(1) i like how it starts out that they are concrete workers. (2) this deal is good enough for a non union shop. (3) if you do not like being union you can get your purse and leave now. (4) i do not have any benifits so i keep losing and after seven years of pumping there is seven more trailer units in town; the worker allways takes a beating.

What they did they let Conco vote on their companys proposal and they let the other companys pumpers vote on that proposal. Conco guys okayed their offer the other pumpers rejected theirs. Then the union said you guys have to accept the conco proposal whether we liked it or not. We couldnt even vote on that contract one way or another so they forced a contract that was ratified by 30 operators and never gave the other 140+ members a chancce to vote on it. Take it or leave it. I preferred the Conco contract but wasnt given a voice on it. The union also said if the other 3 companies operators wouldve accepted their companies proposal then they wouldve have left the two tiered system in place but since they didnt they are going to force 30 guys wishes on the rest

that's pretty much the way I understand it also. Mike Cusak is the only owner that came to an agreement with 612 and 302. Conco's 20 or so operators accepted the contract. No one else even was allowed to vote. Now everyone else must accept or they are out, both the owners and the membership. 20 voters out of 200 plus operators. He did it to one-up on the competition. Now All- American has followed. check out the websites. The contract does not allow for an apprenticeship program that amounts to much. one year and you are a journeyman. where is the safety in that? A proper program is the future of the industry. In addition some of the operators from the pump companies have had their own 401 plans, now what?. Typical union tactics...divide and conquer. This is what gives them the bad rap.

Hey Guys... you're right. This is going on in my neck of the woods. This situation is affecting all of our operators and we are very concerned. However, since i am "management" I hope you all understand that I'm not at liberty to discuss the details of this situation. We are all hoping and praying for an amicable resolution to this situation...

Big T

FACT SHEET

As of this writing, there are now two Union concrete pumping companies in

result, THEY are putting their employees out of work. This Union will not have any substandard contract

Dec. 31, to sign up for work opportunities at Dispatch. The work isn’t disappearing. Union pumping will

Dispatch, and they subsequently lose their jobs because their employer refuses to sign the new master agreement,

for all Ralph’s concrete pumpers.”) About 60 Local 302 members at Friday’s protest were joined by management

Union to negotiate a new contract separate from the new master agreement. The Union met with the members

OE-3.

I think that a group of employees that operates under a collective bargaining agreement is a more stable work-force. Unions used to also be the best place for a young man or woman to learn a craft or trade.

Why is it that the unions no longer feel it is their job to have a functional apprentice program? When the training is the responsibility of the employer it has IMHO a dual negative effect: 1. The best reason to sign on as a union shop is removed & 2. The employers, for the most part, don't do a very good job; and do not train to a standard.

I hope that the people involved in this dispute will all se some reason in the other side's argument and let the troops grt back  to work.

down here were not even offered unions or representation.but other equip operators do and talking to them most of us have better benefits and better pay.so while your picketting i'll let my wife keep her purse and i'll just keep my wallet the one with my non-union money in it.represent yourself instead of having a few decide for you,and having a institution tell you when you can work and when you have to picket.ive never crossed a picket line due to respect for the workers not the union.but if my families hungry i'm going to feed them,union or non-union,i hope yall get this resolved and i would really have to take a look to see if all operators or being represented or just the few of the major companies.good luck

The Union here where I live and work has allowed different contracts to different companies. While getting more workers into the union it has also allowed certain companies to get huge advantages due to the terms. I can see where a standard contract would be beneficial to all the companies involved,in order to keep a level playing field.

 Here the companies that have the older contracts that have been in the union the longest are the ones penalized, they are forced to keep the same contract while newer companies 20 miles away are allowed to pay half the wages and little if any of the benefits. The company I worked for had to find a way to try to equal this and got a contract that they are putting all new Operators under-the older guys  who were covered under the better contract (including me)were fired as soon as a reason was found to do so.. I don't blame the company I worked for-I blame the Union who allowed other companies to be able to underbid every job. That is why a standard contract is better-the companies crying out there just want "the good deal" that will let them do the same thing out there.

And I am still looking for work so if anyone is hiring send me a message.

From Experience!! Owners & AGC(Association of General Contractors) WILL play a game of Divide and Conquer! Lower union wages and benefit packages and their profits go up! If YOU(the pumpers) push it TOGETHER you can win! I was part of the operators represention in Local#3 in 1998 and watched as the owners& AGC cut us off at the knees. Pump operators should be paid as crane operators,not backhoe operators. Our responsibilities are greater! Our work is harder! Our hours are mostly longer! Yet you are paid less. Get a grip,work together! Mike Cusak is not stupid,if he signs that quick,there's money left on that table!

maybe join the teamsters? who say's pump operators have to be in the operating engineers? we are also truck drivers. weaken the union to the breaking point and start over.

the more i read the more non-union i become.maybe look at the unions management maybe its time for change,i dont know what area your from,but it must still be a strong union area.so being were not in union country,i could only give my opinion and that is if union vs union is underbidding what is non-union vs union doing,i would think the same.my father-in-law retired out of local 406 and is doing farely well,but mostly only crane operators is left,and few dirt hands,no concretepump operators that i know of.i think new orleans has a few union operators that work for boh bros. but i dont know there pay or benefits.i know if i would've gotten my book as a crane operator i wouldn't have had steady work,although it was offered, i stuck with pumping,asking there scale for a pump operator,was told there was no scale for pump operators,i bet we have some new orleans boys that could give yall some insight,but for baton rouge as of now no representation no union and i'm fine with that 

Hey!! Dont get me wrong,I'm not knocking the union! Although they have their own agenda,they have a responsibility to their members! Only when you work together(the union & the operators) can you get what you deserve.The union CANNOT ratify a contract that has not been voted on by a majority of its members! So Conco's contract is legally null & void! That's what you need to prove! And that ALL members did not get to vote!

Hey!! Dont get me wrong,I'm not knocking the union! Although they have their own agenda,they have a responsibility to their members! Only when you work together(the union & the operators) can you get what you deserve.The union CANNOT ratify a contract that has not been voted on by a majority of its members! So Conco's contract is legally null & void! That's what you need to prove! And that ALL members did not get to vote!

For those of you who want to see the other side of the story, please check out my latest post "sorry guys, the link was bad..."

Big T