Talk of Lufkin

By MR.

October 6, 2008 2:50 AM | Link to this

It sounds like if they get their way, workers have to pick between their bologna or their insurance! I wonder how these “higher ups” would feel if they couldn’t afford to take their kids to the doctor? I don’t know why yall aren’t on strike now. Are they gonna have yall work overtime for the next week so that yall have to put out more product? All, so this strike won’t effect their profits. This is the oldest scam in the book. Don’t cave in. The workers at Lufkin Industries are hard working and loyal. They won’t find hard working and loyal employees with their new contract. I applaud all of the workers who went and voted to strike. For the “scabs”, shame on you! Scabs think they can cross “the picket line” and reap the benefits (weekly paychecks) while the decent people picket. The sad part is scabs get the reward in the end (the settled on contract). Them greedy “scabs” ought to have a heart. They are just like the people who offer ya’ll these “contracts”! Greedy and unloyal!

By null

October 6, 2008 5:14 AM | Link to this

With the economy in the shape that it is in I personally think it would be nuts to strick. I understand standing up for your rights, but hey they got you this time around. I saw the news and what is with all those guys drinking beer in public. Bud is not cheap…You talk of bolonga, well explain how you can afford to be publicly drunk, on expensive beer, but make your family eat cheap food. ATYPICAL.

By bh

October 6, 2008 5:54 AM | Link to this

Strike? There are a lot of people who don’t have the privilege of getting overtime. If they don’t want to work, I am sure a lot of the foundry men will take their jobs.

By bb

October 6, 2008 6:21 AM | Link to this

On response from the last comment from null, this person has not realize what is actually going here. This company is trying to take away your ability to provide and secure your families future. This individual comes up with some comment about drinking beer. This person is wrong, some of these company executives sit around drinking hard liquor all day so get real.I’m saying this and I don’t even drink the MESS. So start using your head.

By jc

October 6, 2008 8:01 AM | Link to this

I have family and friends that work for Lufkin Industries and I would hate to see a strike. Some of them are just making it week to week so a strike would hurt them financially. I know that they depend heavily upon the o.t. BUT, Lufkin Industries does need to upgrade their pay scale.

By Wore out

October 6, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

I work at Lufkin Ind. I have talked to quite a few of the men and women, and they would consider the 4/12 work week if the company would up the pay scale. Most said they would love to have a few days off now and then, but they would not give up money to get a day off. The money offered by the company in this contract is a insult, and big joke. Bottom line is, if you want the 4/12 work schedule give us a good raise. If you want to get other workers from the bigger cities to come to Lufkin, give us a good raise. Dont try and flower coat the problem, FIX IT.

By andy3

October 6, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this

I saw where some of the union workers had their coolers drinking alcohol and speaking to the press, one worker fell down while he was being interviewed, mabey they need to sober up and really think about whats being offered like better retirement and dental insurance, some people wish they were so lucky.

By lnc

October 6, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this

Let’s make sure we judge an entire group of people on the actions of a few. The people on TV don’t represent every person who works for LI. I should know, since my family works there. We’re not falling down drunk over here, we’re worrying about feeding our kids.

By LIwife

October 6, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

My husband works for LI and it is very upsetting for people that don’t even now whats going on to talk about not going on strike or that some people don’t even have o/t, well LI “higher ups” are GREEDY, INCONSIDERATE AND UNLOYAL PEOPLE who gets paid good and can afford to buy a beautiful house and nice car but the hard working man can only live paycheck by paycheck and I know that for a fact because thats how we live if it wouldn’t be for the o/t and food stamps I really don’t know what we would of have done! So I ask all the community to support the hard working and loyal man if they do go on strike!

By bob

October 6, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

Commenters are correct, I think, that they should expect their net pay to remain the same. Giving a good raise but losing it in the insurance and other benefits is not actually a raise. On the other hand, LI knows that there are plenty of Texas Foundry people about to enter the workforce, and they will have no problem replacing the LI people. I would rather make 95% of what I am making than 0%. Quit whining about the “higher ups.” If someone goes to the expense and effort of going to college, gets a more responsible, higher paying job, good for them. You wanted to bum around, party, not get educated, and now you want the same as they have when they spent years improving themselves and making themselves more valuable to employers. What makes some people “rich” and some “poor”? Answer: effort and work on the part of the richer one. In this country, anyone can be richer if they try. Quit being a socialist like Obama who takes away from people who are making more effort. The labor class you have chosen to be in pays what you are making.

By Gr

October 6, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

So what if we drink beer. You must be one of the “higher ups”. Time off is precious, whether it is Sitting drinkin a cold beer, or Spending Time with Loved ones also. We still need-what we deserve!

By abused by LI

October 6, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

lufkin industries has made more profits than they ever have over the last several years and cant keep up with the new orders they are recieving yet there have been zero upgrades to any machines or buildings where the workers are kept but they have built brand new offices for the corporate types that abound around there. When the company negotiators screw the employees they split the savings with the company execs and stick the rest in thier pockets and get a big slap on the back and a “boy you really screwed ‘em good this time.” The raises they offer dont even keep up with inflation and to the people who say the execs deserve what they get just remember it is people who think just like them that have our country in the dire straights it is in now. Corporate greed is rampant here at LI. Putting money in workers pockets is the way to make our economy better not the other way around like lufkin industries thinks.

By bh

October 6, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

I agree, but the workers of L.I. have been getting a bad deal for a long time,YEARS. Everytime a raise have been given, benifits have taken the raise plus more. In response to the education I have two degrees in my profession, until somebody gives you the the OPPORTUNITY you cannot do anything with it. So get of the bandwagon for the wealthy. These people just want stand up for something right!

By tadd price

October 6, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

Sounds to me like once again someone is playing the workers against the executives. “All Workers are lazy drunken bums and all the Executives are heartless scundrels”. I’d say everyone needs to step back and see who’s benefiting from stereotyping all these different people into the same two categories. Class warfare has been practiced by politicians for a long time and all it gets anyone is more politicians.

By MR.

October 6, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this

Null… what do you know about the workers at Lufkin Industries! I know some good morale people who work out there! Just because you saw some drink beer, don’t you make rationalizations about most! And maybe you saw something I didn’t because I didn’t see anybody publicly drunk! I guess the workers should feel backed into a corner because of the economy! Nah, the workers at Lufkin Industries are valuable assets to the company. And by the way, Pilgrims Pride is hurting from the economy worse than Lufkin Industries and their workers are getting a lot of overtime.

By MR.

October 6, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

BoB, Even though the economy is bad and some of these guys didn’t get a college degree, they are still valuable assets to the company…valuable assets to any company. If Lufkin Industries can’t see that, then their loss. And if the company’s contract is accepted, workers will lose money! Someone should not have to go to college to be treated fairly. That’s what most of the workers want, to be treated fairly! Just because someone did not recieve a college degree, doesn’t mean that they “bum around”. If you are college educated, your post just goes to prove that being college educated and common sense are two different are two different things. By the way, I am college educated… but I have a good grasp on common sense. I also think that some college educated people try to act like they are better than other’s and deserve more. A college educated person should get a return on thier education but the workers at Lufkin Industries should get a return on their hard work and loyal years to the company. Obama has nothing to do with this… you are just trying to prove a point using uneffective and rude comments.

By reo

October 6, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this

I understand the working man. My grandfather worked for the paper mill here in Lufkin his entire life and he was also a member of the union. However; the union has outlived itself. We as a community should not support their demands with the economy like it is right now. We lost the paper mill because of union demands. Now, Texas Foundries has announced it will be closing. It looks to me like employees of Lufkin Industries should count their blessings and hope to God that LI does not decide to relocate outside of Lufkin. Please, as a member of the community, I ask the labor leaders to hang on until we get through the economic crisis. Your corporate leaders are also trying to find a way to keep the company’s head above water. Don’t work yourselves out of a job completely and further hurt our community.

By concerned

October 6, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this

It is concerning to me, that alot of employees will slam the company they work for. LI is wanting to expand there business to be able to bring work back in and to be able to get new work. The only way they can do this is to cut out overtime. 1st of all, they do not promise you any overtime, they could outscorce any job that would create any overtime. Maybe all the employees need to think on the other side of the spectrum. You would see that instead of only 40 hrs. per week, LI is offering you more than 40 hrs. per week guaranteed. Instead you are all worried about your 7 days a week, which is not guaranteed to you. I dont know if any of you have been involved in business decisions. But if you bid on a job, and you dont bid in the overtime that might me involved in doing the job, then you will lose money. If you bid in all the overtime, you might overbid the job, and you will lose the business. All LI employees are making overtime right now, The big question is, is LI bidding all there jobs for all the overtime they are paying to employees? I believe that LI employees have selfishly restricted LI from being able to expand there business. Also, helping the local economy with 400 - 600 new jobs.

By heather

October 6, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this

I have to disagree that”union has outlived itself”. Do you know what would happen if their were no unions to protect workers? I don’t agree with every decision unions make but this one, was a must. They were raising the medical insurance and cutting back their hours. You stated, “labor leaders to hang on until we get through the economic crisis”. However, the unions and workers must decide because if they go ahead and sign the contract, they are agreeing to three years of negative change. Most of these workers are good and morale people, who don’t collect welfare. They work hard and deserve resonably priced medical insurance. Until recently, Lufkin Industries has been a decent company to work for. I do believe the company will pull together and realize that maybe the contract wasn’t as fair as it could have been. Have you looked into the faces of any of the workers who are supporting families and are afraid that they will have to drop their medical insurance? I commend these workers, at least they are not burdens to taxpayers by collecting medicaid. I believe it is employers responsibility to provide reasonably affordable medical insurance, not the government or taxpayers. On another note, I believe God will continue to bless these workers because Lufkin Industries allows workers to take off for work on Sundays if they attend church. This company and the workers have God on their side. Maybe WallStreet and mortgage companies wouldn’t be in the predicament they are in now, if they considered God when making some of their unwise decisions.

By heather

October 6, 2008 9:13 PM | Link to this

Do you really think the worker’s at Lufkin Industries are selfish? It is their fault that Lufkin Industries is not expanding? Why not blame Texas Foundries for shutting down? But I guess it’s the workers at Texas Foundries faults. This line of thinking is irrational. Hey to help out the economy and help companies make more money and prevent further outsourcing of jobs maybe minimum wage should be lowered to three dollars an hour. Hey why not bring in sweat shops. Kids can work cheaply also. This is America, workers have rights, and the workers at Lufkin industies are not to blame for Lufkin’s economy. The current state of the economy can be blamed on the politicians, the mortgage and bank companies, and people who refuse to buy homes they can afford and get ridiculously expensive homes. People who are on HUD can buy houses even though many of them recieve foodstamps. If they can’t afford food why should a bank believe they can afford a mortgage note? It would be nice if everyone could afford to buy a home but realistically everyone cannot. Let’s put the blame where it belongs. Don’t blame the working man.

By concerned

October 6, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this

It is not the employees responsiblity to allow LI to expand. If those same employees were on 5 days/wk and only 40 hrs, they would jump at a 4day on 4day off 12 hr schedule with a guarantee of at least 40 per week. LI employees have gotten used to all the overtime, and dont remember or are too young to know, when it was less than 40 per week. LI EMPLOYEES HAVE BECOME SELFISH

By cnet

October 6, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this

If I could get an 11% raise and off half of the year I would think that was a pretty sweet deal

By lnc

October 7, 2008 7:07 AM | Link to this

How about all of you people who think the LI workers are selfish tell us where ya’ll work? That way, we can call the corporate office and let them know you’d like to work a 50 hour work-week for straight pay? Why stop there, though? Let’s get them to give ya’ll an 11% raise, but go up 18% on your health insurance. That way, your raise is nullified and you wind up owing more money than you did in the first place, while receiving less money to work the same hours you’ve been working? I mean, you wouldn’t want to be selfish, would you? Why not just work an 80 hour week for minimum wage? That way you really couldn’t be accused of being selfish.

Mostly, if this doesn’t affect you, I really think you should just butt out. I mean, if my lights get cut off next month, it’s no skin off your back, right? So, why open your mouth about something you don’t have the intelligence, compassion or common sense to know anything about?

By cj

October 7, 2008 7:14 AM | Link to this

I would like to see some numbers and hear some facts instead of just a lot of bickering. I have many freinds with LI, and don’t want to see anyone out of work, however I don’t care to see them ran over either. We work long hard hours, ourselves and cannot afford health insurance at all. As to the beer, everyone deserves a break, be it coffee soda or beer. No I do not agree with be drunk in public,hopefully that was not the case.

By bob

October 7, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this

Inc, you just made a ridiculous argument. There is a federal law that all over 40 is at time & a half. No one is being forced to work 50 hours at straight time. By the way, 11% increase of say, $400/week is a $44 raise. 18% increase of the weekly holdout for insurance costing say $100 (which would be $400/month) is only $18. The percentages are applied to 2 totally different amounts. Your position is totally ridiculous, to say nothing of misleading.

By Heather

October 7, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

Concerned you stated, “I believe that LI employees have selfishly restricted LI from being able to expand there business”. So yes you did state that “you” believe Lufkin Industries employees are to blame for the company not being able to expand. Now I’ll ask again, is it the employees’ fault that Lufkin Industries does not expand? Don’t try to side step this question. A simple yes or no would be sufficient.

By heather

October 7, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

Concerned: Lufkin Industries employees donate to the United Way. Employees also chip in to help each other out if a crisis happens involving a worker or their family. They actually take up money for that family. Doesn’t sound like the employees are selfish to me. I must have my definition of “selfish” wrong. Why don’t you define it for me?

By tj

October 7, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

LI employees are going to demand themselves out of a job is what they are going to do.

By concerned

October 7, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this

Yes, LI employees are selfish, good you give your fair share $39/yr to united way. LI employees are living on overtime, that wont be there forever. If they were working 40hr/wk, they would jump on a 4on/4off 12 hr schedule. How long to they believe the overtime will last. How long can a company keep paying overtime, for a product sold without overtime figured in on the price. Hopefully LI employees will start living on 40hr pay per week, and start saving the money from overtime.

By lnc

October 7, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this

Bob,

What was that I said? If it doesn’t pertain to you, butt out? I know I have much better things to do with my time than argue with you. It seems like someone who’s so intelligent, like yourself, would certainly have better things to do than argue over an issue which has no impact on your life.

Or, I know! You’re one of those people who derive pleasure from watching other people suffer. You must be having so much fun.

By Roy

October 7, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this

So what if LI decide to hire more employees and you couldn’t work any OT. I guess you would be screwed. You must have arranged your finances so that OT is required to maintain your lifestyle. With all the OT pay you could afford to eat T-bone steak nightly. Must be spending your money on boats, hunting equipment, four-wheelers and the like. I don’t think the community should support any workers who go on strike. Remember the words of Clayton Williams - “Bad weather is like rape if it’s inevitable, just relax and enjoy it”. Same goes here. If you feel that LI is raping you with benefits just suck it up and enjoy it.

By Heather

October 7, 2008 10:02 PM | Link to this

Inc, Don’t worry about what these people are saying. Of course your points, as well as mine are “ridiculous”. What do we know? LOL! I guess workers at Lufkin Industries are selfish for not wanting to pay $98 dollars (for a family) a week for only medical insurance. I guess the workers have no right to voice their opinions. Only the opinions of people who do not work at Lufkin Industries make decent arguements. I guess this ties into the fact that the workers aren’t college educated, are bums who get drunk, selfish, and hunting equipment buying red necks? Well I’d rather be one of these kinds of people than the kind of person that calls other people selfish, when they have no evidence to base their rude name calling on. Oh that’s right I am a socialist like Obama, my bad. I have yet to have called any of you names. Unless, you are a scab or one of the people who came up with this ridiculous contract. Maybe that’s why a couple of you have taken such an offense to the posts. What are you a scab? LOL No, I really don’t think you are but at the same time, I don’t think you understand that these workers stood up, within their rights. And might I add, alot of the people that work out there are supporting families and not seeing much of the money for things they want. They put their families first. No offense should be taken, I am just trying to prove a point. I’d sort of like for you to see what it feels like to be called names when I have no basis to talk about you. I respect your opinions but can you leave the name calling out? Or is this the only way you know how to make a point?

By heather

October 7, 2008 10:20 PM | Link to this

I think you are over exaggerating the overtime stuff. I know alot of companies that have let their employees work overtime for a long time. They are still in business. I guess I am lying right? I can also say this the workers realize they can’t get overtime every week. They just don’t want it cut out all together. No overtime for three years is ridiculous. And the deal sounded like employees would still have the option for overtime, I’m pretty sure it would be unlikely they would get any overtime. On top of all this, employees were more worried about the swing shift and how it would effect their job performance and personal lives. It would also be hard for them to get a second job if they wanted because of the schedule. You don’t see how a family can’t survive off 40 hrs. a week? Have you seen how much the price of living has went up? I can understand how hard it could be. The way the economy is now, not many people are able to pay mortgages, bills, and provide food. And that’s people that didn’t go get houses they couldn’t afford. The people that bought houses priced out of their means have already sunk. If things don’t turn around soon, even the people who are living in their means will start to lose what they have.

By Heather

October 7, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this

Concerned, I would like to know where you work. Do you donate to charity? If you are going to say the things you say maybe you should give us some background information so that we understand where you are coming from. You talk about overtime being figured into a company’s profit, and I am also wondering about your experience in job positions that helped you gain this insight. Giving some background info and stating facts will help you prove your arguement better than name calling. You must not know a lot about persuasive writing. So I am curious what kind of position you hold now.

By sgf

October 8, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

THIS IS THE 1ST INSTALLMENT OF 8 POSTS. I HOPE THAT I CAN GET ALL OF THEM TO POST. THERE WERE TOO MANY WORDS FOR IT TO POST ALL AT ONE TIME. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THEM ALL. THEY’LL ANSWER A LOT OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

As I looked over the many comments about the strike that is facing the people who work at LI, I couldn’t believe how the “community” seems to be against us. When other companies went on strike, this town could not do enough. And, that is what we should do. Don’t you realize that we’ve just gone through the devastation of Hurricane Ike? We’re trying to rebuild our lives just as everyone else is. That is why LI thinks they can come in here with this contract and force us to agree to it.

We have to think of the days ahead and try to have enough to survive on. We’re not asking for as much per hour as some people make when they turn your lights back on after a storm knocked them out, or someone selling groceries, or delivering packages, bringing your phone calls to you, etc. In the past when these same people would go on strike, the community was behind them. When the Paper Mill was hurting, our town supported them and that is what should have happened! But, with the Paper Mill it was the same thing. The “working class” were the ones that wound up a little deeper in that hole that they were already in, with no way to climb out. You say, “Why don’t you quit if it’s such a terrible place to work?” Because the job market is not something that you can pick and choose from.

By sgf

October 8, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this

THIS IS THE 2nd OF 8 POSTS. THERE WERE TOO MANY WORDS FOR IT TO POST ALL AT ONE TIME. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THEM ALL. THEY’LL ANSWER A LOT OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

In answer to your question about the drinking. I don’t know why the men were on TV “falling down drunk”. No one in my family drinks, but I guess it beat putting a gun to your head. How would you feel if you couldn’t support your families? To know that the paycheck you live on week to week would suddenly be gone? How do you pay your house note? How do you tell your children that there may not be food on the table, much less Christmas presents under a tree? I would like to take this opportunity to try to set the record straight.

Through the years we have seen many changes in the company. The “working force” that has made LI the company it is are the ones that are talking about striking. It’s OUR sweat, blood, and yes even tears that have built that company. We are the ones who have seen the time that we only got to work 1 or 2 days a week. But, I forgot! We were eligible for unemployment. Yeah right! WRONG! You see LI would be sure that we would work just enough days so that we wouldn’t make a full week of wages, but we would make too much that week to be able to draw unemployment. You’ve commented that we should be happy about the contract and to sign it and go on. But, I ask you, how would you feel? To us, it feels as if the weight of the whole world is sitting on our chest.

By sgf

October 8, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

THIS IS THE 3rd OF 8 POSTS. THERE WERE TOO MANY WORDS FOR IT TO POST ALL AT ONE TIME. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THEM ALL. THEY WILL ANSWER A LOT OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

Working for LI is not always the “bed of roses” that you think it is. Through the years, the ups and downs of this company have really made working there a real roller coaster ride. When you get a little money in the bank, and you think that you can finally hold you head up and swim a while, they have a bunch of layoffs. Ask the families of Lufkin Trailers how much fun they had working for LI. Ask them how they felt if you were one of the employees that the company would call back to work after a layoff, and there would be someone new there working in your place and your job would still be in danger. You see it’s cheaper for the company to hire someone new and to make them part-time, than to pay someone that has been there a while. Part-time people don’t have the same benefits as a full-time employee. That is one of the things that we’ve heard about this contract that they want us to sign. They want to take away our “seniority”. When you’ve been with a company for years, and your blood and sweat has helped build that company, then you should be shown the respect you deserve. Just because you work for someone, doesn’t mean they don’t need to show that they care about you and your family just a little bit. There was a time that LI was a “family” but not anymore. They want us to be loyal to them, but where is their loyalty to us?

By sgf

October 8, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

THIS IS THE 5th OF 8 POSTS. THERE WERE TOO MANY WORDS FOR IT TO POST ALL AT ONE TIME. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THEM ALL. THEY WILL ANSWER A LOT OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

How new is your house? If Ike had blown ours down, it would have been an improvement, but thank God, we still have a “roof” over our heads.

When was the last time that you went to the movies? We can’t even afford basic cable.

When was the last time you bought a new car? Always when there seems to be no money in the company, the “higher ups” sure seem to have a lot of the newest models. We can’t even pay for the gas to drive our old ones. Some of our cars go back as far as 1990 or earlier. Where were you all those years that the oil business was down and our incomes went lower than the lowest national standard? Even then, LI with all of the intelligent “college” people that they have working for them, couldn’t come up with any new ways to build something else, and make their company more than just a place to get drilling parts. They have some of the greatest minds working for them, and yet all of the years that we were not working, they couldn’t come up with ONE new thing to build to keep the company, and the people who work for them, on the workforce. But, you never saw any of the executives looking any “leaner”. They didn’t ever seem to be affected by the cut down in company employees and benefits. Once again, they could be seen driving new vehicles and carrying right on with their everyday life. The bad times did not even touch them.

By sgf

October 8, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

THIS IS THE 6th OF 8 POSTS. THERE WERE TOO MANY WORDS FOR IT TO POST ALL AT ONE TIME. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THEM ALL. THEY WILL ANSWER A LOT OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

When was the last time you went to a store and bought new clothes for a special occasion? We shop at the Salvation Army just to clothe our children for school. Through the years we have had to try and console our children because their hearts would be broken from being laughed at and ridiculed because their clothes were not in style llike the other children.

The higher ups can go bowling and stand on a golf course hitting a stupid little white ball around for recreation and fun. The only thing we hit are the insects that come through our open windows and doors because we can not afford to have an air conditioner.

Food stamps? We’re thankful for the familes that can get food stamps, but don’t think that they are really living it up! One family we know of is getting $2.00 per day to feed their family. How much per day do you spend to feed yours?

T-Bone Steaks? Boats? Four-wheelers? Hunting? The only hunting we do is to put food on our table. And, the last time I looked I had misplaced my yacht!! I must remember to call the newspaper and put an ad in the lost and found. If anyone reads it and sees my lost yacht, would you please give me a call? Where in the world do you get your information?

As to your comment about rape. Just relax and enjoy it? How can you say anything that is so degrading? Whatever made you say anything like that about such a horrific crime?

By heather

October 8, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this

Vote to Strike! I believe most of the negative comments are from the “higher ups”. They are on a campaign to scare workers and citizens. Some poster’s on here would like for you to believe that if you ask for a fair contract you will lose your job because the company will go bankrupt. This is a blatant lie, also known as a scare tactic. Scare tactics get the mass to make decisions in a pre programmed way. Just think of all the reasons our government pass bills… scare tactics! Elections are full of scare tactics! Now so are company officials.

By sgf

October 8, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

THIS IS THE 7th OF 8 POSTS. THERE WERE TOO MANY WORDS FOR IT TO POST ALL AT ONE TIME. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THEM ALL. THEY WILL ANSWER A LOT OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

Our health insurance at one time was reasonable and really well respected. Now, the hospitals can’t get us out fast enough because our coverage isn’t as good as the lowest form of HMO’s. From day one, no matter how sick you are, the hospitals have people in your rooms “hounding” you about paying your bill, saying that you don’t have coverage for this or that. How can someone get well enough to leave the hospital, when they are being “stressed out” about things like that? Who wants to stay in a hospital? It’s not a 5 star hotel! We know how the bills keep coming no matter what’s happening in your life.

Most of us are not eligible for government assistance. They say that we make too much money. WRONG! Most of the families of LI have to be more than “one income” families. And, it’s not just our spouses that work. Our children go to school and hold down jobs too. There’s nothing wrong with our children working, but their paychecks help pay our daily esxpenses, such as food, clothing, utilities, etc. It’s not for them to have fun with their friends and to enjoy life. Their checks help us to go on another day. Even with all that we are still well below the “cost of living”.

By sgf

October 8, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this

THIS IS THE 8th POST. THERE WERE TOO MANY WORDS FOR IT TO POST ALL AT ONE TIME. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THEM ALL. THEY WILL ANSWER A LOT OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

Then, here you come, and you have the audacity to comment on us wanting a little respect? About us not just shutting up and being thankful for what we get? Where is your Christian love? Where is your compassion? There was a time that no matter what things looked like, we the people of this country, helped our neighbors. Now, all we do is find fault with them.

So, unless you are someone that works for LI, unless you have walked on step in our shoes, maybe you need to take care of your business before you try to take care of ours.

But, here’s something that you probably haven’t thought about while sitting on YOUR yacht. With the Paper Mill not being the employment opportunity it once was, and the other foundry closing, if we don’t keep working and putting our money back into the community, you may be facing the same things that we have faced and are facing today. Stop and think about what you would do without your paycheck? What if you couldn’t pay your bills on time and there were phone calls and letters that threaten you so badly that you feel as if someone is going to come and bust your door down in the middle of the night and take you off to debtors’ prison. Can bill collectors really be that scary? You bet they can! So, don’t judge us, but think it over. Without our financial support, your job could be in jeopardy too, and then you would want the same things that we do. Don’t let our town become a ghost town. Help us to have a voice and to be treated fairly.

By Concerned

October 8, 2008 10:49 PM | Link to this

I have never heard such whining in my life. Yes Im employed at LI and I donate 1.50/wk to United Way. I think the 4 days on and 4 days off would be a good thing. But I can do alot of other money making things on my 4 days off. If you dont have that option, maybe you should look around and see if you could to. And I have done business on my own, and I cant make as much money paying overtime, as I would without having to pay overtime to do a job. Im a LI employee, and an union employee. And I still feel like LI employees are selfish, because all they want is the overtime they have been getting. If we were working 40 hrs/wk, we would be begging for this kinda schedule.

By heather

October 9, 2008 1:26 AM | Link to this

I don’t get it… voting to strike is whining? Or having an opinion is whining? So I guess you are whining also. Still you have yet to make an effective arguement to prove your point, IMO. Could you make yourself more clear? You stated, ” Im a LI employee, and an union employee”. Does this mean you are an employee at Lufkin industries who belongs to one of the unions? Or are you a union employee. Please clear this up for me. Wow, you think running a small business compares to running Lufkin Industies? Well it doesn’t and if you know so much about running a business then I don’t know why you are working out there in the first place. Most knowledgeable small business owners do not work for someone else. Yes paying overtime is more expensive than paying two employees to split the work. You also have to take into consideration training costs, the double the chance of worker’s compensation claims, moe people to lay off and give severance pay to, more employees that can file law suits. I’m not sure that a company is any better off having more employees than they know they need. After this two million dollar order is filled, how many of these employees will be filing unemployment. Every time Lufkin Industries has a lay off they add to their reputation. If they are not careful, people will be scared to put time in out there. Some people would rather make less and have stability than never know if they will have a job ten years from now when they are too old too start over. I am by no means an expert. Sorry if my posts are bothering you. Don’t know why they would though.

By nwo

October 9, 2008 6:05 AM | Link to this

I don’t understand the reasoning of why it is selfish to want overtime. If I work my 40 hours a week, and then I am asked to work on the weekend or 12 hour days or something like that, then I am entitled to overtime. I also don’t want to earn money at another job. Do you think that I must work 2 jobs myself to support my family? The economy should be where I COULD support my family on 40 hours or less, but apparently you don’t pay the bills or other expenses at your house, because I think you need to get your head out of the sand! Look at the business “rescues” that just happened. Some of the very companies that the government helped went and spent some of that “RESCUE” money on a BIG party! Then, they turned around and asked for more money, and they got it! I guess the government needs to get their heads out of the sand too.