainly the cool ones. We are the ones who truly care about people's wages, and health care. We aren't being paid by anybody to do what we do. We are the ones you see with the really big smiles and the totally cool bandannas. Pancakes anyone?

Personal Responsibility

At our recent get together near safe house java a fellow patriot shared his encounter with a brain drained union droid.

This droid accused our patriot of being confused about personal responsibility. He said it was impossible for our patriot to claim he stood for personal responsibility while collecting signatures to get rid of the union which represented the epitome of personal responsibility. Now I’m not one to play devil’s advocate (he really don’t need no help), but I have to admit that the droid was absolutely correct. He was correct IF you have a wolf pack mentality. It is the duty of every wolf to share the spoils with the rest of the pack no matter how hard he worked to bring down the gazelle . Your personal responsibility is to the pack to whom you "owe" your existence.

The union is a perfect example to all of us of “personal responsibility” and we should all thank the droid for his insight. The best way to explain this so my fellow patriots can understand it is to relate the story of the cute prehistoric squirrel in the Ice Age movie. Throughout the movie the squirrel runs around trying to get and hold onto an acorn which manages to slip from his hands constantly. Now imagine that the acorn is your weekly paycheck. It constantly slips out of your hand week after week. Our fellow patriots would believe that the responsible thing to do with that acorn is to share it with his family and use it for his own personal satisfaction. After all the patriot found the acorn and managed to hold onto it.

Now the union would enlighten our selfish patriot about the true meaning of personal responsibility. A truly “responsible” person would recognize that everything he owns belongs to the collective. The union negotiated for the rain that watered the oak tree. If the union didn’t exist the sun couldn’t shine on the tree. The union created the incentive for the squirrel to move from a right to work for less forest to a forest maintained by union graft and corruption.

It was the union that bought and paid for that man in the White House to bow to their every whim. Why the damned squirrel wouldn’t even have the energy to get out of his nest in the morning without the incentive of knowing there were his fellow co-workers in the forest waiting on him to hold onto his nut long enough to give them each a 2.5% share until there was no nut left. Did you get that jab?

That’s right! This union that preaches to her droids about personal responsibility will be asking you to not be greedy and to share 4 hours of your pay with your fellow squirrels. It doesn’t matter how hard you had to work to find and hold on to that nut, it’s not your damned nut anyway. Without the union the nut wouldn’t exist, don’t you get it droid?

Now my idea of “personal responsibility” is taking personal responsibility for those I am “personally” responsible for. Duh? What a concept! And while we are speaking of personal responsibility, why don’t we talk about how the union manages its finances.

Just a couple of months ago the union asked for a raise. Does that mean the droids were being too selfish? Well not really. You see at the beginning of the year the union already got a raise. They got a raise because all of us hourly folk got a raise. When your paycheck went up at the beginning of the year the union coffers grew far beyond last years levels, so why did they need another raise? Well it’s simple they sent away most of your dues to the Democratic National Committee to get Barack Obama elected. Oh Joy! I thought it was my civic duty to send my money to the candidates I chose to contribute to.

Why should the union give money to someone who stands against all the things I believe in, and then ask for MORE money? But you greedy bastard droids aren’t being as personally responsible as your union “stewards” are being. The union is going to be asking for MORE! And if we don’t get rid of these clowns NOW, they will make Arizona a “right to share” state. You will get the opportunity to share with the collective brotherhood the whole nut. They may let you have 2.5% for yourself, but only if you aren’t too greedy!

I would personally rather spend my money on the things and people I value. I get taxed enough as it is. The union isn’t doing me any favors. They didn’t negotiate for a dime more than the company offered before the last strike. But hey I think the union NEEDS to go on strike this year. And hey take 6 months off this time. That will show the company who holds the nuts! I’ll hold onto my own nuts, thank you very much.

The next time you watch Ice Age, put yourself in the squirrel’s place. Why should you share that acorn with anybody but your loved ones? Be personally responsible. Download and sign your petition for Change we can ALL believe in!

The Soviet "Union" want's change!

Look what the union put on it's website! Dare to click on the picture?
We edited ours to show you the whole picture. The soviet "union" wants change! Check the Union Website to see for yourself!


This union supports Labor, not skilled labor - even the machinists are running! The union can't protect Local President from time off! Can they protect you? “That’s one less scab we need to worry about.” Poisonous union militants.
Our union attracts dead weight. People who "need" protection.
IAM constitution stops change. Disinsentive to join.
Union intimidates workers. Whats with a scab list on RMS Computers?
The union encourages hate of law obeying laborers.
Union Officers won't respond to critisism of their incompetence.
10,000 individual RMS beggars do better than union in pay raises.
Union bosses make twice your wages on the sweat of your toils.
Union took credit for retired benefits fight it didn't start!
Union wont stop raising worst worker pay. We want Merit Pay!
If you want to change the union, FIGHT IT!
Where is our RONA? Where is our 9-80s?

What say Steve...ehem Jeff to this now?!

And what happend to Agent Smith?!

Nekid Chicken

Happy Monday IAM933! It's nice to see some scrapping still going on here. How many of you have gone over this blog and read the past issues? I would like to get you caught up with a few links.

Socialist Trolls
Run to union Prosperity!
Rat Party on Ajo Way!

This should help you get caught up. Feel free to read more. And tell your friends. The Android doesn't want to have to repeat repeat himself himself. Some of you clowns cant get over my picture. So lets take a vote. Should I get Lyposuction or have my stomach stapled? LOL..I can't wait for some of the responses on that one! Moving on to more substantial matters.

Last Friday Agent Smith sent a mysterious message to this blog.
And then A.S. apparently sent e-mails out to a few special people.
He encrypted the message in such a way that it caused a lot of
concern. Some of the recipients have taken that e-mail as a veiled or direct threat. I see it came from a nekid chicken.

He tried an elaborate method to hide his identity but failed to
deter his revelation. Using his kind words as a guide, I decided
not to directly uncover who Agent Smith might be in Public...yet.
We know this individual is quite politically active and has friends in high places.

Unfortunately for him Authorities have been contacted about this
cryptic message he sent out. If we figured who it is, then surely the authorities would find out easily. It's one hundred and three degrees outside, but you must be a cold wolf.

Rebellion at Raytheon!

There is a Rebellion among the workers at Raytheon! It’s a fight Labor VS Labor. It’s a fight for what's right within the confines of Air Force Plant #44. Our union is scamming the workforce for profits. This union systematically fleeces the technical trades at RMS to spread your wages around the lesser skills that have majority voting membership. The only reason they do this is to raise their own income. Machinists, Testers, Calibration Techs, and WIPS, etc. all had better wages relative to lower skilled workers at Hughes back in 1994. Take a look at your contract booklets and see for yourself. The wages have shifted over twenty percent in favor of the assemblers in 15 years. I don't care what lame excuse the union has for this problem, the fact is they fleeced us.

The jerks who say we know nothing about negotiations better know this; The company pays for labor at an average pay per worker, and negotiates based upon the entire cost of labor as a group averaged. It's the union that has the heavy hand in setting wages of the individual work classifications. They must fight to keep within the threshold set by the company for the pay of the entire group. But they have the biggest role in setting the wages of individual classifications, as long as the average pay is within Company limits, and the Company isn't totally screwed because the union offsets the pay so much that they can't hire targeted workers.

So you union big shots better know this. We're on to you. We plan to tear down your house because you have ripped us off. We're tired of the lies and the false promises. You call us greedy when YOU, in fact, are the greedy company stealing money from the working class. We know we can get better pay without you, because you've depressed our pay so much, it’s become obvious. And for two decades you have made false promises, with the secret intent of raising the low skill jobs pay so much that it doesn't even pay to get the promotion to Tester! Machinists have been held down because you can get so much more money from Assemblers union dues. You've ruined the natural promotion incentive within the Company. Who wants a promotion when you can make as much money doing lesser work? And those lesser skills are paying the union coffers. What a scam!

Jimbo forgot that He is charged with representing ALL classifications, even if only one worker from that class is in your union. If you fail to do that (and you have), then you loose your charter. And The Decertify Committee is just the group to take your charter away. Signatures are pouring in now. Union members are signing up too. They know you guys are broken, and they want to abandon the sinking ship while there is time. Some of them aren't sure that we are right, but they know the union is wrong. Everyone knows IAM933 doesn't have the courage to speak up and answer the charges on this forum. You have no balls. Jimbo admitted it. For almost three years we've asked for a dialog. The only decent response we get is from Jeff. Jeff isn't from here, but at least he has attempted to represent. The rest are the occasional lunatics with slogans. Jeff should be happy he doesn’t suffer this local lodge, because he would be on our side if he worked here.

A rusty relic of last century

Recently, one of our supporters had a visit from a pair of IAM933 union business representatives at his house. He sent a note about the meeting. If you think the union is working for you, wake up! Contrary to what many people think, unions are NOT just some benevolent charity—A union is a business and today's union bosses need new members to fund their failing businesses. It’s a rusty relic of last century. Below is an account from the meeting with Jimbo & Steve.

The other day, the union came knocking on my door. It was Jim Watson, & Steve Taylor.
When I answered the door, I had no idea who these 2 guys were. Even after they introduced themselves, it didn’t even ring a bell until they said they were from the union. So they asked me, what my beef was with the union… I told them that they were the reason I wasn’t making more money! I said that no matter how hard I worked, the company could not give me a raise. I told them that I wanted the right to negotiate my own pay raises. I said that it was simply incredible that an Assembler was making within $1 of what a Tester was making…. I said, the metrology test was 6 hours, the Product test exam was 4 hrs, and what was the assembler test… 1 hr??? I said my 19yr old son could do the assembler job, with no training, yet they made within $1 of what a tester makes. Unbelievable!
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Since the contract of 1994, the pay increases for Assembly Techs has outpaced Calibration Techs by over 20%. A proportional change is true for Testers too. The Company has allowed the union to rip us all off. The union did it, and their Constitution and Preamble say to do it. They are stealing from the higher skills, and they are accusing that the Company did it. You Cal Techs are stupid for supporting the union. The Testers quit long ago because they don’t support these Cronies. Skilled Workers need to push back and demand union reparations for the past 15 years of injustice! Look at the pay scales of 1994. If your pay increased at a lesser ratio than other groups since then, you are a victim of union gerrymandering. Pay ratios should be the same as they were back then. I suggest you quit the union and put massive pressure on them to pay you back. If these clowns are ripping you off, then threaten to quit because you are tired of letting the “voting-block” push you around. Don’t let them lie to you that the Company did it. That did not happen. It is in the Business Rep’s interest to manipulate the wages the way they have done over successive contracts. It enriches HIM. Now his pay exceeds $92,000 per year. Does yours?

More notes from that meeting.
Jim mentioned the “Website” (http://www.iam933.net/), saying that he would not argue his points on our Internet web blog. I told him that I was not involved in the website (he isn’t), but that I agreed with pretty much everything that was said on it…Somewhere during this conversation, he mentioned that he would sit down with anyone, over a cup of coffee and discuss all of the things I had talked about… even call him at home… at which point I looked thru the pamphlet he had given me for some phone numbers. There was one, the union hall number… he told me he could be reached at that number.

So Jimbo finally admits he can’t debate this in a public forum. He knows his position doesn’t hold water. He would prefer we go down to his union hall with a peanut gallery to heckle the opposition. It looks like he can’t handle the heat of an open debate. Afraid to let his word meet the scrutiny of public opinion. His offer of a chat & coffee sounds harmless, but the problem with that offer is its not going to get any results. He’ll just tell us “I’ll try to do whatever I can to address your complaints” without actually doing anything. He’s not obligated to do anything, even after he promises action. As a recently settled NLRB case shows, the union is not obligated to tell you the truth because they are internal matters to the union, and you have no right to oversee them. See Govt. document: http://www.nlrb.gov/shared_files/Advice%20Memos/2009/20-CA-34166.pdf .
So who represents whom in this situation?

Jimbo, it’s hard to debate facts. This is the real reason you wont come on here and put your position to the people. If you can hide behind the lack of communication about our website, you stand to gain by continuing your lies and rhetoric. But the cat is out of the bag. Your members are increasingly reading our websites. We encourage your members to send in petitions even if they stay in the union. Lets put your union up to an old fashioned vote! Yes you stay, or No! You go! Union Members, join the fight for democracy in Raytheon. Send in a signed petition! Let the masses speak up. Tell others about this site. Tell others about the rebellion. Together we can do more! WORKERS ORGANIZE!

Unjustified Intimidation - The Scab List

Is the Salaried VS Labor fight a noble one? The Communist party focuses on class struggle. So does the IAM 933 local union. I borrowed some of these ideas from Wikipedia and tossed them in with my own because it sums up the union’s motives. That forces me to think of my steward and other unionists who claim to be so “conservative” in their thinking, but how they inspire militant socialist revolutionary reforms at Raytheon. These guys are so “pro bush, pro God, pro guns, etcetera” right-wingers who can’t stand the thought of Obama, Madonna, or Michael Moore. If you are in this union, you support socialist revolution. Do you understand this?

Over the past two years you may have read comments on this blog about the similarity between the union and communists, or socialists. What is the difference between socialism and communism? Socialism is a society ruled by workers, and Communism is a classless society. Socialism is merely a phase that society goes through on its way to Communism. This is a utopian concept that never works in reality. The USSR proved it.
For more info, you probably should read Wikipedia on Socialism and Communism. It’s not a perfect source, but it’s great for use at this level of discussion.

The history of all society until today is the history of class struggles.
Freeman and slave, patrician and plebeian, lord and serf, guild-master and journeyman, in a word, oppressor and oppressed, stood in constant opposition to one another, carried on an uninterrupted fight that always ended, either in a revolutionary re-constitution of society at large, or in the common ruin of the contending classes. The UAW ruined the auto industry in America. Our union through striking tried ruining the Company’s fortune through the mutual ruining of its own working class, leaving only the union itself standing unscathed. This method is in keeping with militant socialist ideals.

You the worker are merely a pawn of the machine that is trying to wield power over the Company by forcing it to do the union’s will. You are expendable to the union, and your sacrifices mean nothing to them, illustrated by the fact that they will disown you if you crossed the strike line, even on the last day. They will keep a list of you who crossed, even years from now, there will be names kept on a list for the inner circle of the union.
Now the “deserters list” has been found. And it was found on Company Computers! Actually a number of lists have been found. Maybe there are more. But be certain, the union has been keeping a list, and we have a copy of it. It’s been copied a few times and shared. Maybe it’s making the rounds among the workers by now. Are you on it?

What does this mean to you the worker? The union bombards us with messages that we can’t trust the company. “We’ll get shat upon as soon as the union is gone,” they say. But we all know this is the shattiest union in the world. They’ve proven they are not worthy, but we collectively keep them because of the fear we’ll be helpless without them if they go. We trusted them over the past and they’ve failed us miserably. Dr Phil would ask “Has it worked so far?” So why do we continue to invest in them, when we know the results will be failure?

Since we can’t trust the union, then the only thing we can look at is the logical next best thing. The workers who have left the union, and the labor ranks and who have joined the ranks of the salaried workers. These are the very people we will become like if we get rid of the union. Or we can look at the RMS Security folks, who some five years ago, removed the IAM933 from their ranks. Are they happy with the results five years later? Do they want the union back? I’ve asked several of them the same question. They’ve given me a resounding NO! If there are any RMS Security personnel out there who disagree with that comment, please respond. You can even write the webmaster at iam933.net of you would like a dialogue.

The bottom line is, we can’t trust the union. They’ve proven that. They claim we can’t trust the Company. Ask a salaried worker what they think. Pull them aside and ask them off the record. Don’t compromise them. Give them the liberty to express themselves so you can get an honest answer. Let the chips fall where they may. Ten times out of ten, you will get a response that doesn’t support the union. No one will force you to accept the truth. It’s just there waiting for you to accept it.

So what about the scab list? What good can come out of that? Are you on it? Did you rejoin the union after you crossed the line last time? What kind of member do they consider you to be? Maybe you should wonder if you are on that list. What will they do if nobody is looking? What would they do if this wasn’t a right to work state? Isn’t that unjustified intimidation?

Socialist Trolls and the things they say!

Socialist Trolls and the things they say! Enjoy! :-)

Funny thing, this document has been rolling around on my hard drive since December of last year. I wouldn't call our good buddy Jeff a troll, but the stewards in the factory love to repeat these slogans. Is it a coincidence or is it brainwashing by the union? Our union calls us freedom fighters Rats! Why would a Rambo pay $1000 a year to the union so his pay can be held down by $4000 per year? Who's the rat?

A union is only as good as the members that are in it.

The union is governed by its constitution. Members are practically barred from making changes to the existing document. Good people joining the union doesn’t change it, it changes the people. Unionists should check out their own constitution! Local 933 is one of the most pathetic unions and cannot be helped by vocal members who want change. Only disenfranchising the union will get the changes we need in the 21st century.

Without the union, you are at will employees of the company, with no contract, in a right to work (right to make a low wage) state.

I love this “At Will Employee” tearjerker. Arizona has some of the toughest right to work laws in the country when it concerns employee protection against tyrant employers. Your union doesn’t tell you that. Must I remind all of us that there are over ten thousand employees here at RMS without benefit of a union contract? I see their wages just suck royally, NOT! They don’t need a union, and YOU don’t need a union. The union NEEDS you to pay for its fat-cat lifestyle. Who’s paying whom? RONA was lost by local 933! Jimbo got almost $92,000 last year off your dues!

If companies treated their employees well and with respect, paid them a fair wage and benefits, then there would not be a union at their work place or an attempt to form one.

The reason some employees don’t get any respect is because they SUCK! Bad attitudes, lack of effort, milking jobs, and filing frivolous grievances are all are valid reasons why union types get looked down upon. Their reputations are built upon years of under achievement here.

If the unions disappear you people will be working 80 hour weeks at $10.00 an hour and have no benefits.

If unions disappear, union bosses will be working for $10.00 an hour and have no benefits, because they wont work for a living. Instead they milk your hard earned paycheck. Don’t fall for this stupidity check. Ask a non-degreed salary worker if they get ten bucks an hour with no bennies! Many of them left the union for their salaried jobs.

Management will work you to death and fire all who won't work 7 days a week.

Whoever said this is a complete idiot. They really have no respect for you or your intellect. This is a mantra coming from the religion-cult of the union. Worship is on Sundays at the union hall! Would you like grape or cherry Kool-Aid?

If you want to change the union, join it!

No thanks, we’ve already changed the union for the better, and we plan to change it for the best come October 31 of this year. By that time, we’ll be union free, and able to negotiate for ourselves what the union has taken from us for the past 57 years.

These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to jargon and brainwashing techniques employed by the delusional leaders of the union. A special thanks to all the other web sites out there that support removing the union from RMS. http://www.iam933.net/ http://oust933.googlepages.com/home http://iamnot933.blogspot.com/ and any other ones I have failed to mention.

Be careful - don't fall!

Welcome back fans & foes! Here’s a lighter message for the masses. The union placed you way up high to get your dues support, and you are basking in their hypocritical sunlight. If you took the bribe then you are a fool with your money and trust. Be careful, don’t fall! I hope to keep the comments coming in. It looks like our pen-pal Jeff (GOIAM) has left us. What a shame. He was the only intelligent one who had balls enough to come defend the union’s position. And he’s not even from this union. He’s still wrong, he's still socialist, but at least he has some manhood. Our local union lacks courage. This is one of the reasons why we don’t want them. Not only are they stupid, they have no machismo about them. They smell like hairspray and talcum powder. None of their officers or representatives came on here to publicly defend the IAM933 way of thinking. They are afraid to get into an argument with a ghost! And they wear those rat buttons as if they were some sort of protective amulet or something. What a bunch of weaklings!

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This June we are getting into full swing of the Petition Season. We wish to decertify this bumbling union before contract negotiations take place. To decertify the union, we must turn in our petitions to the NLRB between 90 and 60 days before the present contract expires. That is the Law. The NLRB needs petitions two months early to let them set up an election before contract negotiations. If the election decertifies the union, they will cancel negotiations, period. The company will then convert into having all of us under salary guidelines. If you are sick of this group of fools determining your pay, send in your signature now. I wish to thank each and every one who has gone to the trouble to send theirs in early. It’s working! Encourage your friends to send theirs in too.

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I’ve been complaining for a while about how this socialist organization lives on the backs of the working class. Now I’m going to show you again. Here are highlights from the union’s annual LM-2 Form for 2008. It’s one of the same documents posted on http://www.iam933.net/finance.html except it’s the latest one! Look at where the money goes over at the union! It looks like Lori is the only one that earns her pay. Jimbo and Steve get excessive pay for what they do. And look at all those thousands of dollars going to the anointed seven!

John Catalano Cond/Sent $2,722

Elizabeth Hunter Trustee $2,885

Meicheile Juve Rec. Secy $2,560

Louis Martinez EBoard $2,980

Ramon Rodriguez Sec-Treas $1,860

Victor Duarte EBoard $1,470

Darron Stafford EBoard $2,824

Lori Jenness Office Staff $47,351

Steven Taylor BR $74,148

James Watson DBR $91,966
These guys making thousands of extra per year aren’t feeling the pain like you did in 06. At this rate, they will make their whole strike loss back by this year! Are you willing to fill their wallets with your money? Fight Back! Quit and Sign the Petition Now!

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Remember the vote back in Nov 2006 and Jan 2007?For union members these numbers look pretty familiar. For the rest of us, this sums up why union moral is low.

Contract Vote on 5 November 2006:

1140 – reject 106 – accept -- 1246 – votes total

1018 – strike 111 – opposed -- 1129 – votes total

Capitulation Vote on 14 January 2007:

766 – Yes, 186 – No, 200 – members crossed – 147 – unknown?

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The 2008 LM-2 shows union membership. This year they reported a two percent increase. This is total membership within all companies they represent.

Total Members/Fee Payers 1,688

Regular Members 1,188

Retired, Life, & Exempt Members 480

Unemployed Members 20

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With the AIKIMA Corp on the Air Base joining the ranks of the union, it looks like they succeeded in conquering that organization, and the employees within it. It doesn’t show how their levels within RMS have changed. But they have tricked some of their former members into rejoining their group. Poor fools, I guess they’ll never learn. They need to come down off the ladder.