after successfully weathering a couple lay-offs at work, the word came down from on high today that all of us would have a mandatory 2-week lay off in May due to 'lack of orders'. To 'help' us out, the company was going to alloy us to take our vacations early (our vacation/p-days run June to June). Most people are of the 'sorry, but screw you' mindset and are going to file the big U.

And Shael just texted me that the two locals of our union want to merge, which means that I'll have to rebid my job, lose my department seniority and probably get bounced out of a job that I have worked for almost 4 years.

Visits me too.

One line is going to run in my department, which means everybody but like 10 people are going to be laid off for at least two weeks.

The way the merger was put to me...is the only reason people are asking for it is because they want to change the way we work. From swing shift to rotating 12 hour shifts. But this opens up a whole shitload of stuff, like possibly forcing everyone to rebid their jobs. In a curtailment, it would allow people that are laid off elsewhere in the mill to come in and bump people like me that have been on the job for 3 years and know the job inside and out. Also it would force me to train them and then take their spot in the lay off.

Anyway, there's going to be a vote soon and there's an informational meeting this week at 2:30pm on the 8th at the EMA hall in Ti. So Sam, if you want to go, it's a 497 meeting, but my operator Bill, who's also a shop steward for 497, said you're welcome. Also, he recommends that we all file unemployment claims and save next year's vacation for later, like the severance package. Let IP pay twice as much, one in unemployment, one in time off from work later.

What frosts my ass about the whole thing with the merger is that if we do it, the rest of the mill can dictate what happens in my department, even though most of them have never worked in my department and have no idea what goes on there and take all the representation we have out of my department, like Bill could lose his stewardship, which would be a shame. He's the only person in the union that's ever done anything for me.

Shael

Wow sorry guys. Best of luck with that steaming pile of BS.

This was the front page of our local rag newspaper this morning.

http://www.pressre...ory_092224300.html

I was also told that originally, the company was not going to release a statement, that this information was going to be kept in house, but the mill manager and spokesperson decided it would be better for the community to keep them informed as well. Wal-Mart and Lowe's lumber moved into the community based on information provided to them by International Paper about the median salaries and number of employees at the Ticonderoga Mill, so they felt that they would want to know what's going on, since both companies made such large investments in Ticonderoga.

This is what I was told, anyway. Dunno how true it is.

Shael

I am going to burn up REAMS AND REAMS of paper - daily.
I promise.
Will that help?

Posted by Samurai after successfully weathering a couple lay-offs at work, the word came down from on high today that all of us would have a mandatory 2-week lay off in May due to 'lack of orders'. To 'help' us out, the company was going to alloy us to take our vacations early (our vacation/p-days run June to June). Most people are of the 'sorry, but screw you' mindset and are going to file the big U. And Shael just texted me that the two locals of our union want to merge, which means that I'll have to rebid my job, lose my department seniority and probably get bounced out of a job that I have worked for almost 4 years.

Are you guys dating? I never got the reason you guys talk about each other so much and reply within minutes of each other

Ill glady pay taxes to help out with you fine people's unemployment while you find another job. Stick it to their asses if you can!

Shael and I have an interesting relationship that is something like dating without the immature boy girl stuff... we're kind of odd. She works at one of the mill and I work at the other.

you should join our unemployed cult today!

garden fresh veggies, solar-powered electricity, water torture...

Are you saying you don't rub noses and hold hands?

edit: and sorry about your situation. It sounds terribly stressful.

PDA's (public displays of affection) are a no no with us for the most part, that's about all that's publically odd. Well, that and Sam's proclivities. Also some of my issues have something to do with it.

It's hard to explain. Very hard to explain.

Shael

Posted by argonian Are you saying you don't rub noses and hold hands?

yes.
i'm not 15.

Well this thread has become really awkward, really quickly.

Posted by hydrotherapy Well this thread has become really awkward, really quickly.

how?

Posted by Samurai how?

Hydro is very shy.


_{Edit: Back on topic, I hope things work out okay.}

Posted by Samurai Shael and I have an interesting relationship that is something like dating without the immature boy girl stuff... we're kind of odd. She works at one of the mill and I work at the other.

This is even more fascinating than your squish-making exploits and all your insane lunatic rantings about cops and cars.

Seriously...if you two have figured something out re: surviving relationships, it's time to share the wealth.

Posted by KublaKhan This is even more fascinating than your squish-making exploits and all your insane lunatic rantings about cops and cars. Seriously...if you two have figured something out re: surviving relationships, it's time to share the wealth.

trust.
maturity.
respect.
affection.
understanding.

Posted by Samurai trust. maturity. respect. affection. understanding.

Those things along with not living together and often going for up to two weeks without seeing each other for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Although, I doubt that's the reason for it. My mom seems to think it is, but honestly, I don't think that's it.

We talk every day still, one way or another.

To tell you the truth...I don't see why some, well make that most people have problems with relationships. If both people want it and make it work, it works. That's all there is to it. I guess some people are just scared of taking the time to work on it and work out the problems or come to some sort of a compromise and make it work. Everybody gives up too easily when there's a conflict of some sort. Only rule we really follow is neither of us goes home mad, we fix what's wrong, somehow.

I think a lot of that comes from where we work. The equipment that runs best is the stuff nobody really knows how to fix, so maintenance uses whatever they can to just make it work long enough to get the job done or we hobble along until there's no more tricks or work arounds left to it and realize that this is as good as it's going to get, so patch the holes, change a belt or two, fix the motor, replace a gear in the gearbox and keep it running because there's really nothing else we can do unless we wanna walk out the door and nobody can afford to do that right now, nor do we want to. So you make things work, one way or another.

We'll be going on two years together next month on the 26th of May.

Shael

Posted by Samurai trust. maturity. respect. affection. understanding.

Pics or it's all theory.

Posted by KublaKhan Pics or it's all theory.

no.

Posted by Samurai no.

I thought so.