Union may file a greivance against an Eagle Scout for taking their jobs* WITH AUDIO

[RadioNate]

Correction, they hired an "outside" union electrician.

Does that mean an union electrician from another union or an non-union electrician? Seriously.

This article is seems to be more poorly written than I first thought.

Not that the OP isn't just trying to I'll play for a few because I'm quite bored this am and have a few minutes to kill before I need to actually do something productive.

 

[Geoff_M]

Maybe. I'm just going from what I thought the article was saying. I'm not exactly sure of what Eagle scout requirements are. We aren't there yet and even though my dad still talks about it, we don't get into the process.

Per the article:

"He got the idea for the trail while taking hikes along the partially complete, 165-mile Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. He noticed there were a few missing connections to the trail in Kimmets Lock Park,..."

The project appears to have been his own idea.

Your scenario leaves me confused as to why the union would be upset but I guess sometimes it doesn't take much.

No, it doesn't take much. My mom, who teaches at a university has a great example of this notion. Her secretary filed a form to have a university worker come hang a picture in her office. After several weeks passed, she gave up and brought in a hammer and a small nail and hung it herself... big mistake. A few days later a union worker noticed the picture on the wall and asked "Who hung that?" She admitted doing it. The next thing she knew the union had dispatched a worker to remove the picture and nail, patched and painted the hole... and filed a grievance. So, no, it often doesn't take much!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

"Per the article:The project appears to have been his own idea.

No, it doesn't take much. My mom, who teaches at a university has a great example of this notion. Her secretary filed a form to have a university worker come hang a picture in her office. After several weeks passed, she gave up and brought in a hammer and a small nail and hung it herself... big mistake. A few days later a union worker noticed the picture on the wall and asked "Who hung that?" She admitted doing it. The next thing she knew the union had dispatched a worker to remove the picture and nail, patched and painted the hole... and filed a grievance. So, no, it often doesn't take much!

That is just pathetic. I'm glad that we really don't have unions here.

If they wanted the "job"--get off the lay caboose and do it. Funny how quickly they were able to remove it.

 

[shrubber]

Does that mean an union electrician from another union or an non-union electrician? Seriously.

This article is seems to be more poorly written than I first thought.

Not that the OP isn't just trying to I'll play for a few because I'm quite bored this am and have a few minutes to kill before I need to actually do something productive.

If you think I'm stirring a pot, so be it.
My post was to draw attention to the union thugs who would go to such lengths to disparage a Boy Scout for doing community service.

It's a sad day that folks would try to prevent volunteerism in the community.

 

[RadioNate]

"Per the article:The project appears to have been his own idea.

No, it doesn't take much. My mom, who teaches at a university has a great example of this notion. Her secretary filed a form to have a university worker come hang a picture in her office. After several weeks passed, she gave up and brought in a hammer and a small nail and hung it herself... big mistake. A few days later a union worker noticed the picture on the wall and asked "Who hung that?" She admitted doing it. The next thing she knew the union had dispatched a worker to remove the picture and nail, patched and painted the hole... and filed a grievance. So, no, it often doesn't take much!

Ok so he didn't do the job of the laid off workers. Thank goodness I have to leave in 10 minutes because I'm all sorts of confused about what exactly the problem is here.

In a way, I get where to union is coming from because their entire existence is to serve the needs of their members. Which, means keeping them employed. They wouldn't be serving their members if they weren't causing a ruckus over every little thing. However, the constant ruckus causing over every little thing makes them look like jerks.

After patching and painting the hole, I hope they rehung the picture as originally requested. Yep, doesn't seem to take much.

 

[Sparx]

if it took him 200 hours to clean this trail, seems like city workers weren't doing their job to begin with.

 

[RadioNate]

If you think I'm stirring a pot, so be it.
My post was to draw attention to the union thugs who would go to such lengths to disparage a Boy Scout for doing community service.

It's a sad day that folks would try to prevent volunteerism in the community.

I've been around these parts long enough to know that everything you post is clearly picked to highlight your viewpoint. It's ok. But don't think it doesn't go unnoticed.

We all have our reasons for playing this game. Don't pretend you don't too.

 

[shrubber]

Ok so he didn't do the job of the laid off workers. Thank goodness I have to leave in 10 minutes because I'm all sorts of confused about what exactly the problem is here.

In a way, I get where to union is coming from because their entire existence is to serve the needs of their members. Which, means keeping them employed. They wouldn't be serving their members if they weren't causing a ruckus over every little thing. However, the constant ruckus causing over every little thing makes them look like jerks.

Well, perhaps your premise is incorrect.
By being hired by the city of Allentown, they are not there to serve the needs of their members,
I would propose that they are their to serve the needs of the citizens of Allentown. Ya know, the taxpayers.

 

[RadioNate]

Well, perhaps your premise is incorrect.
By being hired by the city of Allentown, they are not there to serve the needs of their members,
I would propose that they are their to serve the needs of the citizens of Allentown. Ya know, the taxpayers.

But the workers were laid off by the city of Allentown.

and with that, I have to go do something productive with my day.

 

[shrubber]

I've been around these parts long enough to know that everything you post is clearly picked to highlight your viewpoint. It's ok. But don't think it doesn't go unnoticed.

We all have our reasons for playing this game. Don't pretend you don't too.

Yes, I post to highlight my viewpoint, doesn't everyone? Not sure what you mean here......

 

[shrubber]

But the workers were laid off by the city of Allentown.

and with that, I have to go do something productive with my day.

The city of Allentown = the citizens of Allentown

Should the citizens have to pay union wages for a job that could, well is in fact, done for free?

 

[Geoff_M]

After patching and painting the hole, I hope they rehung the picture as originally requested. Yep, doesn't seem to take much.

That was the finally irony... some time after the patching/painting, a university worker returned and re-hung the picture per the original request.

 

[Geoff_M]

Does that mean an union electrician from another union or an non-union electrician? Seriously.

This article is seems to be more poorly written than I first thought.

No, I think the article is pretty clear on this point. NikitaZee appears to have mis-read it and thought that the city had hired a non-union electrician to hang the city's Christmas lights. Here's what it actually said:

During last week's budget hearings, where City Council reviewed the Public Works and Park and Recreation departments' funding requests, it was made clear that the layoffs and early retirements -- all of which have led to the lowest city staffing levels in two decades -- are bound to create union disputes in the weeks and months ahead.

For example, the city currently does not have an electrician available because of the layoffs and an employee on an extended sick leave. As a result, the city has been forced to hire an outside union electrician to oversee the installation for the popular Lights on the Parkway holiday display.

The person they hired was indeed a member of the IBEW, just not one on the city payroll. Instead the electrician worked for an electrical contractor.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

1 - yes, the city allowed this to happen. The city did not pay to have this happen. Big difference. The scout worked his rear off to make this small area a better, nicer place to be around. For free. Gratis. Volunteer. No salary or personal financial gain of any kind.

2 - good. Look into the heart of an Eagle scout. You'll find something there that obviously doesn't exist in your own.

I live a stone's throw from Allentown and about 15 minutes from Center Valley. My son will be working on his own Eagle project in a few short years.

Kudos to Kevin and a big, fat, juicy raspberry (there are many other words I'd like to type but I'm tyring to keep this as family friendly as I can!) to the union!!!!!

Union is wrong, but that doesn't surprise me.

 

[NikitaZee]

I love how this line

"We are probably going to let this one go," Balzano said .

was conveniently left out of the cut and paste.



I agree the Union looks like jerks but I did want to mention that the workers didn't do the path clearing job because they had been laid off by the city.

The article isn't the most stellar example of journalistic writing but I think the union is upset that 39 people were laid off while the city allowed an volunteer to do the job. I guess they think the city is under obligation to hire their workers for jobs that need to be done and not staff those jobs with volunteers or non-union members. This came on top of the city, post-layoffs, using non-union electricians. An issue that the union let go. I don't necessarily agree with the union but I think that is why they are making a stink.

I was referring to the bolded part of this post - I hadn't actually read (or mis-read) the original article. Would be interested in reading the article in its entirety, however - I think I'll go Google it.

 

[allison443]

I love how this line

"We are probably going to let this one go," Balzano said .

was conveniently left out of the cut and paste.

Selective editing by the OP...I guess OP was conducting an experiment to see how many disers read the linked article (not too many of us!)

 

[shrubber]

FYI,

a very short list of Eagle Scouts.....

Henry Aaron - Baseball player, home run king - the Mobile Press Register quoted Henry as saying that the greatest positive influence in his life was his involvement in scouting
Gary L. Ackerman - U.S. Representative from NY
Bill Alexander - U.S. Representative from Arkansas
Lamar Alexander - Lawyer, Governor of Tennessee, Secretary of Education, presidential candidate
Neil Armstrong - astronaut, first man on moon, from Wapakoneta, OH
Willie Banks - Olympic & world record holding track star
Albert Belle - baseball player
Charles E. Bennett - U.S. Representative from Florida
William Bennett - Secretary of Education
Lloyd M. Bentsen, Jr. - Treasury Secretary & U.S. Representative from Texas
Michael Bloomberg - Mayor of New York City, founder of Bloomberg News
Bill Bradley - Pro basketball star and U.S. Senator from NJ
James Brady - Press Secretary to President Reagan
Stephen Breyer - US Supreme Court Justice
Milton A. Caniff - Comic strip artist "Steve Canyon"
Barber B. Conable - President, World Bank
John W. Creighton, Jr. - President & CEO of Weyerhaeuser Company
William E. Dannemeyer - U.S. Representative from Cal.
William Devries - M.D., transplanted first artificial heart
Michael Dukakis - Governor of Massachusetts, presidential candidate
LTC Aquilla James Dyess - WWII Marine, Medal of Honor recipient (deceased)
Arthur Eldred - First Eagle Scout
Daniel J. Evans - Senator and Governor of Washington
David Farabee - Texas State Representative
Robert Edward Femoyer - WWII Army Air Force Navigator, Medal of Honor recipient (deceased)
Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey - WWII Submarine Commander, Medal of Honor recipient (deceased)
Thomas Foley - Speaker of the House and U.S. Representative from Washington
Gerald Ford - U.S. President (1st Eagle to be President) (deceased)
Steven Fossett - Flew solo nonstop around the world in a hot air balloon and in an ultralight airplane, won the Chicago to Mackinaw boat races, competed in the Iditarod dog race, and competed in several iron man triathlons, and among other things lived the Scouting mottos both Cub and Boy Scout by doing his best and being prepared (deceased)
Murphy J. (Mike) Foster - Governor of Louisiana
Robert M. Gates - Director of Central Intelligence (CIA) and Secretary. of Defense
Richard A. Gephardt - U.S. Representative from Missouri, Minority Leader
Michael Kahn - stage director, Oscar winning film editor
William Henry Keeler - Roman Catholic Cardinal and Archbishop of Baltimore
Dr. Alfred Kinsey - insect biologist, human behavior researcher
John Koncak - basketball player
Sheldon Leonard - actor, director, producer, 3 time Emmy award winner
Steven W. Lindsey - Astronaut - He was the pilot for STS-95 when John Glenn returned to space as a Senator. He made Eagle in Troop 161 in Temple City, California.
Gary Locke, Governor of the State of Washington, the first Chinese-American Governor in the contiguous United States, and selected as a Distinguished Eagle Scout by NESA
James Lovell - Navy pilot and astronaut, President of National Eagle Scout Association. Flew on Gemini 7, 12 & Apollo 8, 13 At one time had seen more sunrises than any other human being
Richard Lugar - Senator from Indiana (presidential candidate 1996)
J. Willard Marriott, Jr. - President, Marriott Corp.
CDR William McCool, USN - Astronaut, Pilot of U.S. Space Shuttle Columbia
W. Walter Menninger - Physician, civil servant
Michael Moore - Author and filmmaker, nominated for an Oscar for "Bowling for Columbine"
Jim Mora - NFL football coach
Oswald "Ozzie" Nelson - actor
Sam Nunn - U.S. Senator from Georgia
Ellison Onizuka - Astronaut aboard the U.S. Space Shuttle Challenger (deceased)
Steve Oswald - Astronaut, Navy Rear Admiral
Mitchell Paige - walked 200 miles to enlist in Marines on his 18th birthday in 1936, retired as a Colonel, Medal of Honor. Presented his Eagle award in 2003 after it was verified that he'd not received it in 1936 because he'd joined the Marines. (deceased)
Francis J. Parater - nominated for Sainthood by Diocese of Richmond, VA. died at age 22 in 1920 in Rome, while at seminary.
H. Ross Perot - Self-made billionaire and presidential candidate
Rick Perry - Governor, State of Texas
J. J. Pickle - U.S. Representative from Texas, proudly displayed his Eagle plaque inside his office (deceased)
Samuel R. Pierce - Former Sec. Housing & Urban Development
Frederick Reines - Nobel Prize winner in Physics
Gary Rogers - Chairman and CEO of Dreyer's Ice Cream
Jim Rogers - CEO of Kampgrounds of America (KOA)
Mike Rowe - Star of "Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe" on the Discovery Channel
Donald Rumsfeld - Secretary of Defense
Harrison Salisbury - Pulitzer Prize winning author
James Sanderson - Vice Admiral, US Navy (Ret), Deputy Chief US Atlantic Fleet
Dr. Benjamin Lewis Salomon - WWII Army front line surgeon & Medal of Honor recipient (deceased)
Jeff Sessions - Senator from Alabama
William Sessions - FBI director
Sam Skinner - Secretary of Energy during the Bush administration and now CEO of Commonwealth Edison
Steven Spielberg - Movie producer, from Scottsdale, AZ, made a movie of his troop while getting Photography MB. Helped to design requirements for the cinematography MB.
Wallace Stegner - Writer and college professor, won Pulitzer Prize in 1972 for "Angle of Repose"
Percy Sutton - Attorney, Chairman of the Board of City Broadcasting Corp.
John Tesh - TV celebrity and pianist
Meldrim Thomson, Jr. - 3 term governor of New Hampshire (deceased)
Leo K. Thorsness - Vietnam War Air Force Colonel, POW, & Medal of Honor recipient
Sam Walton - Founder, Wal-Mart (deceased)
Togo West - Secretary of the Army and Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Edward O. Wilson - Pellegrino University Professor and curator of entomology at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University
Jay Zeamer Jr. - WWII Army Air Force pilot & Medal of Honor recipient (deceased)
Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. - Admiral, Chief of Naval Operations

 

[Carly_Roach]

I love how this line

"We are probably going to let this one go," Balzano said .

was conveniently left out of the cut and paste.



I agree the Union looks like jerks but I did want to mention that the workers didn't do the path clearing job because they had been laid off by the city.

The article isn't the most stellar example of journalistic writing but I think the union is upset that 39 people were laid off while the city allowed an volunteer to do the job. I guess they think the city is under obligation to hire their workers for jobs that need to be done and not staff those jobs with volunteers or non-union members. This came on top of the city, post-layoffs, using non-union electricians. An issue that the union let go.

I don't necessarily agree with the union but I think that is why they are making a stink.

Like you, I also read the article instead of taking the post at face value and jumping all over whomever the OP thinks the bad guy is.

And if the article is from an obviously swayed website, I Google to get the real story.

I cannot lambaste the union here. They're not going after the Eagle Scout, they're following their own procedure in filing a grievance with the city because the city laid them off and allowed volunteers to do what they used to get paid to do.

I'm not a member of a union but I can tell you what life is like now without unions around: poverty pay, no benefits, and more and more companies are opting out of paying sick time or vacation time. These are 40 hours week jobs in professional environments where you only get paid for the time you work.

I'm hearing more from friends and relatives about how employers are quoting Michigan law by stating to their employees that they don't even have to give their employees breaks; that the employee should feel grateful that they get a 15 minute break in the morning and afternoon.

Yes, break times are now considered a "perk".

http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-27673_32352-117201--,00.html

That is what unions do for us whether we are a member of a union or not and that's why I'm not going to blast the union for their actions here. People don't realize that when we don't have unions to set the standard of living, employers can (and will) take advantage of their workforce. At least, that's my experience here in Michigan. YMMV.

 

[mommytoe]

When my ds did mile markers and sign posts for the new walking trails here people loved it. He even presented his plans before a town meeting so everybody would know what he was doing.

I think it is great to save tax payer money by using volunteers or even the cheaper bids for the work.

 

[shrubber]

Like you, I also read the article instead of taking the post at face value and jumping all over whomever the OP thinks the bad guy is.

And if the article is from an obviously swayed website, I Google to get the real story.
This is the local paper, not a Glenn Beck website
I cannot lambaste the union here. They're not going after the Eagle Scout, they're following their own procedure in filing a grievance with the city because the city laid them off and allowed volunteers to do what they used to get paid to do.
From the article, "We'll be looking into the Cub Scout or Boy Scout who did the trails," Balzano told the council." Sounds like the union has an issue with the Scout, no?


I'm not a member of a union but I can tell you what life is like now without unions around: poverty pay, no benefits, and more and more companies are opting out of paying sick time or vacation time. These are 40 hours week jobs in professional environments where you only get paid for the time you work.
Not to make this an anti-union bash, but from your comment you think that people should be paid for time that they do not work?!?