Longshoremen strike

[Asher]

Originally posted by Frogger
Damn it, why have you been in a union and I haven't?

The best stuff they send me is the ones claiming Ralph Klein is going to bust the union "next year". They say this every year, actually. Their solution to "save the union" is to vote Raj Pannu(sp?) for the NDP instead.

That's what they used my $10/week union dues for, the bastards.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by frankychan
...this strike is screwing us over BIG TIME...

Not a strike but a lockout, i.e. management has gone "on strike" because the unions won't agree to let management hire non-union labor.

Franky, is Manson Shipping Lines still a monopoly over there? I moved back to the mainland a couple of decades ago because of the high cost of living. Everything had to be shipped in via Manson. I found the only people who could make a decent living in Hawaii were (a) union members; (b) professionals (doctors, lawyers) and (c) families with multiple incomes. Since I was none of the above, I had to throw in the towel.

[DanS]

"Anyway, like I was saying, Hawaii is basically screwed by this strike and the national news aren't even covering the impact it's causing our state."

You're right. It hasn't been heavily covered. On the other hand, several articles that I have read have discussed the Hawaii angle. People stocking up on necessities, etc.

[Frankychan]

Strike/Lockout-same smell in my book.

Zkribbler-sorry to hear that you had to move. But you said is true. Households need multiple income or a lot of income off of one paycheck in order to survive here. Oh, you are correct that Matson Shipping still has their stranglehold of Hawaiian shipping.

DanS-shoot. Didn't get to read any of those articles...

[faded glory]

I support the Union here.

It is a BIG wake up call to those who get loads of cheap crap from an Unstable and largely, Undemocratic Asia. Make toys in Mexico, Europe, Russia. Were too dependant on China and Asia.

I see Wal-mart shelves are getting thinner these days!

[faded glory]

FYI western Canadian ports are closed too I heard.

I dont like Unions..but I also hate companies who rip us off charging 29 bucks for a 19 cent shirt and keep the difference. I hope they suffer as much as possible.

[The Mad Monk]

Originally posted by faded glory
I support the Union here.

It is a BIG wake up call to those who get loads of cheap crap from an Unstable and largely, Undemocratic Asia. Make toys in Mexico, Europe, Russia. Were too dependant on China and Asia.

I see Wal-mart shelves are getting thinner these days!

But...it's not an unstable and undemocratic Asia that just shut down our west coast economy.

[faded glory]

Well an unstable and undemocratic asia WILL shutdown your west coast economy if we continue to feed them.

[chequita guevara]

It's true that Dockworkers get paid a lot of money. It's also true that dockerworkers have a very dangerous jobs, and are paid well to compensate them for the risk to life and limb.

I see nothing wrong with IT workers being in the ILWA. There have been organizing drives among IT workers for quite some time now, especially in the wake of the tech bubble.

Y'all seem to foget that unions are what stand between the "American dream" and a Third World life style in the US.

[faded glory]

FYI I am against Cheap imports that are essentially de-industrializing the entire Western civilization. If the Union, even if there idea's,fears and goals are different than mine takes a stand and keeps that crap out long enough. Corporations will hopefully smarten up and stop buying that cheap crap from Asia that puts the local guys outta business here. Ill stand with them.

[The Mad Monk]

Faded, take a closer look at what's going on. This economy now runs mostly off 'just in time' inventory systems that are very efficient, but can 'starve' very easily. Components are not being sent to factories, our agrogoods are not being sent out, finished goods are not being sent to the stores, and all this time, companies are hemoraging cash because because they still need to pay their workers.

With the economy as weak as it is, we're not that far from a total collapse in the western states.

[chequita guevara]

I doubt organized labor is about to let the ILWA lose. They may be weak spineless cowards, but they can't afford to let one of their most powerful unions be crushed.

[faded glory]

Look monk...I hate to break it to you bro. Were going down anyway.

I work for a small company in the serivce Department. We make maybe 30 million dollars in profits a year and have about 150 people on the payroll. Our chief competiters are Kodak\Polychrome. The only reason we can even barely compete now is because our Printing plates are Chrome, Steel and top of the line. Kodak uses disposable plastic Junk made is Asia and sells it cheap as dirt. We make ours here in Racine. As I said we barely compete. And right now, thanks to the Unions. Alot of Kodak's supply is being held up. And there are alot of calls and contracts being made. I see this as a good thing. We were dragging ass until recently. This may have saved my and alot of other guys jobs

America SHOULD BE dependant on AMERICA. Are you understanding my drift? I could care less about the Union's beef. Better people get a taste of what its like now then when China goes on its imperialist rampage.

[The Mad Monk]

I work at a chemical plant in Bayonne. We just laid off six more workers. We are currently losing $300K a quarter not including the customer we just lost worth $1 million in revenues.

We may not see the end of the year.

[faded glory]

Well I feel for you. But right now, this is the best thing that ever happened to us. With the kodak whores who use slave labor to make 9 cent piece of crap, down. People are turning to stuff made in america. Thats good as I see it. We manufacture right here and we get all the compnents we need here in America and some in Canada