Humor at work today

So today, sometime in the morning, one of the local unions brought out one of their inflatable, gigantic rats to display in front of our office building. Something about the office building's owner and their employment practices (not hiring union workers?). OK, this is not new. When we first moved back to this office after it reopened (it had a major fire in December), they had the rat out front every day for two weeks.

So, tired of being harassed, the building's owner answered them back by bringing out a GIGANTIC cat and placed it next to the entry door between the rats (there were now two outside). The cat was probably 30 feet tall! It was facing the rats.

Then the union guys brought out a display of a coffin with a dummy inside it with a helmit on. Something about asbestos. People were taking pictures, my whole office got a kick out of it. Good times were had by all.

I hope this hilarity continues tomorrow so that I can snap a picture of it.

I am pro-union in places like the sock factory in town; miserable work, crappy conditions and you can be fired without cause or notice. Unions brought about most of the safety conditions we all enjoy, they also gave us weekends and better pay.

You're looking at mafia like intimidation. Flame me all you want, but I feel this is wrong.

At least the union is having some fun at your office. When I first got hired with the FAA, some union jerk cornered me about not being a member. He told me I would be washed out, and that he would make sure of it. The next day I joined (it is not a requirement) because I didn't need to risk loosing my job for any reason. I hate this, I have to pay 80 bucks a month in dues. So I'm damned if I don't and damned if I do.

I would turn the Inflatable rat into a bounce house.

Hi 914Driver,

So, you’re ok with deplorable sock factories so long as they’re not in your town?

Why does the specific industry / location effect your acceptance of the workers conditions?

Why don’t you care about the worker that makes T-Shirts in Temecula or Garter Belts in Gainesville?

Your posts are always so good...what am I missing?

ZOOMX5 wrote: At least the union is having some fun at your office. When I first got hired with the FAA, some union jerk cornered me about not being a member. He told me I would be washed out, and that he would make sure of it. The next day I joined (it is not a requirement) because I didn't need to risk loosing my job for any reason. I hate this, I have to pay 80 bucks a month in dues. So I'm damned if I don't and damned if I do.

You mean you have to pay union dues? I'm civil sevice (army) and we have a union here that we don't have to pay dues to but still (supposedly) there if needed.

confuZion3 wrote: So today, sometime in the morning, one of the local unions brought out one of their inflatable, gigantic rats to display in front of our office building. Something about the office building's owner and their employment practices (not hiring union workers?). OK, this is not new. When we first moved back to this office after it reopened (it had a major fire in December), they had the rat out front every day for two weeks. So, tired of being harassed, the building's owner answered them back by bringing out a GIGANTIC cat and placed it next to the entry door between the rats (there were now two outside). The cat was probably 30 feet tall! It was facing the rats. Then the union guys brought out a display of a coffin with a dummy inside it with a helmit on. Something about asbestos. People were taking pictures, my whole office got a kick out of it. Good times were had by all. I hope this hilarity continues tomorrow so that I can snap a picture of it.

Don't forget your camera. I think it would be a kick to see these photos.

Oh yes, we have to pay dues...but it does include our lawyer fees if we run airplanes too close together! They did negotiate a new contract for us with the DOT and we all get a raise, woot.

RX Reven' wrote: Hi 914Driver, So, you’re ok with deplorable sock factories so long as they’re not in your town? Why does the specific industry / location effect your acceptance of the workers conditions? Why don’t you care about the worker that makes T-Shirts in Temecula or Garter Belts in Gainesville? Your posts are always so good...what am I missing?

Did you read his post? I think you got it upside-down.

I'm pro union as well. Mafioso intimidation tactics, not so much. These guys don't say anything and they don't disturb the peace, but they are definitely not doing good things for businesses in the building. When our residents come to our office, we want them to come in, enjoy some TV in the lobby while they wait, and enjoy a pleasant experience. The last thing we want is for them to be intimidated or to get the idea that this rat has something to do with OUR business.

Oh well. People seemed to get a kick out of it today. I will snap a picture tomorrow if this is all back. I imagine that things will escalate. Perhaps a cat will get an inflatable gun, we'll see some giant inflatable rat traps, and perhaps some bandannas for the rats to make them look bad-ass.

RX Reven' wrote: Hi 914Driver, So, you’re ok with deplorable sock factories so long as they’re not in your town? Why does the specific industry / location effect your acceptance of the workers conditions? Why don’t you care about the worker that makes T-Shirts in Temecula or Garter Belts in Gainesville? Your posts are always so good...what am I missing?

I'm not sure you understand his post. Perhaps re-read it and then take a look at what you wrote?

Sounds like the owner has a great sense of humor. And deep pockets. I mean, how much would a cat that big set you back?

RX Reven' wrote: Hi 914Driver, Your posts are always so good...what am I missing?

You're missing the fact that I am pro union in places like the town sock factory. Read it again.

I am anti-union where I work. Physophical (sp) differences mostly. It's against the law to strike the Federal government so how strong can the Union be? No ax to weild. Second, at my work site anyway, the Union is sleeping with management, you pay $80/month and unless it's some trivial misunderstanding, you're screwed.

Unions are good, don't get me wrong. But when they raise the price of the product, protect and cover for the guilty because they are members and strong arm those that are not members, I'm against it.

You're not the first person to misunderstand me, sometimes I'm not very clear.

Dan

One one hand it's funny. On the other hand it's really, really sending the wrong message. Is this an old guy with the initials CMB by any chance?

914Driver wrote:

RX Reven' wrote:

Unions are good, don't get me wrong. But when they raise the price of the product, protect and cover for the guilty because they are members and strong arm those that are not members, I'm against it.

I couldn't agree more. Was a member of a newspaper union for 20 years - I've been attacked for doing too much and "setting a precedent". I've seen people hired that had absolutely no skills that pertained to that job, I've seen others get away with being drunk, incompetent, missing huge chunks of time -- because they can't be fired. On the other hand, unions are only as good as their members. I sat on the negotiating committee a couple of times, it was an eye-opener dealing with company lawyers.

It reminds me of a story from West Texas.

A rancher was involved in a dispute with some characters who wanted him to sell land he didn't want to sell. Offers turned to vague threats, but he wouldn't budge.

One day, he found a box of matches on top of his mail box.

He placed a box of .30-30 cartridges on top of the matches.

Things calmed down.

Pics or it didn't happen.

I'm pro-union when workers rights are involved. I'm anti-union when the workers are led to confuse privileges and rights. Too many privileges, too much cost. Soon to be: Too bad, employees, we're moving your job to another country.

Its Texas. I'm sure it happened.

GameboyRMH wrote: Is this an old guy with the initials CMB by any chance?

I'm not sure of his name.

OK, they brought one rat back to work today. No other rat, no cat, and no coffin. But here it is!

So what does a 20 ft. scab look like?

confuZion3 wrote: OK, they brought one rat back to work today. No other rat, no cat, and no coffin. But here it is!

Can I get one of these for the law firm I used to work for?

We must went through the whole union thing here at the Borgata in Atlantic City. The company spent Millions on a Union Buster to try and convince us not to vote Union.

Which was funny, because none of wanted to vote Union anyway.

confuZion3 wrote:

GameboyRMH wrote: Is this an old guy with the initials CMB by any chance?

I'm not sure of his name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_Burns