Organized-Labor

     Electric Power Generation

     Union Workers replace an LM6000PC Jet Engine used to drive a 52MW (Mega Watt) generator for electric power.  1 MW can supply 1.000 residential homes. This particular facility can supply 130MW.

     The Members of the International Union Of Operating Engineers (IUOE) are deeply saddened by a mass propaganda mailing orchestrated by United States Senator Jim DeMint (on behalf of the National Right To Work Committee) that openly criticized Organized Labor and Unions. The contents of this mailing was such an offence to working men and woman throughout the United States, that we were compelled to address the contents line by line.

     This site was constructed independently by represented IUOE workers (Engineers, Technicians & Maintenance mechanics) to educate the public on the truth concerning Unions and the benefits these Unions provide to hard working men and woman.

      The sharp contrast in benefits, compensation, working conditions and environment between Represented and non-Represented facilities is very clear and distinct. Our training (Controls, High Voltage, Jet Engine, etc.) puts us in regular contact with workers from non-Represented facilities. Union facilities have superior benefits, higher compensation, better working conditions, a much friendlier supportive environment and an ingrained respect for Seniority. Additionally, the Union ensures that overtime is distributed on an equal basis.

     Non-Union employees live in constant fear of their Managerial Staff. Benefits and compensation are modified at the boss’s whim. In a non-Union facility, the boss can retain a brand new employee while laying-off a 25 year veteran. This generates a stress-filled hostile work environment (sucking up and tattling on fellow workers), promoting fierce competition, which in turn compromises safety. Sycophant workers get all the overtime, while self-respecting workers get nothing.  Its very well known throughout the Industry that people only migrate from non-Union facilities to Union facilities, like a check-valve.  When people leave Communist China, Cuba or Russia to America, we say they escaped. Likewise, people escape from non-Union facilities to Union facilities.

      For example, several Engineers attended a training class held at a non-Union facility in Parlin New Jersey. During lunch we noticed that the non-Union employees stayed many feet away from us. Lunch was catered, when we went on line everyone immediately backed off like we were radioactive. It was obvious that they were forbidden to speak with us, and if any of us got close to them, you could see terror in their eyes as they glanced at their boss. A few of us went off grounds to have cigarettes, there were some non-Union employees outside the gate also. One of us made a comment: "Did they say we have hepatitis or something?" to break the ice. We didn’t talk for more than 15 seconds when we noticed the look of terror again, the Plant Manager was walking quickly towards us. The non-Union employees were ordered to his office. In short, the training was immediately cancelled. We went back to our hotel rooms, packed and left. A few weeks later we found out through a chemical vender that all five employees that were outside the gate with us were fired.

     This is the type of work environment that Senator Jim DeMint and the NRTWC are endeavoring to promote. This is the type of work environment that Unions are endeavoring to prevent.