en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/208763 Comments by Paradox http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8736383 My band played with them last year (before I moved here and joined them). I haven't heard their music yet but will definitely check it out. All of the people in my band are quite laid back; no drugs or any of that other "rocker" BS but when we are on stage we go nuts. Are music is extremely heavy and is an awesome release. Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:14:07 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8736383 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8647063 Who is more spineless, the one who sacrifices himself for his family or the one who sacrfifices his family for himself? Who is more of a brother, he who kicks you when you are down or he who offers a helping hand? If cmiklich, mr. trickle, cephus and t_z (as opposed to meta4 and 737man) are representative of how the union members support each other then my sacrifice will have been in vain. Veiled threats, insults, arrogance...this is the face of the union that you are presenting. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:28:07 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8647063 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8645503 Thrash metal? That's my forte! What's the name of the band? My band is releasing our first CD in the beginning of November. Metal is an excellent release from all of the stress. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:47:49 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8645503 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8645383 Thank you for your comment. I will continue to hold out as long as possible but I refuse to let my family go under. I believe it takes more of "a man" to do what is necessary to support his family even if he risks being ostacized by the arrogant, self-righteous "brothers" who show their "support" by bashing those whom they claim to support. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:42:51 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8645383 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8642033 Careful with the "sheep" and the "work elsewhere" comments, those are the exact statements being used by people who think the union is wrong. You act like you are somehow better then others yet you resort to the same type of ineffectual arguments. Impressive. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:14:55 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8642033 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8641973 Another pearl of wisdom from one of my fine union “brothers”. So much for supporting each other. So much for solidarity. It’s arrogance like yours that makes me wonder why I continue to hold out. As far as being a man goes, I was under the impression that one of the primary measures of a man is how well he provides for his family. The line I have been walking is quickly becoming a tight rope yet instead of offering words of encouragement you toss out errant, ill-informed insults and, in the same breath, ask that I continue supporting your cause. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:10:52 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8641973 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8630113 That's a wonderfully assumptive statement to make to a new hire who voted for the contract yet still honors your strike vote while facing financial ruin. So does your line of thinking represent the union that you expect me to continue supporting? If this strike continues, my future won't be worth selling out. Which is more important: a union who's members express their "support" by making ignorant generalizations or my family? Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:29:29 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8630113 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8628043 21 years in aviation for this? Maybe during the hiring process they should advise that you have an extra $15-20k in savings before accepting an IAM job. I am not ignorant of the workings of Boeing and the IAM but, admittedly, I fell for the BS from both sides about this contract negotiation and to not worry about a strike, much less a prolonged one. Now I’m STUCK! I invested too much to get here and take this job; can’t go back to my previous job. I’m not looking for pity I am just ANGRY and need to go back to work! Someone please lock these selfish, amoral, heartless, politician/negotiator idiots in a room with a dim light, no bathroom and no food or water and tell them that they can’t come out until this is settled! Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:33:20 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8628043 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8628003 This strike is tearing apart my family! I voted for the contract but have honored the strike vote and performed my picket duty. Now my choices are: A – cross the line, support my family, be ostracized by coworkers and damage my reputation before I have the opportunity to establish myself at Boeing; or, B – “hold the line”, make my family suffer and potentially lose them, lose my home, lose my vehicle, ruin my credit but still have the respect of the union. Great choices! I’m sick of hearing this “scab” and “traitor” nonsense. If I don’t do what the union wants me to do I am a “scab”; if I don’t do what my family NEEDS me to do I am a deadbeat. -continued- Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:32:40 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8628003 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8627953 “Last probably at least a couple more months”?!?! Maybe Wes can but I can barely last a couple more weeks!! I’m new, not a 38-year guy with a fat strike/vacation fund saved up! I saved up as much as I could in the short time that I’ve been here but it was gone quick. I’m using the VIP (what’s left of it) and BECU loans and credit cards (great, more debt) to get me through October but now what? The limited financial assistance provided by the union doesn’t cut it even with the $8 to $10 per hour I make at the very intermittent temp labor jobs I get! What happened to “we hold all of the cards”, “it’s our time, this time” and “don’t worry, it’ll only last a couple of weeks, a month at the tops"?! -continued- Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:31:16 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/30980974.html#IDComment8627953 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/29946244.html#IDComment7191083 If only it were that simple. Don’t think for a second that my union “brothers” will show any leniency if I am forced to scab to support my family. In my short time here I believe I have proven that I am a reasonably intelligent, hard worker and have gained the respect of those I work with and for. If I scab I risk losing this and the guidance they provide as I try to establish myself at Boeing. I have listened to them talk about how they treat scabs and this would effectively trip me up before I got out of the starting gate. Never in my 21-yr aviation career have I been in a position where I risk losing respect/opportunity because I need to support my family. My two previous positions were pay-for-performance so this is an adjustment for me. I am used to the work hard, perform well = earn respect, more money and move up environment. I was hoping that Boeing would be the last stop in my aviation career but as this strike drags out I am being forced to make a choice that could seriously undermine that goal. I’m still holding out but when I look at my kids’ faces and think about the situation we will be in next month, my resolve is quickly fading. Thu, 2 Oct 2008 10:52:43 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/29946244.html#IDComment7191083 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/29946244.html#IDComment7168103 Both sides should be federally mandated to sit across from each other at a table in a locked room until this is resolved. They should be only allowed to leave for restroom and meal breaks. No HVAC either! Maybe they would get tired of looking at each other's ignorant faces and end this. Once again, I apologize for the anger but how dare these arrogant jerks leave so many peoples' lives hanging in the balance! This strike has cost me slightly over $12,000 so far ($2500 + %6 + normal monthly wage) and that goes up around $5000 each month that this continues. If you factor in the other costs from the potential losses then the amount is devastating to a middle-income household. To what end? Someone please tell me how sacrificing my family's security is worth this! Wed, 1 Oct 2008 13:59:58 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/29946244.html#IDComment7168103 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/29946244.html#IDComment7163093 All of the union statements about being united and staying strong are rapidly becoming empty rhetoric as I watch any potential gains made by striking negated by the amount of loss I am facing. I now have no health insurance and can’t afford Cobra. In these financial times, my creditors show less understanding for labor disputes and tack on heavy penalties for special arrangements. So what would you have me do, fellow IAM members? I hear/read about all of the support available and how we help each other but the $150/wk and "job assistance" provided does not offset my pending financial turmoil. It's too late to just quit and go back to my previous job and I can't find a job locally that comes anywhere close to what I have/had at Boeing; not that they want to hire a Boeing striker anyway. So how do I make this choice? Wed, 1 Oct 2008 11:09:33 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/29946244.html#IDComment7163093 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/29946244.html#IDComment7162653 If I am not back earning my pre-strike wage by the middle of this month I will be unable to support my family. I will not be able to pay my bills yet I am urged to continue on “in solidarity”. I used my savings and credit to move here and take this job. I have not been here long enough to build up a “strike fund” so I could have a “vacation”. If I scab I will be looked upon as a pariah yet I can’t seem to find the line at the union hall that gets my bills paid. I am being asked to make my family suffer. When does it cease being worth it? After my vehicles are gone? After my credit is destroyed? After I can’t put a roof over my family’s heads? After my wife leaves me and takes the kids because I refuse to cross the line and because I put my union before them? Days spent waiting for callbacks on job applications and hanging out at the general labor places has pretty much sapped my dignity. I apologize for the anger coming across in this post but I am at a crossroads and my choices are to either hurt my career or hurt my family. Wed, 1 Oct 2008 11:06:41 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/boeing/29946244.html#IDComment7162653