CNN: Sept. 11 attacks were beginning of three-phase terror offensive.

CNN ^ | 10-03-02 | CNN

[The KG9 Kid]

Secret interrogation notes show that Taliban American fighter believed Sept. 11 attacks were beginning of three-phase terror offensive.

[Thumper1960]

Staging a work slowdown is akin to going on strike. You just work slower, don't get as much done and still get paid for it. Instead of paying people to work like snails, have the union strike fund take up the slack. Of course, that detracts from union funds to campaign for Demoncrats but, hey!...life's not fair!

[sinkspur]

Hence, the high wages.

The high wages are due to past job actions of the longshoremen, whose strikes in the 60s and 70s were legendary.

Firefighters have much more dangerous jobs than longshoremen, yet most make half of what these guys do.

I don't really care what they make. What gripes me is that they won't allow productivity improvements on the docks without forcing union scale on what are essentially management jobs.

[ladyinred]

I think it is very plausible that Johnny Jihad heard the plans from his "brothers" in the faith. I would think it would have been discussed often.

[janetgreen]

The accusation of work slowdown was unproven. Workers merely decided to obey the existing speed limits which had been posted by the companies. They usually drive their vehicles much faster, which is illegal but they do it anyway to get the job done. By the workers following the speed rules, this was called a "slowdown". The companies accuse the workers of a slowdown every time contract time comes up. They use it for bargaining, it's like a dance every three years.

[janetgreen]

strikes in the 60s and 70s were legendary

The longshoremen were locked out by the employers during the 60s. The only time they actually were in a strike was in 1971, not since.

[princess leah]

It's time to GET RID OF THE UNIONS - speak out for yourself and save the union dues!!!

[janetgreen]

Gee, what a concept. Get rid of the unions so more people can make minimum wages. Sorry I don't agree. Have you ever driven a 135 foot container crane? Try it, then see if you want to earn minimum wage doing it.

[Thumper1960]

Of course, the rank and file never do anything "wrong". Nooooo. Of course not.

I've been in unions. I know the mindset. I know the attitudes of the reps. I also know that unions are political animals which exist for the purpose of self preservation and the accumulation of power and influence for themselves. Any pretense that unions exist "for the workers" is about as believeable as Hildebeast doing anything "for the children" and not for herself.

I wonder, why would a worker do anything unsafe and illegal for years, only to become "safe and legal" when time comes for negotiations? You and I both know the answer to that. It is a dance. A dance that the unions prefer to call the tune for.

[janetgreen]

Never said the rank and file don't do anything wrong. Never said the union heads weren't corrupt. What I said was that these guys are American workers working in a sometimes very dangerous workplace, and they deserve good wages and benefits. They're supporting their families and donating big to the IRS. It's the American way. Screw globalization and the "NWO". If the NWO guys get their way, which they eventually will, everyone will be working for the "common good", like borg. Hillary will love it.

[Thumper1960]

Don't we all deserve good wages and benefits?

I'd ask don't we all "donate" big time to the IRS......but, the IRS doesn't ask for donations: they confiscate wealth and enable Left-wing Socialists to redistribute that wealth to Demoncrat party pet causes......the same Demoncrats that are supported big time by unions and the dues that union rank and file "donate" to their enlightened leaders.

All in all, the sooner unions fall, the better off America will be. Nothing like exorcising a demon or two to cleanse the soul.

[janetgreen]

I wonder, why would a worker do anything unsafe and illegal for years, only to become "safe and legal" when time comes for negotiations?

It was in response to the PMA (the company representing the (mostly) foreign shipping companies) threatening to bring government intervention into a collective bargaining process, the American collective bargaining process. The workers just decided to follow the speed limits, which they should do anyway but don't because they just want to get the job done and go home.

[janetgreen]

All in all, the sooner unions fall, the better off America will be

You mean the better off the globalists will be. The globalists don't want anything remaining American, including us.

[Thumper1960]

Looks like the Feds are getting involved, anyway. Mediators this week. So much for that.

BTW....the graveyards are full of folks hurrying to get the job done.

Ever see what happens when you cut corners and disregard safety guidelines? It ain't a pretty sight.

[Thumper1960]

Unions ceased to be "American", long ago.

They're filled/infested with anti-American Socialists.

Been there. Done that.

[janetgreen]

You're right about that. There have been 5 or 6 men killed this year because of unsafe speeds on the docks. I should have said smashed into bits.

[janetgreen]

You may be talking about some union leaders being un-American, but you would be surprised at how many of the actual workers who vote conservative. They're just guys making a living and have many of the same views as those on this forum.

[Thumper1960]

Disregard for safe conduct is disregard for yourself and your fellow co-workers. One split skull and an exposed brain is one too many for anyone to see.

One may not care how loosely they'd like to work. The rest of us would prefer to retire with all parts intact.

[CyberAnt]

Hey! That's a really good plan. LOL

[My Favorite Headache]

Agreed.

[KAUAIBOUND]

The largest shipping company in Hawaii (with facilities on the West Coast) is Matson. Matson is owned by Alexander and Baldwin (NYSE:ALEX), the Hawaii-based holding company. The only thing foreign about Matson is the founder (Matson) was a Swede by birth, and has been dead for 70 years. The average longshoreman in Hawaii makes $80k per year for four-hour workday. The union is 100% wrong.