HUMOUR:

NEWSPEAK ON THE JOB:

CANADIAN LABOUR- MISSISSAUGA:

RED CROSS BOSSES ARROGANCE PUSHES WORKERS TO STRIKE:

There are bosses, and then there are bosses. One thing that Molly has observed over the years is that bosses with a presumed "ethical mandate" are the worst of all. This was demonstrated to the tune of close to 100 million deaths under communist dictatorship in the 20th century. But the petty world of charities and NGOs gives ample evidence of this even if their power is (mercifully) restricted. Down Ontario way the bosses of the Red Cross have pushed their workers into a strike position by their arrogance. Here's the story from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

CLCLCLCLCLCLCL
Red Cross threats, intimidation push drivers to strike
MISSISSAUSAGA, ON – More than forty drivers for Red Cross Mississauga-Halton have decided to exercise their right to strike following an employer campaign of threats and intimidation. Picket lines will go up Monday morning unless an agreement is reached.

“Our members have been in a legal strike position since midnight last Friday,” said CUPE National Representative Helen Gibb-Gavel. “Knowing how important their service is to people who have serious medical needs, others with disabilities, and seniors, they decided to continue working while holding information pickets between shifts.

“The Red Cross has responded with threats and intimidation of a group of low-paid workers who are trying to achieve their first collective agreement.”

Employees received voice messages at their homes threatening termination if they picket during work time. However, said Gibb-Gavel, the drivers work split shifts and have held information pickets between those shifts. As well, on Wednesday a man who identified himself as a Red Cross manager threatened to have picketers’ vehicles towed from a parking lot next door to Red Cross headquarters.

“Instead of being able to spend our time productively at the bargaining table, trying to negotiate a fair first contract, we will be on the picket lines and at the labour board with a charge of intimidation,” said Gibb-Gavel. “More importantly, people who need assisted transportation are going to see their service disrupted.”

The union is ready to meet at any time before Monday to try to achieve a fair collective agreement and avert a strike, said Gibb-Gavel. If there is no agreement, picket lines will go up at 4:45 a.m. at the Canadian Red Cross office, 5700 Cancross, Mississauga, and 6:30 a.m. at Region of Peel TransHelp, 3190 Mavis Road.

For more information, contact:
Helen Gibb-Gavel
CUPE National Representative
Tel: (905)568-4664; cell 905-242-4207

HUMOUR:

GOOD DREAMS:

HUMOUR:

THE BOSS:

AMERICAN LABOUR-LOS ANGELES:

FREE SPEECH FOR SOME:

Now I must admit that anyone who makes a living from giving orders to anyone else has to be an A-hole, at least during working hours. Some, however, go over and above the degree of A-holeishness required and set themselves up for an induction to the Anal Hall of Fame. Such are the owners of the 'Vermont Hand Wash', strangely enough located in the city of Los Angeles California. I'm sure that simply naming a car wash on one end of a continent after a state on the other side indicates pig-headishness over and above the usual. Or am I missing something ? Does the state of Vermont have some sort of marketing connection to either car washes or "hands" ? Your guess is as good as mine. Up here in the frozen north nobody names a business after another province. The British Columbia Head Shop ? The Alberta Quick Oil Change ? The Newfoundland Fish Market ? Never, never, never.

In any case, abandon your previous conceptions of what lengths bosses will go to. Read the following article from the AFL-CIO Blog with at least two beer at the ready.

ALALALALALALAL
Justice for Car Wash Workers Too Radical for L.A.:
by James Parks, Aug 19, 2009


Looks like a billboard supporting workers’ rights is too controversial for the corporate hacks who seem to run Los Angeles.

The billboard, outside the Vermont Hand Wash in downtown L.A., carried this “radical” statement: “Wash Away Injustice! Support Carwash Workers.” Before it was unveiled, the Vermont Hand Wash, one of the most notorious anti-worker car washes in the city, pressured CBS Billboard to pull it down before a rally took place in support of car wash workers who are fighting to join a union to improve conditions in the industry. Never mind that the language and design of the billboard had been approved in advance.

As the workers took down the sign, car wash workers and their supporters chanted, “Shame on you!” and “Don’t take it down!” The rally, with hundreds of workers in the Los Angeles area joining AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, members of Congress and local union, clergy and community leaders for the unveiling, carried on below the symbolically blank billboard.

Henry Huerta, director of the Community-Labor-Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) campaign, said:
"We came here today to unveil a billboard with a message to Angelinos to “Support Carwash Workers” in their struggle against exploitation by the owners of this carwash. Unfortunately, the company that owns this billboard caved to pressure from the Pirian family. They have violated our First Amendment Rights to Free Speech and are complicit in this employer’s violation of workers’ rights to Free Association. SHAME ON CBS BILLBOARD! AND SHAME ON THE PIRIAN FAMILY!"

Earlier this year, the Los Angeles City Attorney filed criminal charges against Benny and Nisan Pirian, the owners, and Manuel Reyes, manager of the Vermont Hand Wash, with 220 counts of criminal misconduct altogether—including conspiracy, witness intimidation, grand theft, brandishing a deadly weapon, failure to pay wages and failure to comply with wage orders of the state’s Industrial Welfare Commission regulating workplace conditions.

Vermont Hand Wash worker Pedro Guzman said:

"We have suffered retaliation and intimidation by the owner, Benny Pirian. He took us into his office and interrogated us about our union activities. And he even offered to compensate me if I would work on his side against the union and my companeros. But I would never do that. Our struggle continues with the incredible support from unions, students, faith groups, old people, and young people, all of them willing to come out and sweat under the sun to show us their solidarity."

Sweeney told the crowd the car wash workers’ struggle is a perfect example of why the Employee Free Choice Act is needed. (Molly Note- the official unions in the USA seem to always promote the Employee Free Choice Act as the be all and end all salvation of the American labour movement. I think that an objective comparison to the civilized world in which similar legislation is in place shows that it hardly reduces the difficulty of organizing by any significant amount.)

"These workers have gone through hell trying to form a union to win just living standards.
No worker should face that treatment in this country we share. In America, every worker should enjoy freedom of speech and freedom of association.

In America, every corporation should be held accountable to the law. In America, every worker should be free to join a union and bargain for a better life."

Last year, the mostly immigrant car wash workers throughout Los Angeles formed the Carwash Workers Organizing Committee (CWOC) of the United Steelworkers (USW) to raise their standard of living, secure basic workplace protections and address the serious environmental and safety hazards in their industry.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) also issued a complaint in June alleging that Vermont’s management targeted and then fired three workers because of their organizing activities.

Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) reminded the audience the state’s Car Wash Worker law, passed in 2003, is set to expire this year if it is not reauthorized by the legislature. The law requires all car wash operators to register with the state as a means to promote good labor practices. Chu, who helped pass the law as a member of the state assembly, called on California regulators to reauthorize and fully enforce the law. (Time for another Molly Note here. If this law was so effective then why didn't it prevent the present abuses at the Vermont hand Wash ?????. This seems like rather special pleading to me. Is legislation some magic answer ?)

The effort to gain justice for the “carwasheros” is being led by CLEAN, a coalition of more than 130 organizations, including labor unions, immigrant rights organizations and environmental and worker health and safety advocates, working to improve working conditions in the car wash industry.

Huerta said the tragedy is that although the Pirians are among the worst offenders we have encountered in the industry, they are not alone.

The exploitative treatment of workers is rampant throughout this industry. Carwashes are simply sweatshops operating in plain site.

But with support from unions and the community, carwash workers from across the city are building a union and building a movement—for respect, dignity, and fairness on the job.

AMERICAN LABOUR:

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR 'GRINCH OF THE YEAR':

Nominations are now open for the 'Jobs With Justice' Grinch of the Year award. For the 7th year running the JwJ coalition is hosting the online nominations for the personage who has done the most harm to workers and their families in the past year. Here's the contest details.

.........................

Nominate for National "Grinch of the Year"‏:
For more than a decade, JwJ coalitions across the country have held local 'Grinch of the Year' elections to determine the most deserving greedy Grinch in their hometowns. This year, national Jobs with Justice will sponsor the seventh annual online Grinch of the Year election to determine the national figure who does the most harm to working families.

Please submit your nomination for the national Grinch of the Year by Friday, November 30th. Be sure to include a few sentences on why you think your nominee is deserving. We will be announcing the nominees and beginning the election soon!

NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE GREEDY GRINCH HERE

http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/up_xDw71CPY-/

Check out past winners & nominees here:

http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/j1_xDw71CPYJ/

------------------

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.

http://www.unionvoice.org/join-forward.html?domain=jobswithjustice&r=Kp_xDw7qKY32

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Jobs with Justice at: http://www.unionvoice.org/jobswithjustice/join.html?r=Kp_xDw7qKY32E

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

MORE ON "MY BOSS":

*Comments on the first day from my new Boss."Over the years I've trained three people who eventually became my Boss. I'll guarantee that's not going to happen to you."

*My Boss cancelled the weekly status meeting on a project long overdue. She said, "Every week it's the same thing. Let's wait until something happens before we meet again."

*I interviewed with a company and didn't hear back from them for over a month. I had written them off, and I was surprised to get a phone call from my Boss-to-be, asking if I was still interested in the position. When I said, yes", he said, "good, because our first and second choices got better offers."

*In their abscence management left my Boss in charge. They wanted to see the 'worst case scenario'.

*My Boss recently joined my car pool. I now know that I can lead my Boss to work, but I can't make him think.

*"Yes, I've read your proposal, but I can't support projects before management's review." Typical political manouevers by my Boss.

*"I really love that spreadsheet. I did 10 what-ifs and I liked them all." Comment after seeing his pie-in-sky sales forecasts.

*My Boss recently completed 'Excel for Dummies'. Now the rest of us are reading 'The Dummy Unleashed'.

*Management posted a flier on the employee bulletin board supporting a $0.00/hr minimum wage. They claimed that even an employee earning $0.00/hour benefits from the experience of work and the learning process. Frankly, I earn a salary and I don't see the benefit.

*As hard as it is to believe my Boss has a will of his own. His attorney wrote it.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

MY BOSS:

*My Boss has learned to be cautious.Failure taught him that.

*My Boss isn't a total failure. His Boss helped too.

*If we ever need to simulate a problem we invite My Boss to the meeting.

*Normally we don't accept sloppy work, but we make an exception for My Boss.

*My Boss decided to put his memoirs in a book. It's called 'My Defecations'.

*If My Boss was an energy plant he's be a power failure.

*My Boss is in court for sexual harassment. He said it was just a 'pat on the back'.

*My Boss returned from his evaluation looking very sad. He said, "I can't figure out why my boss hates me. I haven't done anything."

*My Boss' business philosophy is "You can fool enough of the people some of the time".

*My Boss doesn't mind work. It's thinking that scares him.

FROM THE PAGES OF STRAIGHT GOODS:

Two recent article have caught Molly's eye while she was surfing the internet to Straight Goods, an online news magazine based out of Ontario.

GIRLS AS GUINEA PIGS:

HPV VACCINE CAMPAIGN RAISES SERIOUS HEALTH CARE QUESTIONS:

The new human papilloma vaccine that is supposed to guard against the subsequent development of cervical cancer has raised many concerns, not the least because of the immense cost in both the USA and Canada (estimated Canadian cost about $2 billion) and the possible connections between the manufacturers of Gardasil and conservative governments who are advocating its use, despite their stinginess on other health care matters. There are numerous studies questioning both the efficacy and safety of the vaccine, as well as its cost effectiveness. Straight Goods has published a recent article of the above title on this matter. Molly quotes,

"A vaccine against cancer is a dream come true---which explains why Gardasil, the new vaccine against some strains of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which cause genital warts and (eventually) cervical cancer, was so well received. The federal government swiftly announced funding for vaccination of girls and women and several provinces quickly took up the offer. Most parents surveyed supported this move. Many who have been affected by cervical cancer are applauding.

Now some Canadian researchers are having second thoughts. They are raising questions calling the $ 2 billion program to vaccinate all girls aged 9 to 13 premature and suggesting the vaccination could have unintended negative consequences. Since there is no epidemic of cervical cancer to warrant urgent action (Molly note about 400 deaths per year in Canada) , they suggest governments not rush into a universal vaccination program.

A leading researcher from Dartmouth University who participated in the development of the vaccine, said that giving the drug to preteen girls "is a great big public health experiment". then the Journal of the American Medical Association took a stand against mandatory vaccination with Gardasil with the devastating comment that, "Private wealth should never trump public health"....

To READ MORE see the article at the Straight Goods site.

Then there's this little bit about "bullying". Now, Molly isn't about to sign up to the latest fad of the social managerial ruling class that claims they can eliminate bullying in schools by intensifying the bullying that school authorities exercise towards their inmates-excuse me "pupils". As elsewhere the greatest amount of "bullying" is done there by the authorities and not by the pupils themselves. Now here's a study by the Workplace Bullying Institute and Zogby International about bullying in the workplace. A little birdie tells Molly that this sort of behavior, something that people have known about for centuries(millenia ?) won't become a major public campaign for the New Class amongst our rulers, if for no other reason than it would pit them against other members of their class. better to pick on children after all. Anyways...

BULLYING AFFECTS HALF OF US WORKERS:

IN 72 PERCENT OF CASES, THE BULLY WAS THE BOSS:

"Half of working Americans (49 percent) have suffered or witnessed workplace bullying---including verbal abuse, job sabotage, abuse of authority or destruction of workplace relationships, according to a new Workplace Bullying Institute/Zogby Interactive survey.

Prevalence: The WBI survey found that 37 percent of the US workforce, an estimated 54 million employees, have been bullied now or sometime during their worklife. despite this epidemic-level prevalence, 45 percent of respondents said they have never seen or experienced bullying at work.

"It's clearly a silent epidemic" claims Dr. Gary Manie, director of the Workplace Bullying Institute in Bellingham, Washington. Stress from prolonged exposure to bullying (33 percent suffer for more than one year) adversely affects psychological or physical health of 45 % of targets.".....

To READ MORE go to the article on Straight Goods.

All that Molly can add to this is that such things cannot be eliminated by any campaigns by do-good social reformers disguising their own power and financial motives. They can only be significantly reduced by eliminated the social class that perpetrates such things- the bosses and that includes the 'soft bosses' of the social managers.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE FACTORY OWNER:

The owner of a large factory decided to make a surprise visit and check on his staff. Walking through the plant, he noticed a young man leaning lazily against a post.

"Just how much are you being paid a week?", said the owner angrily.

"Three hundred bucks." replied the young man.

Taking out a fold of bills from his wallet, the owner counted out $300, slapped the money into the boy's hands and said, "Here's a week's pay. Now get out and don't come back."

Turning to one of the supervisers he said, "How long has that lazy bum been working here anyway?"

"He doesn't work here.", said the superviser. "He was just here to deliver a pizza."

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TRUE MANAGEMENT STORIES AND QUOTES:

No Molly is not making up what follows here. The following were entrants in a 'Dlibert quotes' contest for examples of the sort of "higher management thought" that Dilbert loves to lampoon. Enjoy...

*"As of tomorrow employees will only be able to access the building using individual security cards. Pictures will be taken next Wednesday and employees will receive their cards in two weeks" (From the Microsoft office in Redmond, WA)

*"What I need is a list of specific unknown problems we will encounter" (Lykes Lines Shipping)

*"E-mail is not to be used to pass on information or data. It should be used only for company business"(Electric Boat Company)

*"This project is so important that we can't let things that are more important interfere with it" (UPS)

*"Doing it right is no excuse for not meeting the schedule. No one will believe you solved the problem in one day ! We've been working on it for months. Now, go act busy for a few weeks and I'll let you know when it's time to tell them." (3M Corp)

*"Teamwork is a lot of people doing what I say" (Citrix Corp executive)

*"We know that communication is a problem, but the company is not going to discuss it with the employees" (AT&T)

*"We recently received a memo from senior management saying,"This is to inform you that a memo will be issued today regarding the memo mentioned above"" (Microsoft)

And now Molly's favourite:

*"As director of communications I was asked to prepare a memo reviewing our company's training programs and materials. In the body of the memo in one of the sentences I mentioned the "pedagogical approach" used by one of the training manuals. The day after I routed the memo to the executive committee I was called into the HR director's office and told that the executive vice president wanted me out of the building by lunch. When I asked why, I was told that she wouldn't stand for perverts (paedophiles ?) working in her company. Finally he showed me her copy of the memo with her demand that I be fired and the word "pedagogical" circled in red. The HR manager was fairly reasonable, and once he looked the word up in his dictionary and made a copy of the definition to send back to her, he told me not to worry. He would take care of it. Two days later a memo to the entire staff came out directing us that no words which could not be found in the local Sunday newspaper could be used in company memos. A month later I resigned. In accordance with company policy I created my resignation memo by pasting words together from the Sunday paper." (Taco Bell Corporation)

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

DIMINISHING RETURNS:

After a two year long study the National Science Foundation announced the following results on Corporate America's recreation preferences:

1)The sport of choice for unemployed people is BASKETBALL.

2)The sport of choice for maintenance level employees is BOWLING.

3)The sport of choice for front line workers is FOOTBALL.

4)The sport of choice for supervisors is BASEBALL.

5)The sport of choice for middle management is TENNIS.

6)The sport of choice for corporate officers is GOLF.

CONCLUSION: The higher you are in the corporate structure the smaller your balls become.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WANT A DAY OFF WORK:

THE BOSS'S PERSPECTIVE:

The cartoon to the left reads, "Take these statistics, Miss Findlay, and make them warm and fuzzy". Just in case the reproduction is too warm and fuzzy for you to read. Anyways, here's how your boss may reply if you ask for a day off work. Ahem....

"So you want a day off ? let's take a look at what you are asking for. There are 365 days per year available for work. There are 52 weeks per year in which you already have two days off per week. Leaving 261 days available for work. Since you spend 16 hours per day away from work, you have used up 170 days,leaving only 91 days available. You spend 30 minutes each day on coffee breaks which counts for 23 days each year, leaving only 68 days available. With a 1 hour lunch each day, you used up another 46 days, leaving only 22 days available for work. You normally spend 2 days each year on sick leave. This leaves you only 20 days per year available for work. We are off 5 days holidays per year, so your available work time is down to 15 days. we generously give 14 days vacation per year which leaves only 1 day available for work, and I'll be damned if you are going to get that day off."

A Molly prize to the reader who can describe the logical failing in the above in the clearest way possible. Another Molly prize for the best analogy as to why it is the same as conservative "logic" in general.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

ADVISE FROM THE GREAT BEYOND:

The new manager walks into his office, and, while settling into his new desk, finds four envelopes. On one he finds the words, "Open me first". The other three are numbered one to three.

He opens the first envelope and finds a letter from his predecessor saying, "These three envelopes will save you a world of trouble. In case of emergency, please open these envelopes in sequential order, envelope one first, envelope two second and envelope three third."

The manager shrugs, puts the envelopes back and forgets about them.

Six months later the workers go on strike. The company is shut down and is losing money fast.

After a long night negotiating with the union, he remembers the three envelopes. So he opens the first one and it says, "Blame me, your predecessor, for everything."

Wonderful idea he thinks, and indeed it works and the crisis comes to an end. His job is saved and everybody's happy.

A few months later another strike hits. He goes to the drawer and opens the second envelope. It reads, "Blame the government for everything".

It works like a charm, and he breathes a sigh of relief as his job is, once again, saved.

A month later the workers declare yet another strike. The manager goes to the third envelope and it reads, "Prepare 4 new envelopes".

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY:

Speaking of bosses here's a couple of found jokes that Molly recently stumbled upon.

QUALITY CONTROL

At a seminar called 'Stress and Disease' Dr. Nicolas Hall, an expert in psychobiology, gave an example of a coping skill for job stress which I would like to share with you. When you have had one of those 'Take This Job and Shove It' days try this:

On your way home after work, stop at your pharmacy and go to the section where they have thermometers. You will need to purchase a rectal thermometer made by 'Q-Tip'. Be sure that you get this brand.

When you get home lock your doors, draw the drapes and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed during your therapy. Change to comfortable clothing such as a sweat suit and lie down on your bed. Open the package containing the thermometer, remove the thermometer and carefully place it on the bedside table so that it will not become chipped or broken. Take the written material that accompanies the thermometer and as you read it you will notice in small print the statement that says "every rectal thermometer made by Q-tip is PERSONALLY tested".

Now close your eyes and say out loud five times; "I'm so glad that I do not work in quality control at the Q-tip company".

CORPORATE FILLY

The Dakota Indians of North America passed on this piece of wisdom from generation to generation by word of mouth. "If you are riding a dead horse the best thing to do is to dismount". In the corporate world, however, because of the heavy investment factor other things to be tried (but not limited to) are the following:

*buy a stringer whip

*change riders

*threaten the horse with termination

*appoint a committee to study the horse

*arrange to visit other sites to see how they ride dead horses

*lower the standards so dead horses can be included

*appoint an intervention team to reanimate the horse

*create a training session to increase the rider's load share

*reclassify the horse as "living impaired"

*change the form so it reads "This horse is not dead"

*hire outside contractors to ride the dead horse

*harness several dead horses together for increased speed and efficiency

*donate the dead horse to a recognized charity thereby deducting its full original cost

*provide additional funding to increase horse's performance

*do a time management study to see if lighter riders would improve productivity

*purchase an after market product that makes dead horses run faster

*declare that dead horses have lower overhead costs and are therefore more cost efficient

*form a quality focus group to find profitable uses for dead horses

*rewrite the performance requirements for horses

*and finally if all else fails...promote the dead horse into a management position

AMEN...Molly would add

*give a donation to a liberal or social democratic party, democratic friends of the workers, who will nationalize or subsidize your dead horse at considerable profit to your company

MOLLY ADDENDUM:

Boss humour, gotta love it. Molly has found a great site well worth visiting- KillOurBoss.Com. Link to it here or go to our 'Other Interesting Links' section.