LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE YOU CROSS THE STREET

****Just a reminder: This blog is the sole opinion of the author (well and probably a bunch of others but ya know how that goes....). It is no way officially related to the thoughts and opinions of LL 735 blah blah....in other words it is just my 2 cents*****

So, Vought has posted yet ANOTHER fact checker about working during the strike. Counting their original posting at the beginning, this is their third attempt at promoting us to cross the line. Perhaps they are confused about the fact that if the first 2 attempts did not work, this one will not either.

Here are some interesting things to think about and relay to ANYBODY you even suspect may be contemplating it:

The company "says" that it will adhere to most of the provisions of the contract in terms of job security blah blah.....Well what else has the company "said":

1. They SAID we deserved and would receive a fair contract. Ummm where is it????
2. They SAID (and continue to say) they desire to negotiate in good faith. By Dan Tharp's own admission the week before the vote, they had not even submitted an economic proposal by that time. Negotiations began August 4th so there is no explanation of this fact beyond the reason that the company just thought we would accept whatever they threw out there.
3. They maintain that they want to negotiate in good faith. How is it good faith when you bring your bullies with you and walk out of not one but TWO attempts to negotiate? If they were sincere in their good faith we would be back at the table this week-not next month.
4. They issue media statements that SAY they are fine without us. But when presented with a proposal by the Union, they then SAY they can't accept it as they have to recover losses that have resulted from the strike. What losses? They SAID they made a profit in the 3rd quarter....oh wait the small profit they did earn was because of the work done by the Union members before the strike.
5. They SAY no bargaining unit employees have been fired since they returned to work. Again, this is just my opinion but once you opt-out of the Union are you still a "bargaining unit employee"? I would think not as you have waived your right to Union representation and have removed yourself from the "bargaining unit". We all know of the ones who have been fired as a result of crossing the line so I must doubt the legitimacy of Vought's statement.

Vought can SAY anything. They will SAY anything. But saying something and meaning it are 2 entirely different things.

Those of you who have crossed should be FURIOUS. Salary employees received their bonus checks yesterday. What did you get?? Was crossing the line worth losing your dignity and the respect of the people around you? Was it worth the fact that you betrayed us? How long will the company actually keep you? Tennessee is a right to work state. So the "just cause" Vought refers to in grounds for termination can be very loosely interpreted. Tardiness, absenteeism, failure to perform....these are all "just cause" grounds for termination in Tennessee. How can you fully execute all of your duties without those us who actually know what we are doing? The company will make excuses for the contractors errors as they are not employees. They will not do the same for you. Sure hope you enjoy working during the holidays with no "perks" of holiday pay. You already know it is not going to happen.

There is no point in crossing the line now. You will gain nothing and stand to lose everything. Vought needs to come back to the table and get on with this. The only explanation for them not coming back before January is once again GREED. They will save a fortune in holiday pay but will it be worth the cost of not getting all of their products to EVERY customer? Vought talks about the state of the economy in their latest postings. Yeah it sucks. But what measures have they taken to help improve it by ending this FAIRLY and infusing money into it?

Today's video, by request of The Replacements has a lot of very valid lyrics to relate to this situation. (Hey, maybe I have a future as a DJ haha)