Talk of Lufkin

By Unimpressed Laborer

October 10, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

The person responsible for the 4 day on 4 day off work schedule proposal was a genius! They took the focus off of better wages and benefits and distracted them with an unfair work schedule to seal the deal. This company profits annually in the millions yet those in lower level positions reap none of it and the upper management enjoy rather large bonuses, some of which are obtained by saving on their already strained budgets which mean less tools purchased or supplies are stretched to the limit once again hurting the common laborers. Do they not realize the disastrous economy forces so many to work seven days a week under unfair conditions just to keep food on the table. You won’t see these people getting spa treatments at plush resorts! Do the math… they gave 11% wage increases and raised the insurance by 15% in three years. Who are you trying to fool?! Why is being FAIR across the board with company profits such an impossibility and Vice President, Paul Perez says he is pleased with the results. OKAY!

By Impressed Laborer

October 10, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

You are right about the increases, but you need to do the Math. You have an 11% increase on an hourly rate versus 5% increase on a monthly premium. The wage increase greatly outweighs the premium increase.

By Concerned

October 10, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this

Look at the economy, look at oil prices, I cant believe us at 3 unions would not accept 4 on/4off 12 hr days. LI was gonna guarantee 40 hrs/wk. What is gonna happen if oil drops even more, like down to $30-$40 a barrel. Most of us will be out of a job, and looking for employeement elsewhere. Remember that there are no other employers paying what LI does, within 30 miles of Lufkin. So catch up on you finances, because one day it will happen again. Less than 40 hrs per week. I hope everyone has enjoyed all the overtime!!

By Heather

October 11, 2008 1:47 AM | Link to this

First of all, if oil prices drop too much Lufkin Industries will have a major lay off. They may even shut their doors. Who knows? This contract does not say that workers are guaranteed overtime ( as far as I know. I don’t know why you are so mad that some people get overtime. At the current time LI can afford to pay overtime. When they can’t, they won’t! Nobody’s OT is going to put you out of a job. The contract wasn’;t going to guarantee you 40 hrs a week! How could you ever be guaranteed 40 hrs a week? You could be laid off at any time. You must not have worked at Lufkin Industries for long, or you would already know this. the economy may be doing bad now, but it will eventually pick back up. And when it does, new businessses will come to Lufkin. Until then, worry about yourself. The rest of the workers will survive without the overtime. But they had a right to vote on whether they would agree to the shift changes in the new contract. Quit being mad that you liked the proposed schedule. Majority wins. You lose. Big deal, get over it!

By cj

October 11, 2008 6:18 AM | Link to this

There is no making some people happy no matter what is given. I work and I work all of the hours I can get, but since I work through a temp-server I get no benifits and no insurance. Do you have any idea what it is like to take my kid to the doctor? Fun stuff right there. I make to much money for assitatance but barely enough to get by. I am glad LI did not strike, I would have hated to cross there picket lines.

By anonynous

October 11, 2008 7:35 AM | Link to this

Cj has a good point. Most of these union workers need to get a grip and see what goes on in the real world. Compare LI payscales to other businesses around here…Compare LI benefits to others, INCLUDING insurance premiums…Look at the state the economy is currently in. Quit harassing upper management, be thankful you get what you have and move on! If LI ever DOES go under, it will be BECAUSE of the unions…Something you guys ought to think about…