XWA One Year Thread, Part VI, Return of the Bottle Deposit

[Samnmax221]

Originally Posted by Zargon

holy ****. in a state that already has outrageous taxes!

You can thank Governor Teabag for giving $140 worth of tax credit to special interests, causing a budget shortfall, and using it as an excuse to gut the unions. He's also trying to spin UW Madison off of the rest of the Wisconsin university system so he can install a new board, and wreck one of the best colleges in the world.

[Keyan Farlander]

Originally Posted by K_Kinnison

My Fiancee works for the State DOT as a civil engineer. She brings in about 65k a year, and she is part of the state Union. If this bill passes, it is quite likely will will not be able to afford having a child. Due to her age, this means it is possible we will NEVER have a child of our own. The new budget means she goes from making 65k a year to around 55k. Oh and because her union no longer can negotiate, the state could very well end up pulling ALL of her benefits at the slightest whim of the governor.

Unless you have huge debts to pay off or something, $55,000 a year is more than enough to afford a child, even if you didn't work at all.

[K_Kinnison]

THe worry right now is she might not even have a JOB in the near future. One of the extra special budget items is that if a worker is gone for more then 3 days they can be terminated from their job.

Thank labor unions they helped fight for the Family and Medical Leave Act which allows 12 weeks to care for the newborn. But it would likely take a lawsuit to make sure

UPDATE: Estimated 30,000 people demonstrated today. Tomorrow many schools are closing down due to Teachers joining the Protests. I guess if Gov Walker wants to pay them less then what babysitters make, I would strike to

An aside. Gov Walker has not returned to the Capitol building since Last friday. By law he has to present his budget in front of the legislators.

[Zargon]

Originally Posted by K_Kinnison

Most labor laws today are there because strong unions fought for them. Since the early 80s lawmakers and corporate leaders have done their best to break up their power. Either by appointing anti-union Judges, or shipping manufacturing jobs overseas.

Quite frankly, teachers, fireman, police officers (all state union employees) don't get paid enough. And there was a day when a hard working individual could work at one job, do it very well, and have a decent retirement to look forward to after working 40 years with just a high school education.

sorry thats total BS. All are generally paid quite well. If teachers want more money they should work an actual full time job.

My wife is a teacher in a small district, I am an IT admin and based on her contract we have the exact same hourly wage. Where I live firefighters and cops *start* just below 60k/year.

They started breaking up unions due to morons like AFSCME. Thanks to the local afcsme chapter at my last employer a dumbass with a HS diploma was getting over 40k to shovel asphault, and getting paid more than jobs the employer required a BS to even consider hiring for.

Most unions now waste their time protecting worthless employees and trying to F over the NBU employees. The world will not end if WI busts unions.

sucks about your fiance though, as the state/local gov are one of the few places civil engineers can get jobs. maybe you will get lucky and a local engineering firm will be hiring and she can go private sector


as far as pensions go, the state made its own bed in that, and it really sucks that you kinda get dicked to, but most jobs dont have pensions, and you can always start your own IRA/def comp plan, I have 2 extra deferred comp plans and a IRA on top of my pension going incase my pension folds

[Zargon]

Originally Posted by K_Kinnison

THe worry right now is she might not even have a JOB in the near future. One of the extra special budget items is that if a worker is gone for more then 3 days they can be terminated from their job.

pretty sure that violates federal law unless he means no more long term leave w/o pay.


your Gov sounds AWESOME, him and Rod must be hanging out!

[Rogue15]

teller training is going good! a mix of security skills and customer service. at least this place has incentives for selling ****.

[K_Kinnison]

Latest news. In order to stop legislators from VOting on bill, Democratic Senators have gone missing, and are in a "secure location" Legislators do not have a quarom and sent the police UNION out to get them

Last estimate 10,000 protestors in the Capitol building, at least 30k outside. Schools will be shut down for a second day as teachers join protest.

Zargon what you need to realize is that every state union worker (EMT, Maintanace, Teachers, etc) in Wisconsin has now taken a 10% pay cut (Their contracts have broken by Gov Walker), and now is going to be looking forward to another 20% cut. And quite possible in the next year lose ALL their benefits.

[edlib]

Regime change!!!



Bad night's sleep + long day (and night) at work = awesome.



At least I have the entire weekend off, plus a holiday on Monday.

Spent the day yesterday dealing with GF's dead car (starter motor, most likely...)

[Zargon]

Originally Posted by K_Kinnison

Latest news. In order to stop legislators from VOting on bill, Democratic Senators have gone missing, and are in a "secure location" Legislators do not have a quarom and sent the police UNION out to get them

Last estimate 10,000 protestors in the Capitol building, at least 30k outside. Schools will be shut down for a second day as teachers join protest.

Zargon what you need to realize is that every state union worker (EMT, Maintanace, Teachers, etc) in Wisconsin has now taken a 10% pay cut (Their contracts have broken by Gov Walker), and now is going to be looking forward to another 20% cut. And quite possible in the next year lose ALL their benefits.

you guys are so socialist that the STATE sets those guys salaries?

thats insane.

but I really think your GOV is an *******. He inherited a suplus and bombed it helping his rich friends, but Who TF elected him? he destroyed milwaukee county. Not that I can say much state wise, as we re-elected rod, but I never voted for him

[Keyan Farlander]

Women make no sense. I think I'm going to a monastery.

[Zargon]

Originally Posted by Keyan Farlander

Women make no sense.

duh.

I think I'm going to a monastery.

[K_Kinnison]

Originally Posted by Zargon

you guys are so socialist that the STATE sets those guys salaries?

thats insane.

No.. insanity is when you don't even bother to negotiate with the Unions, and then take away their collective bargaining on top of a PERMAMENT 20% pay cut

For the last 4 years almost every state union worker has forgone a pay raise (even cost of living adjustment) in order to keep the cost of their benefits the same. I severely doubt you can find an over paid State Union Employee. Teachers starting salary here is only around 25k, and it goes up to 50k.

The whole idea of the "Lazy Union worker" is a myth perpetuated my Anti-union individuals. Show me an overpaid Union worker, and I will show you a guy who got injured on the job and instead of taking workmans comp he has gotten reclassified

[Ikhnaton]

oddly enough, the teachers who are protesting instead of teaching are still getting paid.

and **** all those senators who think they can skip out on their job.

in this economy, you have two choices to avoid bankruptcy: raise taxes or cut spending. we ALL have to tighten our belts and make sacrifices until we can get all this **** straightened out.

EDIT: Nute has a girlfriend??

[Samnmax221]

Originally Posted by Ikhnaton

in this economy, you have two choices to avoid bankruptcy: raise taxes or cut spending. we ALL have to tighten our belts and make sacrifices until we can get all this **** straightened out.

Wisconsin had a budget surplus going into this year. Governor Walker decided to give $140 million dollars in tax credit to special interest groups. He created the deficit and tried to use it to gut the public unions.
Edit: Actually this was based on a badly written memo which didn't make it clear that the figure was before Wisconsin's debts were figured in. Walker still gave $140 million in tax credit to his buddies to go in effect in the next tax cycle. Furthermore the unions agreed to cuts of >$100 million which Walker refused to agree to unless they had their collective bargaining rights taken away. If it's so important to balance the budget he can go ahead and take the tax credit back instead of acting like a cronyist ****heal.

If this means shutting the goddamn state down so be it.

[Rogue15]

back for the weekend...gotta get drivers license photo taken today! yay dmv ftw.

[Wildstar]

Ed, I saw a banner ad on these forums for Test Drive Unlimited 2...definitely a game you'd be interested in.

[edlib]

Originally Posted by Wildstar

Ed, I saw a banner ad on these forums for Test Drive Unlimited 2...definitely a game you'd be interested in.

I saw it in the game store the other day too. I played the demo of the first one and wasn't crazy about it... but if there's a downloadable demo for this one, I'll give it a shot.

Originally Posted by Ikhnaton

Nute has a girlfriend??

I noticed that a while back on his Facebook page. I think I noted the Universe shattering event here at the time.



The ironic thing about the Wisconsin situation to me is that if you want to motivate all the existing union members to action, inspire new union membership and participation, and increase and strengthen union leadership forays in the political realm... Attacking the unions has always been the very best way of doing that.

In the long run, Walker's action will most likely have the total opposite effect of what he is trying to accomplish.

[Kuuki]

did much of nothing today, cept for wegmans and a hair cut

[K_Kinnison]

Originally Posted by Ikhnaton

oddly enough, the teachers who are protesting instead of teaching are still getting paid.

and **** all those senators who think they can skip out on their job.

in this economy, you have two choices to avoid bankruptcy: raise taxes or cut spending. we ALL have to tighten our belts and make sacrifices until we can get all this **** straightened out.

incorrect dear sir, you are badly misinformed on the subject.

Since so many teachers called in, the schools were closed ,and the days will be made up by the end of the year. So in effect, the days the teacher were gone are snow days.

The senators are doing their job. If they didn't the bill would have been voted on without any review, discussion, nor amendments added.

FYI the State Unions are going to take a 20% pay cut according to the new bill. As of now the Unions have already said they are willing to take the pay cut, they ARE WILLING TO SACRIFICE, but they do not want their collective bargaining rights taken away

The Unions have been willing to compromise, it is now the Governor who is not willing to negotiate, and instead is using this "crisis" in nothing more then an attempt to break the Unions power

[Cmdr. Cracken]

Video out of Bahrain show Military Personnel opening up with machine gun fire on peaceful protesters and mourners of the dead, from during the first few days protests when police systematically and brutally began the crackdown.

Libya: Orders given out to begin "purges" of doctors and dissidents.

[Zargon]

Originally Posted by K_Kinnison

No.. insanity is when you don't even bother to negotiate with the Unions, and then take away their collective bargaining on top of a PERMAMENT 20% pay cut

For the last 4 years almost every state union worker has forgone a pay raise (even cost of living adjustment) in order to keep the cost of their benefits the same. I severely doubt you can find an over paid State Union Employee. Teachers starting salary here is only around 25k, and it goes up to 50k.

The whole idea of the "Lazy Union worker" is a myth perpetuated my Anti-union individuals. Show me an overpaid Union worker, and I will show you a guy who got injured on the job and instead of taking workmans comp he has gotten reclassified

I can show you hand fulls of lazy union worker actually.

beyond that, I read a bunch more of the bill. I would agree you should have to atleast put in some for yuour pension, and have the state do a match.

thats how they should work. now going from all to none def sucks.

[Rogue15]

heading back to plymouth meeting for a few more days of job training. Bringing my girlfriend with me.

[K_Kinnison]

Originally Posted by Zargon

I can show you hand fulls of lazy union worker actually.

Then I can show you Managers who don't know how to fire Lazy union workers

As the protest stands now, the Unions are willing to concede everything but they will not give up their right to do collective bargaining.

That is all this is about now. Just their right to do collective bargaining

[Keyan Farlander]

I checked my company's intranet page from home yesterday, and it said we had Presidents' Day off. I had totally forgotten that. It's a good thing I saw it or I would have driven a long way for nothing instead of being here, posting on Lucasforums in my pajamas. So yay for days off!

[Cmdr. Cracken]

yay days off!

I got two myself here.... gonna have to run some errans eventually, but for the most part I'm staying in.

[Zargon]

Originally Posted by K_Kinnison

Then I can show you Managers who don't know how to fire Lazy union workers

As the protest stands now, the Unions are willing to concede everything but they will not give up their right to do collective bargaining.

That is all this is about now. Just their right to do collective bargaining

the union protects the lazy workers, its why people don't like them.....

[Kuuki]

i hate you all.

i dont have the day off, i also hate it when ppl get the day off on vet's day... >.>

[Cmdr. Cracken]

Qaddafi fled Libya to South America.

[Zargon]

Originally Posted by Kuuki

i hate you all.

i dont have the day off, i also hate it when ppl get the day off on vet's day... >.>

I don't have it off either.....but I get Vet's day off

[edlib]

Yes... Days off for the win!

Spent the last 3 days with the girlfriend and her kids. Time to prepare for the work week, now.

Boo... Coming back to reality for the lose.

[K_Kinnison]

You can thank Unions for your days off

Originally Posted by Zargon

the union protects the lazy workers, its why people don't like them.....

Do you have proof?

I have proof it does not. I worked at UPS a bastion of Part-time Union workers. If someone was late more then 5 times, they got canned. If they couldn't sort more then 200 pcs and hour they got canned. But I also had a time where the Union protected me from an a$$#0!# boss who sent me home for not following his directions, when he told me to bend my knees when picking an envelope off the floor to avoid injuring my back. I filed 3 grievances, 1. Harassment (I have never missed days of work because of work related injuries) 2. Having a non-union manager work my job after i was told to leave. 3. Not getting my guaranteed 4 hours of work. I didn't even bother asking to get my lost wages back. I won, and the a$$#0!# boss got relocated (much to the cheers of my co-workers)

Also, there is a lot of evidence that Union workers do not get paid as much as their private sector counterparts. Their compensation is better job security from a$$#0!# bosses who want to fire them for stupid reasons

[Keyan Farlander]

Snow last night. For some reason, all the side roads are in good shape this morning, while the main roads are a complete mess.

[Zargon]

Originally Posted by K_Kinnison

You can thank Unions for your days off



Do you have proof?

I have proof it does not. I worked at UPS a bastion of Part-time Union workers. If someone was late more then 5 times, they got canned. If they couldn't sort more then 200 pcs and hour they got canned. But I also had a time where the Union protected me from an a$$#0!# boss who sent me home for not following his directions, when he told me to bend my knees when picking an envelope off the floor to avoid injuring my back. I filed 3 grievances, 1. Harassment (I have never missed days of work because of work related injuries) 2. Having a non-union manager work my job after i was told to leave. 3. Not getting my guaranteed 4 hours of work. I didn't even bother asking to get my lost wages back. I won, and the a$$#0!# boss got relocated (much to the cheers of my co-workers)

Also, there is a lot of evidence that Union workers do not get paid as much as their private sector counterparts. Their compensation is better job security from a$$#0!# bosses who want to fire them for stupid reasons

I could give multiple example of stupid decisions my wifes teaachers union has made over filing grievences with their employer and a few from afscme here, but I'd rather not post that **** online

yeah, I can thank unions for not working 7days a week, but thats from the 1920's. I never said they werent EVER relevant, but the need has significantly wained in most sectors of employement in the last 30 years.

[K_Kinnison]

There are just as many lazy union workers, as there are regular lazy workers. it is just some people like using the example of Lazy union workers why unions are bad.

I don't see how "grievances" being filed support your opinion that Union workers are lazy.

Non-union workers are paid more then union workers

Union workers get better job security then non-union

[edlib]

There are crappy unions and also clear and obvious abuses by unions and workers... but it's not a universal thing... just like you could point to the same by non-unionized workers.

I found this interesting:

YouTube Video

Clearly biased commentator to be sure... but if the facts are correct, it shows the that the gov'nor has a personal vendetta against union workers.

[Samnmax221]

He also thinks he can just use the National Guard as scabs if state workers strike. Dicking over state workers until they strike hardly constitutes a a state emergency, it's also terribly more expensive than just playing fair.

[Cmdr. Cracken]

The Internet Freedom Act

Before clicking it, write down what you think it is.

Then read it.

And get super pissed.

[edlib]

Another article I read said that the union police that are exempt are ignoring the protesters if not actually siding with them, out of union solidarity, and the knowledge that they might be next on the chopping block.

I find this a fascinating turn of events.

I do have to wonder if the gov actually expected this level of outrage... Or if this was part of the plan all along.

[Kuuki]

Originally Posted by Cmdr. Cracken

The Internet Freedom Act

Before clicking it, write down what you think it is.

Then read it.

And get super pissed.

wtf are we now, China?

[Zargon]

Originally Posted by K_Kinnison

I don't see how "grievances" being filed support your opinion that Union workers are lazy.

I would call blocking the firing of a ****ty ****ty teacher, just because they dont want the school to fire someone, a good reason/support why some unions are bad/stupid. protecting a lazy ****ty tenure teacher and letting good newer teachers get let go to cut costs is just stupid