I’ve been in that spot before. Can you trust the Union for honest answers? Clearly your trust in Management is zero, or otherwise, you wouldn’t have any questions. So now you’re in the middle. Time to take matters into your own hands.
You seek simple answers to simple questions. And you get the run-around or generalized answers that need details. Or, "to be determined in the future" responses. And it’s not helping you. So, I say….. trust no one but yourself and use simple math and history to decide. You already know that EVERY decision you make in your life will never be perfect. But you do want to get as close to perfect as possible. It’s your life and career at stake.
Things change as time goes on. But my God…. What the hell happened to the company you’re working for? The newbies can’t envision what it was like before. They weren’t there. Only the veterans would know. They’ll tell you it’s the difference between day and night. And the newbies for today will replace the veterans soon, and years from now, it will be they who will ask, “what the hell happened?”.
To all “new” guys: understand that the veterans have seen it all. Been there. Done that. You have it easier now than they did. Good for you. Progress and an ever changing world is on your side. And it’s changing fast. You love your job and wish to stay on. But the same fate the veterans are experiencing now awaits you in the future. And your future will arrive faster for you. It has to. Blame it on technology. It is what it is. So ask yourself: will you be needed in the future?
Sometimes you can’t do it alone. If the task is difficult or would take more time to complete, then you ask for help. We all do. And that’s where teamwork gets involved. In unity there is strength. When you work together with other people, you can gain greater success than when you work alone. And that’s the purpose for having a union. Negative situations that affect an entire group can only be fixed by that same group. If you think you can handle it yourself, then good luck and cross your fingers.
Here’s one small example: Some of mentioned that “unionized” Brooklyn was earning 96% of what those in the non-unionized depots was earning. I’ll take that as being the truth. And if that is the case, then pretty soon, “Brooklyn” will be earning more. Here’s the simple math….
If you (non-union) are earning $100, then, your equal in Brooklyn (union) is earning $96. Agreed? In simpler terms, Brooklyn is losing 4%. In order for Brooklyn to get even with you, they’d have to earn 4.2%.
Wait a minute… that’s more!
If you have 10 items on a table and you’re asked to remove 10% from this group, you would be left with 9 on the table. Now you have 9 items. To get back to 10 (one more), you might think to just do the reverse and add 10%. But 10% of 9 (that’s what you have) is .9 (point 9)
This gives you 9.9 and not 10. In other words, you have to put in a greater amount then what was subtracted in the first place.
If your yearly salary was $40,000, then you’re Brooklyn “equal” is earning 96% of that, or 4% less than you. So, the Brooklyn salary would be $38,400 ($40,000 minus 4%).
If you signed for ATS and agreed to the 10% reduction in salary, than your “new salary would be $36,000 (10% of $40,000 is $4000).
Your Brooklyn counterpart is now earning more than you are. And because he is “union”, the ATS “no-choice if you still want to work here” option does NOT pertain to him. It’s in his contract.
I’ll bet it doesn’t sound fair to you. I know that I would be pissed. They were protected…. And you were not. How come?
Of course you will “hear” that Brooklyn will NOT be “in the picture” when the contract expires. So, I guess ATS might sell the Brooklyn section of the franchise to somebody else. Really??
Or, hire “outside” contractors to replace them. That would be an interesting scenario. Imagine, Brooklyn residents won’t be seeing the familiar Optimum trucks rolling by the neighborhood. Nor, the familiar uniforms. ATS can’t force contractors begin driving Optimum trucks and wear the uniforms. And what about outages?
Or, perhaps ATS will fire them all. Yeah…. that’s the ticket. Get rid of 250 guys. Now that’s what I call “ a company that cares for its employees.” Boy, the news media will have a field day with ATS. And with the political atmosphere and slow economy in this country, to have a “foreign” company FIRE American workers. Publicity wise, ATS would have to be DAMN STUPID to let it go that far. Wait till politicians and news media get involved and check Altice’s past employee history. A political and economic disaster. It’s bad enough subscribers are cable-cutting. And a lot more will do the same, just to prove a point or make a statement. ATS is not in a position to piss people off. Things are bad enough as it is.
You can guess all day what will happen to Brooklyn. I assure you they are ready to do whatever it takes. And if you’re attitude is, “Well that’s their problem”, then I’m afraid you’re no different then ATS. It’s only Brooklyn. And now Oakland. And Oakland’s wages are frozen. Meaning NO REDUCTION. They’re taking home what they’ve earned.
If I were ATS, I’d settle with Oakland ASAP. If both Brooklyn and Oakland depots are simultaneously without a contract (whenever the Brooklyn contract expires), then ATS would have to deal with two potent unions. The IBEW and CWA. And whatever one guy gets, the other will want the same. Two depots with about 300 technicians combined. Imagine the strength you guys would have if other depots joined in. You’d kick azz.
Long Island, Jersey, upstate New York. You might consider yourselves small in number, but you are HUGE when acting as one. To be able to stop “out-of-nowhere” losses in sick leave, holidays, or salary. Things that gave you the reason to stay with your company. Things that you’ve worked damn hard to earn. Then, to have someone sitting in an air-conditioned office, who never ran a drop in the snow or rain, who didn’t have to deal with angry subscribers, make the decision to take away something you’ve worked for.
And he’s doing it for the sake of the company and its future. But, not yours.
Even worse…..YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW THIS GUY!!!