Owner will dock workers for Bush's visit to Neb.

Boston GLobe ^ | May 12, 2003 | Mike Allen

[Cincinatus' Wife]

SANTA FE -- About 340 workers at an Omaha plastics factory will lose pay or have to work next Saturday to make up for time lost during a visit by President Bush today to promote his ''jobs and growth plan,'' their boss said this weekend.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Tax bills may cut into Democrats' strategy - Top 2004 contenders may be forced to accept Bush plan or seek hikes -WASHINGTON -- With little notice, the tax bills moving toward completion in Congress could significantly change the landscape of next year's presidential campaign.

[visualops]

Well, if I was the boss I'd give everyone 1/2 day off (paid) to go see the President.

[Joe Boucher]

Airlite and Crosby must be in bad shape if they refuse to pay their workers. What a cheap S.O.B.
Either that or maybe they are democrats.

[JZoback]

Well, if I was the boss I'd give everyone 1/2 day off (paid) to go see the President.

I think the world of President Bush, but would never pay for someone to see him.

This guy (Brad Crosby) is being fair.

[Jorge]

Airlite and Crosby must be in bad shape if they refuse to pay their workers. What a cheap S.O.B. Either that or maybe they are democrats.

I think so too. The owners seem to want to dampen the excitement and privilege of having the President visit their company.

[Ima Lurker]

They are probably democrats. I heard a caller on Fox this morning blaming Bush for this. He said it's just another way the "working man" is being "screwed" by Bush. When Bush,Sr. came to North Georgia we were given the opportunity to leave work and see him if we wanted, but we did have to take vacation time. As long as the employees knew this ahead of time and had the choice, I see no problem with it.

[jimtorr]

.....Governor James E. McGreevey, N.J., called for a ''return to the days of balanced budgets, responsible spending, and investments -- investments in education, roads, and small businesses.''

What I hear the Gov. saying is that tax cuts are irresponsible "spending".

Ahhhh, another wealthy politician telling me that while he wants government to spend my salary, not me. Well, how would McGreevey like ME to go on a national radio broadcast, saying that HE makes too much money?

[Outrance]

Airlite gets a free publicity with international coverage of their operation but does not want to pay workers to facilitate the event. Dumb! When I see these kinds of events I assume they are showcasing a vibrant progressive company that is a leader in its field. If Airlite can't afford to make it happen I am sure the President can find someone who will.

[Cobra64]

The boss is a friggin moron. His company is going to have the bestt advertizing in the world when W is there. To even think of taking this course of action w/ the employees' pay is absurd! Jeeze, I'd get em out there with W and enjoy life!

[AMNZ]

It seems strange to me that Airlite would inconvenience themselves to this extend if they did not have the capacity to do so financially and tactically. Somthing stinks here, these guys are either stupid or they have a side agenda.

[from occupied ga]

Well, if I was the boss I'd give everyone 1/2 day off (paid) to go see the President.

That's why you're not the boss

[lonestar]

''Since we have another shift that will have to work, it would be difficult to just give credit to the people who didn't work while they were attending the event,'' Crosby said. ''The really good option was just to offer the chance to work on Saturday. We feel that's a more fair app roach.''

I think the owner is being fair. Would it be fair to give the shifts that don't work a day's pay, when the others have to work for theirs? The employees involved don't seem to have a problem with it. They have an option.

[IronJack]

Notice that they only passingly mentioned that the workers would be given a chance to make up the time on Saturday. If they choose, there will be no lost wages.

[Nick Danger]

It seems strange to me that Airlite would inconvenience themselves to this extend if they did not have the capacity to do so financially and tactically. Somthing stinks here, these guys are either stupid or they have a side agenda.

I think so too. These things are not arranged on a day's notice. I once set up a visit from Pete Wilson, then California's Governor, to my company. There were several meetings at the exec staff level about this event, and the issue of what to do about non-exempt (hourly) employees absolutely came up. And there is a 'fairness' issue among shifts, if you have more than one. What we did was give all of them 4 more hours of vacation, and the ones who wanted to see Pete Wilson could use it then. Most did. For the President of the United States, they all would have.

Since this comes up everywhere, in all companies, every time, it sounds fishy that the White House advance team got sucker-punched on this. They would have found a different company to visit if they knew Airlite would dock its employees over it.

[ODDITHER]

If I was the boss, I would do just what this boss is doing.

Think of the implications, if he did allow them to go see it President on the company time, it would that be construed by the Demoncrats to be illegal campaign contributions.

Either that, or they will say that in order to get a crowd together the President had to have one of his big corporation friends pay the employees to attend.

[MortMan]

Keep in mind that it appears this factory works 3 shifts. 1st shift is to be "shut down". 2nd shift to be partially shut down. 3rd shift works a full day (night:-).

If the boss pays for the down time for 1st and 2nd, he screws 3rd.

Just my $.02.

[Prodigal Son]

I think the owner is being fair.

Yep, I agree.

[Richard Kimball]

The boss is a friggin moron. His company isWAS going to have the best advertising in the world when W is there.

Man, the Communists are getting desperate. I guess the idea is to throw out everything they can in an effort to knock W's ratings down by 15% by 2004, and by puffing the Rats more than they did Clinton, they might be able to get someone within striking distance if they lie enough. OTOH, they may just be doing their best to keep the Pubbies from getting a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

Oh, also, to the guy who made the "that's why you're not the boss" comment. I am the boss. People who treat their employees like this are idiots. Also, companies pay ten times what a shift gets to get the publicity of having their company on national television, and this guy just threw away all the goodwill he was going to get. He just peed in his own coffee pot.

[familyofman]

This cheap SOB owner (Crosby) should be made to watch "A Christmas Carroll" for at least 2 days, maybe then he would gain some understanding - Scrooge!!!

[AMNZ]

You would tell the President, we'd be pleased to have you, and not bring up that "we'll have to tell our employees they'll have to pay for this prestigous honor." OK.

I would not be surprised if the President finds an alternative, if at all possible. If they didn't want to do it, they should say "We don't want to do it." Not "how can we cost it to the staff."

I have a lot of respect for Nick Danger's approach in post 14 above.