Workers walk off in stink over toilets

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Workers walk off in stink over toilets

All back on hospital job this morning

By Dee Riggs
World staff writer

Originally published June 23, 2010 at 10:11 a.m., updated June 24, 2010 at 8 a.m.

This story previously incorrectly stated the types of workers who walked off the job. That has been corrected in this version.

WENATCHEE — About 90 union workers returned to work this morning after walking off the construction job at Central Washington Hospital on Tuesday, after complaining that some portable toilets at the site were dirty.

Gene Hodge, project manager for general contractor M.A. Mortenson Co., said all scheduled workers were on the job this morning. “Most of the issues were being resolved as they were walking out yesterday,” he said. Efforts included cleaning of the toilets and the addition of new ones.

Hodge had said Tuesday that workers’ concerns centered on the quantity and condition of the toilets. “They said there were a couple that were dirty and one that was out of toilet paper,” he said.

Hodge said the workers, including plumbers, pipefitters sheet-metal workers and electricians, walked off the job between 12:30 and 1 p.m., about the same time that employees of Apple Valley Pumping were cleaning the portable toilets and bringing in more.

Hodge said it is “not very common” for workers to walk off a job site because of toilet concerns. He said he had not experienced it in the seven years he has been in the business.

The walkout left about 130 workers still on the job, Hodge said. He added that the walkout had no impact on the construction project because the workers had only about two hours remaining in their shift.

A union official declined to comment Tuesday.

Steve Gregg, owner of Apple Valley Pumping, said he thinks the problem came as his employees shifted from five portable toilets that could be lifted by a crane, which was recently dismantled, to five toilets that fit inside elevators. “I think the issue was that people on the higher floors had to come down to use the toilets,” Gregg said.

He said his company services the 24 toilets that are usually at the job site three times a week.

The multi-million-dollar construction project is adding 188,000 square feet of space in a five-story tower. The project began in late August and is expected to be completed in May 2011.

Dee Riggs: 664-7147

deeriggs@wenatcheeworld.com

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EPluribusUnum 2 years, 11 months ago

Really... this is news worthy??? What a waste of time to write an article about a subject matter like this - the reporter should be ashamed. Plus, these guys who walked-off look like big babies (conveniently they picked a nice, sunny, 80 degree day to make up a reason to leave work early). I've also witnessed what people (men) can do to a port-o-poty - it probably isn't unlikely that the so called unsanitary conditions were made by the exact people who complained. Pee all over the place, writings on the walls and who knows what else. It's odd that their Union didn't want to comment - if it was an issue the Union wouldn't hesitate to stand by their guys, which makes me believe that the workers were being unreasonable and left without good cause. These guys should be thanking GOD they still have a job. What losers!

Gator 2 years, 11 months ago

How much time do these union guys spend on the can in one day, when they should be working? . Not to sound chauvinistic, but I am assuming most of the employees are men. And, as a male myself, I call B.S. on these guys. Most guys I know have to have a REALLY dirty toilet before they start to complain. .

2 years, 11 months ago

Doesn’t this seem a little ironic – plumbers walk off the job due to dirty toilets! Hello, who do you call if your toilet is plugged and you can’t get it to flush or need your sewer line cleaned out? What a crappy attitude and a disservice to the Plumbers Union.

patience 2 years, 11 months ago

Tell ya what...pay me as much as those workers are making...and ILL clean your damn toilets. Geez

TomyDear 2 years, 11 months ago

You really can't get a "staff" infection from a dirty toilet, unless a staff member touches you with a germy finger!
.

Staph infections, caused by the Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria, is one of the most common (if not the most common) infections prevalent in the world! 25-30% of the people in the united states already have the staph bacteria "colonized"in their bodies, which means that 1/4 of the people have it, but aren't sick from it! Dirty bathrooms or not!

Sorry Melissa/Justin7! I just think that if you're going to use that many exclamation points in your comment, the least you could do is get the spelling right!

lonedog3 2 years, 11 months ago

The story claims that these things are cleaned 3 times a week. Why would the ones using them have an issue? Are they the ones trashing them? Are they just carringon because apple valley in not union?Just goes to reaffirm what a whiny bunch of crybabies belong to unions.

golucky 2 years, 11 months ago

hope you noticed its a very one sided article. it was more than just plumbers. it was also electricians, fitters, tinners and installers that left the job, the site was empty. we had been arguing with the general for almost a month now. enough is enough. if you wanted to be treated like cattle good for you.i served a year with the first marines in afghanistan and conditions were more sanitary there seriously. mortenson called the paper to print the article with there view. The general was not living up to there part of the contract we called them on it plain and simple.

Tarheel 2 years, 11 months ago

Trust me...you're not getting the whole story here. Who do you think called the World to get this story to print?? Mortenson.. Be sure and read tommorrow's rebuttle.You'll hear the other side of the story. Mortenson is trying to spin the publicity so they look like heros and the trades look the villains.. There were 130 workers that left..all trades except carpenters walked. Mortenson never, ever have had 24 toilets on the job. Also not mentioned was L&I has cited Mortenson for not enough toilets and unsanitary conditions. These complaints started as early as late February. It took until yesterday to get results. Walking down a few floors has nothing to do with it. There were 5 toilets available for 200 guys from late Friday afternoon until Tuesday at noon when Apple Valley showed up. They had not been cleaned since Monday morning. There were never any "ass gaskets" available in any toilet on the job so the toilet paper goes first. Unless you've worked on big construction sites with more than 150 workers, you don't understand how fowl these things get in a very, very short time. Not only is an unsanitary issue, it's an unhealthy one too. Mortenson doesn't see the issue because they have a restroom in there climate controlled office that the hospital janitors come clean for them daily. Noone I know would ever want to work in the disgusting circumstances that have been a problem since day one on that job..

reaver75 2 years, 11 months ago

You all should be hitting up the P.U.D doug/chelan workers on what they do on the RATEPAYERS time !!!!!!!!!!!

antimorty 2 years, 11 months ago

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ALeaderNotAFollower 2 years, 11 months ago

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antimorty 2 years, 11 months ago

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antimorty 2 years, 11 months ago

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rwaller 2 years, 11 months ago

It is so sad the level and/or quality of discourse today. Everything is so polarized and it is reporting like this that goes far toward feeding that polarization. The issue of sanitary facilities is one that occurs on every major job site. State law is what dictates what are the responsibilites of the contractor and that law is enforced by L&I. Had the reported actually cared about the story she would have researched the requirements per law that Mortensen was obligated to follow. She would have then been able to ask Mortensen how many people were working on the site, more than 200. She then could have asked at the time that the workers finally walked off the job, how many port-a-potties were on site, 6. State law requires 1 for each 10 men working a 40 week. This is and has been an on going problem and seems to be used by the general contractors as a means of intimidating and humiliating the workers. Had the reporter cared about the story she could have found that the same issues arrose at Microsoft, yahoo, intuit in Quincy and at both data centers built in East Wenatchee. But then not much more can be expected of a news paper who has Doc Hastings captive for almost an entire day and does not ask him one question of importance, simply provides him with a free campaign stop. For those complaining or begging for the jobs, go down to the union hall, sign up for an apprenticeship, spend 5 years going to school and 5 years on the job training and you to can earn the "big bucks".

Workermom 2 years, 11 months ago

Bloggers in Wenatchee are not only heartless, but ignorant about Washington State Law. Whether Union paid or not and regardless of gender, government sanitation laws are in place that Apple Valley Pumping must follow in order to do business in Washington State. WenatcheeWorld article failed to report that toilet conditions on the hospital jobsite were so bad that this company was issued fines for violating sanitation laws. Regardless of the economy, managment is not at liberty to ignore the health concerns of its employees; management is responsible to ensure employee safety. My son is one of the Union workers that walked off the jobsite. These workers, many who are temporarily living and working in Wenatchee away from their families, complained to management repeatedly for many weeks about the bad toilet conditions. Management failed to listen until workers walked off the jobsite. Glad to hear that toilet conditions are now improved.

rwaller 2 years, 11 months ago

While you are busily blasting smearing unions why don;t you spend just a little time learning the history and all every worker in this country owes them. It is because of union labor that there are safety standards on job sites and that includes all work sites no matter where you work. It is because of union labor that you all must be paid over time wages for working over time. It is because of union labor that any of you have employer provided benefits of any kind. It is because of union labor that we have laws protecting the employment and exploitation of children. And, it is because of union labor that your current position is paying you any where near what you are presently earning. The only thing unions have done is fight to guarantee that the working man/woman gets an equal bite of the pie. It never ceases to amaze me that people can accept that the average CEO's wage has gone up 20,000 % as compared to the average worker and you choose to blame the hard working people making a living wage for all of our problems. I work for a living and I have a broken body to prove it and I do not feel that I am over compensated in any way. This was a one sided article that was intended to serve the interests of the general contractor and the Wenatchee World loves any story that can vilify unions. Especially when all they have to do is have the contractor write the story for them!

antimorty 2 years, 11 months ago

nicely said Rick

jeremiahj99 2 years, 11 months ago

It's amazing the ignorance of people who think they know " all about unions" , get informed before you start talking about things you know nothing about. Well said Rick...

Tim 2 years, 10 months ago

Unions served their purpose and we are better off for them but there are now good labor laws in place and plenty of attorneys around to interpret them and unions just drive up the cost of goods and services and create problems to insure their own survival. Unions should be extinct like the dinosaurs they are.

deeriggs 2 years, 10 months ago

Hector Castro, a spokesman for the state Department of Labor and Industries, said that no citations have been issued in this case. He said L and I officials have opened an investigation into the situation but that formal citations can take weeks to be issued. — Dee Riggs, World staff

lonedog3 2 years, 10 months ago

So if the state L & I have in actually not issued any citations the posters that posted that info have told lies? Do the disgruntled union employees feel they need to lie to the general public in order for us to support them? Lie that will ever happen! I have to agree with Tim in the fact that the unions have gone past their usefullness and need to be retired along with the UN.

workingman 2 years, 10 months ago

Tim and other union bashers, if there are good labor laws in place, who do you have to thank for them? Along with a 40 hour work week, weekends, overtime, and an overall raise in the standard of living, and not the cost of goods and services? These unions that you trash, thats who. These are the men and women who have trained for a skilled craft, and top notch contractors who have landed jobs through the competetive bid process. They are the best in their line of work. They are also here in this beautiful city spending their hard earned money in the hotels, stores, supply houses, hardware stores, restaurants. These Union men and women also build your buildings, bridges, data centers, schools, roads, truck and train your goods around, and many of them have also served in the military to protect your freedoms. They weren't asking for anything but clean bathrooms.

workingman 2 years, 10 months ago

Before you say the union contractor is not competetive or not making income, do your homework. Here is a link to the top contactors in all disiplines in the state of Washington. Many of them are union contractors. http://northwest.construction.com/people/toplists/0809_MarketSectorSpecialityContractors.asp

lonedog3 2 years, 10 months ago

so all of the union wages and excess costs do not cause an increase in the cost of goods or services? Hmmmm? Somebody better go look at the cost of a union built house and a non union house. Of course all areas are the same with higher costs being passed on to the consumer through the unions. They even supported and elected this countries first non-working president as well. There is a major difference in cost there. What flavor of kool aid is the union handing out this month?

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

DEERIGS, don't you think that your "investigaing" on this article should have been done prior to its being published? I am not sure where or if you received your journalism training but I am of the firm oppinion that you and your associates at the Wenatchee World should all enroll in a refresher course. I know for certain that if I performed at the same level of compitence on my job as you do on yours, I would be fired! But then I take great pride in the quality of work that I perform, something that you and your associates might try emulating. However, saying you are proud of what you do and deserving that pride are two entirely different things. How about making a mid-year resolution to actually do your job and report. Anyone can copy a story. It takes someone with a desire to actually find the truth to be an actual reporter. Being employed at a news paper DOES NOT make you or your associates reporters. For that you must actually do reporting work. Having lived in this valley since 1956, I won't be holding my breath in hopes that you see the light. The history is too long and too deep!!!!!

Tim 2 years, 10 months ago

workingman (Michael Conley) says... "Tim and other union bashers, if there are good labor laws in place, who do you have to thank for them?" I already gave credit to the unions but we now have labor laws that protect workers, unions are only useful if there is something broken, so they are always trying to fix something, broken or not. . Unions find their way in to all large shops and use some mob tactics when a non-union shop threatens. I've never been in a union, I'm not disgruntled. I watched the union tell my dad what to do, forcing him to work LESS than he wanted. Unions defend the lazy mans right to work and force contract negotiations when the workers are happy. Seems to me the union almost cost this valley many Alcoa jobs a few years ago. . You might think it's great that a union fights for higher pay for employees or better benefits, but where do you think that money comes from, the cost of the product goes up. Or when you can't even get good and services because the union is on strike, I bet you all applaud then.

If there were no unions today I'll grant you pay might be lower in some jobs, but things would be cheaper, it's a trade off.

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

1234......I always pay close attention to posters who are too ashamed of their view point to identify themselves. But then if I knew as much as you, I'd be ashamed to identify myself also.

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

Tim, a trade off for you is about money. So what if the conditions are bad. So what if you are payed less. To bad if your job is more dangerous. To bad if you lose your benefits. Those are all things which you owe to union labor. Unions do not cost jobs. What costs jobs is American corporations moving their jobs overseas to areas where they can and do roll back the working standards and conditions to preunion times. Every year unions all across this country fight for their members rights and all working men and women who benefit from their struggle. Those battles are silent taking place in courts or before the NLRB. Think about something for a moment. A union and nonunion contractor submit bids for the same job. The job is awarded to the union contractor as the low bid. Be it a given that the nonunion contractor is paying substantially less in wages and that more than likely is not contributing toward any kind of benefit package, what does that say about the greed level of the nonunion contractor? Clearly the union contractor submitted a bid that not only covered the cost of labor and materials but also provided a profit to the company. The difference between the two? The nonunion contractor, if they had won the bid, would have pocketted all of the money that the union contractor would have been paying to their workers. That is the reality of an America without unions. Are there businesses who truly care about their workers? Yes! But they are all but extinct. Greed rules the day! Again, corporate CEO's making millions and in some cases billions per year and your ire is directed toward some man or woman making a living wage. Turn your ire toward your boss, for without you, he or she would be nothing.

Tim 2 years, 10 months ago

"Turn your ire toward your boss," I have no ire to turn!! ;) . I don't like the way you talk to people so I'll make this short. Unions keep their place by supporting below average workers. Unions are a drain on the economy. Without a doubt they help certain people but the rest of us pay for it. . You seem to think all employers are cheating scoundrels who suck the life blood out of their workers. Most of those CEO's you complain about are heads of companies that have union shops.

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

It is a shame how much you devalue your worth. You can sing the praises of the benevolence of American business but the bottom line is now and always has been greed. You choose to sanctify the employer while minimizing your own self worth. Yes, without employers jobs would be hard to come by and yes they are willing to risk financially to make their dream come true. However, the hourly worker is a business also. A business of one. Do you think for one minute that your employer would shed a single tear when laying you off? Is there corruption in unions? Yes! But you paint the workers with the same brush you paint the corrupt leadership with. We are you neighbors. Our children play and go to school together. Heaven for bid they even fall in love and get married. Can you imagine anything more horrible than to have your son or daughter marry into a "union" family. Imagine the harm from exposure to the corrupt, lazy, worthless, job robbing union worker. Perhaps I should use the same logic and view all Republicans as being the same as former Idaho senator Craig. It must be true don't you think?

Tim 2 years, 10 months ago

Utterly ridiculous Rick. Many of my bosses have been common folk, and I am proud of the work I do.

antimorty 2 years, 10 months ago

all this about is that we deserve to have sanitary bathrooms, no matter if you are union or not. The difference is that Union brothers and sisters band together to make it happen. Because we do not have to stand alone for what is common respect.

Norm 2 years, 10 months ago

You're not supposed to make sense like that, smith. This is the internet.

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

Ferd, exactly where do you propose that the shovel fulls of human waste be dumped to make room for more human waste? It is not and was not about simple cleanliness. It was about port-a-potties being full to capacity. What cleaning can anyone, save the pumping company, do to eleviate the problem? Do you seriously believe that these men and women, who have jobs that there is an enormous amout of jealousy over, do you seriously believe they would risk those jobs over something as simple as a bad odor? I worked on a highrise job in Bellevue where the nonunion general contractor actually placed sticks inside the port-a-potties so you could push the mound to the side to make room for your business. Treat your animals that way and I guarantee you that the Wenatchee World would have a front page article, complete with pictures. The Wenatchee World chose to make the story about union workers when that had nothing to do with the issue.

lonedog3 2 years, 10 months ago

the sad part here is the "union" people on here have lied about cititationa being issued, there were none issued so now how can anyone expect to think that these port a pottys were in reality that full? could this be another lie from the "union" posters on here??

antimorty 2 years, 10 months ago

it takes 7 to 10 days for a citation to be issued then it must be posted for 2 days on the job site until it is issued it is under investigation

antimorty 2 years, 10 months ago

also check the safety valve for new article

lonedog3 2 years, 10 months ago

more union propaganda in the safty valve

timrice 2 years, 10 months ago

rick 1, ferd O

lonedog3 2 years, 10 months ago

Tim I would say it is either a draw or no points for either side. If, as the world reported, these port o potties were cleaned every three days then there could be little or no truth to the "shovels full of human waste" slick rick is speaking of. Also since the union sympathizers have lied to us about the citations that were not issued how can we believe or trust them to tell the truth? If you go read the saftey valve letter you will read more "shovels full of human waste". All of this from the same people thet brought us the first non-working president.

Tim 2 years, 10 months ago

Joe, thanks, but I really wasn't competing. My experience with unions is broad and varied and my comments were not directed at this port-a-potty story. But, union or not, this is about people taking a stand for the common good. If the bosses were being slow on sanitation issues they got a wake-up call. Any foreman on the job should have figured out they needed more potties, what is more basic than that. But we no longer need unions to do our bidding, the laws are clear and the courts are on the side of the worker. It's the union penchant for creating a need for it's self, arbitrating when the offer is good, and convincing the people they are ripped off, teaching them to be leery of the "front office" and taking their problems to the union rep instead. And it all boils down to higher cost of goods and services.
. Most jobs out there have not offered a "cost of living" increase but they don't have to go on strike or starve. They work hard and get raises for production on the job. Unions demand "Cost of Living" and that goes straight to the cost of producing and guess what, straight to the cost of living. It's a never ending spiral that effects the whole economy.

antimorty 2 years, 10 months ago

alls we wanted was to be treated like human beings, sanitary bathrooms is that too much to ask for.It does not matter if you are union or not we are intitled to sanitary working conditions, even the illegal immagrants get that at the tax payers expense. Why shouldnt a general contractor have to provide that?

Resident 2 years, 10 months ago

I'd like to see you prove this statement, Tim: "But we no longer need unions to do our bidding, the laws are clear and the courts are on the side of the worker."

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

Tim, continue to place your blind faith in the wholesomeness of American buisness and ignore the Madoffs of the world. Continue to place your blind faith in business and have non union coal mining companies place greater emphasis on profits at the cost of safety resulting in the recent deaths. Continue to place your faith in American business while the Wal-Marts of the world exploit children so that you can have cheap clothing all while forcing their employees to work overtime without compensation and to avoid paying benefits refusing to schedule enough hours to qualify for benefits. And, lets not forget to place our faith in business to have our best interests in mind when they cut corners in the name of profits giving us the gulf oil disaster. As long as greed drives our economy there will always be a great need for unions and their members who not only stand up for their own interests, but your's as well. The political leadership in this country are the winners as soon as they are able to turn the working people of this country against each other. I am not anti-business. To the contrary I am very pro-business. Tell me something, why is it you have no problem with someone with a college degree earning huge salaries and yet the people who house you and provide the place for you to work are some how less deserving. As an electrician who completed an apprenticeship, I can tell you that we hold the equivalent of a masters degree. 3 hours of schooling 2 nights a week for 9 months for 5 consecutive years all while receiving 10,000 hours of on the job training before you are able to become a journeyman electrician. Then, every 3 years when your license must be renewed, you must have completed 24 hours of continuing education. Yes have faith in American business to have your best intersts at heart. Tell me Tim who has benefitted from the illegal imigrant problem? Could it be those same American businesses you so easily elevate to God like status? Why has there been no immigration reform? Because the Republican leadership and American business have obstructed every effort to do so. Unions are not perfect just like all other entities however, lose them and you lose any leverage that the working person has to stand up to the money and power that is American business.

antimorty 2 years, 10 months ago

123"For each worker that walked off the site there are thousands of people in this state alone that would literally work inside of the "shovels full of human waste" for a job " nobody should have to work in this type of enviroment.

These are highly trained trades men and women, and if these people want our jobs than they too can do the 5 year apprenticeship like the rest of us. We do not take our jobs for granted we are thankful to have them, some of them took a $12 hr cut to work over here, they are away from there spouses and children,just to have a job to pay their mortgages and put food on the table.

We gave them plenty of chances to correct the problem, sanitation was brought up daily for weeks and nothing was done. Alls that we asked for is what the law states is required by the general contractor.

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

flame, the Republicans have controlled the White House 20 of the past 30 years, controlled the Senate 18 of the past 30 years and controlled the House 14 of past 30 years and yet its the Dems fault for the state of the nation. Makes sense to me but then it seems Republicans are expert at the washing of hands.

Tim 2 years, 10 months ago

Resident (Resi Dent) says... I'd like to see you prove this statement, Tim: "But we no longer need unions to do our bidding, the laws are clear and the courts are on the side of the worker." . Somehow I doubt I could prove anything to you or Rick, and I don't have to, it's my opinion. . Resi, did you know that a business, in Washington state, can let you go without giving a reason but if they fire you and give a reason they have to be able to back it up in court? I was let go from a multinational company, I sued, they settled, I didn't need a union, I didn't even need to be right, the laws protected me.
. I've said all along, unions do help those they serve. If you are in a union they will make sure you can be as lazy as you want and still get the same pay as the guy next to you who is busting his butt. Even if gas has not gone up and housing is down they will get you a raise. The union will make sure that the business has to increase it's cost of goods and services so you don't have to worry about getting sick; you'll get paid whether you work or not because the union demanded it. And the trickle down from that results in a higher cost of living and another raise for you next year. . Rick is too rude, I'm done here. I'm glad your union works for you, it better, I'm paying for it.

Resident 2 years, 10 months ago

One case is not causation, Tim. You made a broad statement and can't prove it. The rich keep getting richer, and the common man has apparently been deluded into thinking their representative body, their only true bargaining unit, is the problem. Live on hope that the CEOs are on your side and see how far that gets you.

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

flame, give it up and talk about something you know about. Were you on the job site? Do you know the steps that had been taken prior to? Do you not find it suspicious that immediately following the walk off the general contrctor brought out 14 more toilets. The issue had been raised daily for weeks to no avail. It was only when the workers took a collective stand that the general contractor fullfilled its LEGAL obligation. You remind me of the type of person who wraps themself in a flag and gets all patriotic and ready to send men and women into battle but yet has never served a day in their life. Quick to allow others to fight your battle and equally quick to condem those who are doing the fighting when it begins to impact you personally. I look in my driveway and all I see are vehicles made in America by American companies. Can you say the same?

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

you must be old as dirt if 57 is a young fella. Thanks for your service as did I. You conviently ommitted the by American companies which tells me all I need to know. You are clearly someone who never lets facts cloud your judgement. Peace to you. I'm done.

lonedog3 2 years, 10 months ago

sad enough most of the vehicles today are only assembled somewhere in this country out of parts made elsewhere. Chevy= Mexico, Ford = Canada, Harley = japan. The high cost of the union labor along with nafta sent many American jobs out of this country. So the union label of made in America needs to be changed to "asslembled in America"

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

The difference flame is that I use fact where you rely solely on oppinion. A debate is a civil exchange of ideas which requires an openness to learning and a willingness to listen to other people's point of view. What I have taken from this exchange and your bitterness is that you regret your career choice and are envious of those who chose different. Age only benefits wisdom when you remain open to learning. When you proclaim omnipotence, as you have, there is little point. I may and do disagree with your oppinions but I would never disparage you with the kinds of adjectives that you have used.

rains 2 years, 10 months ago

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rains 2 years, 10 months ago

On June 23rd at 6:49 a blog was posted defending Mortenson using my name. My last day on that job was june 4th and I did not even know of the walk off until June 28th. That blog was not written by me and if you read it carefully it appears to be written by some one who is always in Mortenson's office. The blog was pulled later because they used swear words. Not soon enough though because it got posted on the job site. Any one who knows me can tell that was not my style or how I would write a article or blog. I am a tried and true union sheet metal worker who is not afraid to stand up for what is right. I contacted the wenatchee world news paper to find out who posted it but was told they could not release that information due to their privacy policy. It appears that it was written by some one in Mortenson's office but so far I don't have any solid proof. I think they used my name because it was on the sign in sheet for 5 weeks than was not there any more because I went to a different job for the same employer. I would not have wrote that because I would have been walking right there with them! Semper Fi and Solidarity for All

Tim 2 years, 10 months ago

Scott, I too would be upset if someone used my name falsely. The WW should take some action. . But about this: "From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Semper Fidelis is Latin for "Always Faithful". Well known in the United States as the motto of the U.S. Marine Corps (and often shortened to Semper Fi in Marine contexts), " Who are you "always faithful" to, the union? And what do you mean by "Solidarity for All"? . Why not be loyal to your employer, has he mistreated you? This is such an "us against them" attitude!

Enesvy 2 years, 10 months ago

That many people don't just walk off a job if the toilets are a little unsanitary. Clearly the managers were ignoring a real problem. The vast majority of people, union or non-union, are hard workers, want to do a good job and will put up with a lot. I believe the workers on this one since the problem got solved so suddenly when they walked out. . And I'm definitely not a union lady.

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

Flame, then clearly, by your statements, you are a nonunion contractor and as such you should love the unions. By your logic of exobitant wages and lazy worthless workers it should be simple for you to win any bid against union contractors. I will assume you are like the vast majority of nonunion contractors and do not offer your employeees any benefits of any kind and with the lower wages you make out like a bandit able to pocket the money the union contractor would be paying in wages and benefits. You know your competitors labor costs and are able to bid accordingly. The true fear you hold for unions is the fear that one day your employees will wake up, join the light of day, and unionize. Enesvy, thank you for your common sense.

rains 2 years, 10 months ago

I know what Semper Fi means. I served in the Corps. Solidarity for All means you all stick together for whats right. I have worked non union and union and believe me there is a huge difference. I am faithful to my employer and work my butt off for them every hour of every day that I am on the clock and do my best to make them money by doing the best job I can the fastest way I know how and doing it safely. I don't usually blog, to busy doing other things so this is my final comment. We get paid by the hour just like most other people, so they did not get paid for the time they was gone. Evidently it was important enough that they was willing to forfeit their wages in order to get the issue resolved.

Tim 2 years, 10 months ago

Rick, the way YOU talk it's a wonder union businesses work at all! Anyone should be able to out bid them on huge contracts and get filthy rich while the poor union bosses suffer and do without because they give every penny they make to the employees, boo hoo. 8( . Scott, I'm glad you work so hard. That makes for a stronger America.

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

Well thank you for being a signotory contractor. Yes, I do understand your delima. However, you are directing your anger in the wrong direction. You know all too well that the differences between the nonunion winner of a bid and the union contactor who was higher is usually a very small margin. It all comes back to the greed issue. It is not the wages of the union worker it is the fact the greedy, unscrupulous nonunion contractors feed off of the known union contractor labor costs and pockets the money. It doesn't mean that the cost of the project goes down so the arguement that it is union wages that drive up the price is simply not true. I'm not sure what the "get back to work" comment is all about. But brother, the solution is not in tearing down that which served you very well if you remained in it for 40 years. The answer is in working to make it better and to educate the nonunion side as to just how badly they, as workers, are being ripped off by their employers. I will not appoligize for my wage as I know I am worth at least half of what Doc Hastings makes at tax payer expense but sadly I don't earn even that much. It is not the working person, regardless if union or nonunion, that is sucking this country dry. It's wall street and insurance companies and drug companies and all the rest of their ilk. Companies who spend 100s of billions of dollars per year lobbying congress. Companies who when caught cheating precipitating new laws, simply hirer attorneys to find or create a loophole allowing them to steal more and more. You tell me why we need a 1.2 trillion dollar insurance industry between you and your doctor? No, it is not the working person killing this country, IT IS GREED! Rome did not collapse from the bottom up. It collapsed from the weight of the GREED. The working people then as now simply do what we do, work.

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

I guess I should actually take the time to proof read. Sorry about the spelling errors.

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

One of the biggest lobbying groups helping to block immigration reform is the non-union contractor's lobby. Can you think of any reason why they like things the way they are?

Tim 2 years, 10 months ago

rwaller (Rick Waller) says... "One of the biggest lobbying groups helping to block immigration reform is the non-union contractor's lobby" ., The Non-Union guys are organized? And they have a Lobby? . It must be the Non-Union contractors union! HAHAHAHA!!!

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

Tim, just once before you post foolishly, do some research. The NAHB, National Association of Home Builders, represents and lobbies on behalf of over 175,000 contractors. It is just one of a long list of contractor associations. So yes Tim, they are very organized particularly when it comes to pocketing the money union contractors pay to their workers.

Tim 2 years, 10 months ago

"The NAHB, National Association of Home Builders, represents and lobbies on behalf of over 175,000 contractors" And they don't have union members?

lonedog3 2 years, 10 months ago

When I was doing construction as a non-union worker we were swamped with work. The union actually bussed in non-working union employees to picket us everyday. Through out the summer this went on and we actually started giving them maps of where we were going to be building next so they could set up their pickets. Seems the union then was a joke to all around. From most of the posts it still is. Have a nice 4th and be sure you boycott all those non-union fireworks out there!

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

Nope,

Tim 2 years, 10 months ago

rwaller (Rick Waller) says... "Nope," . All those people not protected by the unions, what will this world come to?!!! . So Rick thinks non-union contractors are out to get rich and will destroy this country in the process.....Me thinks Ricky has issues!

rwaller 2 years, 10 months ago

Tim, are you actually 12 or did you just never grow up?

pruitt 2 years, 10 months ago

Alright, folks, this comment thread has degenerated to a point where it's no longer even about the article at hand, and more about sniping back and forth over the union vs. non-union argument. Because this is not productive at this point, I'm shutting down comments on this story. Please feel free to comment on many of our other stories online. Just try to keep it civil and on topic.

~ Brianne Pruitt, Web editor The Wenatchee World