strike- union busting update

[KMT]

[connedbyselmer]

The board won't replace them, because they are the board. They control the majority of votes themselves and can't be replaced through normal means.

[connedbyselmer]

Information coming from inside the Vincent Bach plant in Elkhart that the current employees have been given a final ultimatum. Get the horn passed the first time or the plant will be closed.
With the way conn selmer manages their business this is an impossible task. There can only be 3 reason for defects in a product, man, machine, material. Since Conn selmer accepts brass that is sometines below the acceptable standard of hardness this creates a great varation all the way through the production process. Much of the machinery in the facility is out of date and worn out, so management likes to blame the easiest source , the worker. This has always been one of the reasons why the Bach product varied so much, the quality and consisteny of the Brass coming in the door. With the labor strike going on the 3rd year anniversary, orders at an all time low, a work force that hates the management for the starved out morally bankrupt policys that have employed during the strike, things are not looking good for Bach.
It would make sense to close Bach and move the remaining production to Eastlake Ohio were they seem to have fewer labor problems or just sell off Bach. Steinway's CEO Dana Messina could then justify his over 25,000,000 strike related cost and get rid of his ongoing strike problem in Elkhart and possibly rape the pensions of the retiring workers.. One thing is for sure the threat has been issued and the terms impossible.

[Dick S]

We have no way of knowing if this is pure rumor, speculation, he said, I said or pot stirring on your part.
_________________
Dick S
Temecula, CA
Holton "Don Ellis" Quarter tone

[connedbyselmer]

Sit back and watch friend you will be enlightened in time.

[lmf]

connedbyselmer,

The way business corporations run today, the worker is an expendable as the resources they use to make the instruments. The term "human resources" is not a term to raise the level of human importance to a corporation, only to show that "human" resources can be eliminated when expendable.

Workers make the products and do the dirty work that makes the corporations, not management.

Best wishes,

Lloyd

[connedbyselmer]

Hey Lloyd this is for your reading pleasure only. I don't want to be disturbed by some Dick that wants some iron clad guarantee everything that I am told by knowledge people is accurate. So read this while I get back to stirring the pot.
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/02/09/18569196.php

[lmf]

connedbyselmer,

Thanks for the article link. The article is interesting, but does beg the question: Why hasn't the UAW bureaucracy done more to help the strikers in this situation and publicize their plight more?

The story could be told that if the UAW is not supporting strikers, why then should we the public support it? Are there other unions supporting the strikers?

Any reasons for this happening?

Just wondering?

Best wishes,

Lloyd

[connedbyselmer]

Well it depends what you mean by supporting strikers. Take me for example the UAW has given well over $30,000 in cash. They have provided me with the best insurance I have ever had in my life for me and my family, paying in excess of $25,000 in medical claims. Could they have done more in Negotiations ? I doubt it, when you are dealing with an unethical CEO like Steinway CEO Dana Messina ,who is bent on destroying the union. So I am not complaining about the UAW but am thankful for them, enabling the over 100 remaining strikers whom they have also paid these benfits to continue this struggle for almost 3 years now. Will we win? I doubt it. However the workers that broke down and went back hate the environment in which they now work, and fear for their job . So I am thankful I am not there.We have inflicted over $25,000,000 in strike related cost to Conn Selmer which I realize is next to nothing in big business but at least we brought it to their attention that we don't like their treatment of people and the way they do business.
As far as publicity or sympathy goes ,who needs it or wants it. The People on this forum can do nothing for us and as a matter of fact a good share of them are against us . The presentantion of the facts any way you want to intertept them is fine with me.
Bet this makes all the union haters here boil and I am glad, and be sure and tell Dick that these are not rumors and he is just gona have to take my word for it. Best Wishes Lloyd

[Don Herman rev2]

I have been following this discussion only peripherally, but feel that it's worth noting that TH has over 18,000 registered users and only a small number have contributed to this thread. Additionally, like any forum, we have our usual number of folk who post without full knowledge, and some "troll" posters that post disinformation and other material in extremely bad taste (to put it mildly). And, plenty of honest posters who may not agree with one another, or require additional proof.

I also have substantial ties to union workers through my family. I likely understand your plight and frustration more than you would believe. Does not mean I am pro- or con-union (I have ample evidence of the good, and harm, unions can cause).

All rambling aside, my point is that continually using terms like "union haters" to describe people on this site, and attacking Dick S who was simply questioning your status to present valid material, is not helpful. Maybe you should reserve your spite for those who deserve it and not lump all TH members save one or two under your "union-hater" label. A quick look at the number of views this thread has received will show that a lot of people are following it, though few have chosen to comment. I do not think you can assume this site is full of "union haters". Rather, I think plenty of us are interested in following your story, but as you said don't know what if anything we can do to help.
_________________
"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music" - Aldous Huxley

[connedbyselmer]

Thanks for the constructive criticism you have some good points.
I have read some of your post and respect your opinion. Hope I didn't offend you and to many others on here whom I also repect. But to the ones I don't and find me to offensive for their taste and complain to the moderators I enjoy it, sorry.

[BachBuffer]

Strikers are gone along with the shabby huts. Production is up and we are hiring. Horns look great! Best i have seen in 25 years! UAW=u aint working

[_Daff]

[Jeffh]

[razeontherock]

I'm torn. On the one hand, I can attest that recent Bach quality is better than I've ever known. I can't say it's as good as NY Bach, but posters here I respect have said that. Still, the relatively recent plethora of custom horn builders attests to the fact that Bach simply walked awayfrom their market. Before Steinway bought the Co.

I'm glad bachbuffer has a job. I know lots of people who don't.

I'm not sure, but I think I remember connedbyselmer saying something like he's ready to retire anyway, but I can understand if he wouldn't want to work for the current employer.

I'd like to see Bach's production managed by Charlie Melk, or somebody that actually knows how to make a great horn, and cares to. Bach's direction over the last 20+ years is the best thing to happen for Kanstul and Schilke. When you look at the lack of (actual) demand for manufactured goods it's scary.

[bobd0]

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[PH]

[LittleRusty]

[DaveH]