Wednesday, November 19, 2008

From the Tennessean 11/19

To the Editor:

George Reynolds, in his letter, “Vought workers are lucky to have jobs,” Nov. 15, makes several statements that simply are not true.

When a company has made money because their workers are highly skilled and committed to producing quality products and satisfying their customers, it is not luck that they have a job.

Then, when that same company takes advantage of a down economy and record unemployment to try to take benefits from those same workers who had made them profitable, then it does matter what we are striking for. Mr. Reynolds then tries to lay the blame for this nation’s failed trade policies on labor unions.

My heart also goes out to workers who have no jobs to go to because of the greed of corporations who have moved their jobs out of our country and exploited workers around the world.

If there ever was a time when labor unions are needed, it is now.

Mike Worrell,
President, LL 735
IAMAW

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

thanks mike somebody needed to set the record right .he must have been a salary person

Anonymous said...

I thank Mike for sending this letter to the Tennessean in response to "George". Are there going to be more responses to the media? Only channel 4 seems to be on our side and thats not very often, channel 2 only tells the company's side. The general public has no ideal how Vought is really doing so I tell everyone that ask about the strike how Vought is really acting, they can't believe that there are companies out there willing to use such tactics as Vought. So maby more letters to the media from our LL735 would help. So everyone keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

I read these blogs religiously. I have also been reading the Tennessean online, and it is apparent that the man that posted the editorial has no idea what he is talking about.

Some people must enjoy a 40-hour work week and making more than minimum wage. HMMM, seems to me like a union established those as requirements way-back-when. Enjoy healthcare? Seems to me like a union fought for that, too.

The ignorance of unions in Tennessee is appalling to me. We have friends that do not even know what a strike entails. I grew up in a union home in West Virginia, watched as my dad was laid off and then fought to get his seniority back when he was re-hired (after the company took his recall rights away). The company locked out the workers for 18 months and shipped in scabs from all across the country, and my dad worked odd jobs - He never sold his soul to the devil and crossed the picket line. My grandfather did the same. We took our grocery vouchers to the store every week and used a calculator to tally up the bill. Believe it or not, I look back on these times fondly - we sacrificed so that in the end, the contract was a good one, and the wage increases and healthcare (which the company STILL pays 100%) were what the union wanted.

I am proud to stand beside my husband and fight for what is deserved. I have been through hardships as a union daughter and now as a union wife, but I have always believed in the union and we will STAND STRONG until the end, you can bet the company's last dollar on that! We have come too far - as a family, as a union and most importantly - as people united for a cause that is JUST and WORTHWHILE! PROUD TO BE UNION!

communicator said...


George Reynolds’s opinion is complete fantasy.

Optimist said...

The workers at Vought are the ones who made Vought profitable. No one is asking for anything they haven’t earned. The company plans to keep LL 735 out until the first of the year; that is why they threw out such a dried up bone of an offer. They don’t want the workers in there.

It proves 2 things: One, the workers made Vought profitable enough to hold out over the Holidays and Two, the company is sorry enough to keep the workers out through the Holidays.

Of course this is no surprise for the workers at Vought. And I can understand how George Reynolds can be so confused, because he has never worked under Vought management.

Time after time Vought continue to shoot themselves in the foot. This is just one more example. How can Vought ever expect to build a good working relationship with its workforce when it offers contracts like this? Apparently they don’t plan to.

If they expect to run us out altogether then the next thing to go will be the contracts and then the company. All the salary people who are in the plant need to start thinking about your own jobs. I guess that goes for the scabs too, but then, what can you expect out of a scab?.

Let’s focus on helping our union brothers and sister and let the company stew for a while. Around the 10th of January, when the quarterly financial report is due, someone in upper management will holler Uncle and they’ll figure out some way to save face at the bargaining table.

We’ll get a good contract. Just be patient. It’ll all work out. And if not, who would want to work there without a contract anyway?

Anonymous said...

George Reynolds try getting a real jobie job instead of trying to win a free meal.
The next time you are hungry stop by our house (IAM 735 Union Hall), We have plenty of food and the lights are always on.
Peace Union brothers & sisters, Stay strong!!

Anonymous said...

The best way to help those who need to have a good Thanksgiving is to have a new vote to go back to work!
The donations are very kind, but a nice paycheck and benefits would be far better.
Why don't you go to the table and give in and do what you know is right and give us our jobs back!!