strike- union busting update

[connedbyselmer]

http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=470872

[connedbyselmer]

In these rough economic times things aren't looking to good at the Vincent Bach Dvision in Elkhart IN. With the extended time off over the thanksgiving and christmas holidays, the present 4 day work week and some people are being told not to return after the holidays.
Large amounts of sales of student line horns were lost because conn-selmer could not supply their Chinese horns to customers because of quality issues. At least conn-selmer got ahead of the curve now and instead of taking their horns to the landfill they sent inspectors to China and reject their horns there instead of shipping them to Elkhart. Eventually I am sure Chinese horns will be fine but their time is not yet.
I have talked to workers in the plant about quality and they said with the workers that have crossed the line it is about the same as before the strike. Plant moral is low, threats are high and the majority of the workers in the plant are praying that the union does not get decertified because they feel to some extent they are still being protected by our presence. Many workers now regret crossing the line because of disciplinary action, wage cuts,benfit reduction and increased insurance cost. Some workers even inquired about returning to the line but the UAW refused to allow it.
It appears time is not only running out on us strikers but with surveyors being seen at the Bach plant, time may be running out on that division as well.
I don't understand in this economy how high priced pianos( Steinway) can be holding this company together, but that seems to be the case.
It would not be suprising to see the Bach line being sold off and with Steinway CEO Dana Messina being involved in a new type of business called a (BLANK CHECK BUSINESS) which is nothing more than a reinvented, hostile takeover, junk bond scheme. That by the way is how he aquired Selmer. I am sure Messina like the boys from New York that rapped Conn still sees blood in the form of pension's that can be sucked before the company is disposed of.

[lmf]

Hi, conned,

I can't imagine that this business is anymore safe than others during the poor economy the USA is in right now. It appears to be getting worse and those who have jobs need to "hold on" for a few years until business picks up again. I suspect the unions don't want to hear this, but when millions of people are out of work, it is difficult to think about those who are unhappy with their jobs. That's not to say that life for those making musical instruments is better, but at least a paycheck is coming into the home. It's tough for a working person to receive sympathy from those out of work or those who are "holding on" in a tough job, because they have to. I believe unions often forget that and they wonder why people aren't calling for more of them.

It appears many companies (good and bad) are running "trim and mean" right now and life is not what it used to be.

The average person appears to be buying essentials at this time and music instruments may not be a priority when one's family is hurting to purchase food and pay the rent/mortgate, utilities, car payments, fuel in hopes they won't be "pink slipped" or laid off.

It is a reality!

Best wishes,

Lloyd

[connedbyselmer]

Hey Lloyd,
Yes you are right on many points but the fact still remains that many companies, banks, and other financial institutions that are run by greedy, unethical people have helped us all in the mess we are in today.
The scope of coruption with people like Bernard Madoff is almost unbelievable in what he done to common people and charties.
With the tactics that Steinway musical was trying to use against its workers almost 3 years now in its effort to destroy the union , it has paid a great price also, at least $25,000.000 in strike related cost, and typically you can assume that the cost in lost sales and bad publicty would increase that number.
It is Ironic that if CEO Dana Messina would be comming to us today even though Steinway is still remaining profitable we all would have all accepted the deep unjustified concessions for the good of the company in these uncertain economic times and he would have saved his $ 25,000,000
But since that is all water under the bridge now we are glad we stood up to his corporate terrorism and hope to substantilly add to his $25,000,000 mistake in judgement.
With the new democratic labor friendly government we at least now stand a fair chance to have our case ruled on. The final judgement has
been long in comming and one way or the other this matter will be finished. It will be interesting to hear all the union haters out there wine when we prevail.

[Mikeytrpt]

Say you do prevail..... Then what happens?

[Trumpeter585]

[connedbyselmer]

Well you know there is really only one thing that we all really know, and that is we don't know.
It would be presumptuous of me to guess about anything about what might happen or what we would do.
These are the things I do know.
1. Most all the people that have crossed the line hate the environment of post strike Vincent Bach Corp.
CEO Dana Messina and his Conn-Selmer president John Stoner have never been shy about their distaste for senior workers and their desire to rid themselves of them.
When I started working for VINCENT BACH Dana Mesina was still peeing his diapers.
I have been told by government officials that Steinway officials know exactly who I am and have complained about me to them.
So as you can see we have issues that appear difficult.
In times past it was assumed that when the squabble was over all was forgiven. However this time with the degree of hate , distruction and promises of never to be made hole on both sides it will be interesting to sit back and watch what happens.
You see it is not that we think we are on the same level as these executives but as you seen in this economy people and companies have been brought to their knees which they thought they were to big to fail.
Steinway CEO Messina who was a little rich boy I am sure was never in the military does not comprehend what the term morall means and with the evidence what is not only taking place at Bach but at corporate office as well as other divisions Steinway is on a death spiral.
Their policys of fear which replaced the policys of family ,at Selmer will fail ,the only question that remains is how long will it take.

[_Daff]

Mr. connedbyselmer,

For the benefit of perspective, please share with the members of TH what your pay and benefits package included as a union worker at Selmer.

[connedbyselmer]

With all the union hating people here at TH I am sure any amount of compension would be criticized and distorted like what happened to the UAW in the bail out program by many republicans.
This can be said ,an overall 40% reduction in wage and benfits, while eliminating most all union time, and no job security while increasing Chinese imports.
These unreasonable demands remained while Conn- Selmer remained highly profitable in a vailed threat to destroy the union which continues to this day.
So I am sorry if this is not enough information for you but that is all you are going to get.
You see it is the general concensious among people that musicans are a strange weird lot. I happen to agree with that assumption, however if you think musicians are weird you ought to meet the people who make the instruments they play,if you know what I mean pal

[Trumpeter585]

Connedbyselmer, If you don't like what you here on this sight move on!
Brian
_________________
Getzen Renaissance
Besson Brevete Flugelhorn

[westview1900]

[_Daff]

Corporate greed coupled with socialist mentality. Wonderful. Flush 'em both.

While we're at it, flush this thread. It violates the TH user agreement.

[connedbyselmer]

The stated compensation values of Steinway CEO Dana Messina in 07 was $ 477,000 and $838,00k exercised. Exercised is the value of options exercised during the fiscal year.
Most of the Real money made during the year is made through stocks.
Take example during the year Mr Messina forced workers to the street in 06 on march 31 he made over $2,000,000 by selling at a retaliative high value, 0ver 30. 00 per share, April 1 we went on strike and shortly thereafter the stock fell to the low 20.00's. We actually made more money for Mr Messina that year by going on strike then by working on instruments.
Today stock is in the $17.00 range.

[lmf]

Hi, Conned by Selmer,

For the record, I'm not anti-union, but I believe the millions who have faced job loss and those expecting to be laid off or let go are not likely to feel sorry for uhappy union workers wanting to "walk off their jobs" for grievances. To a worker without a job, "walking off a job" seems to be careless when they have a job to do.

When you have lost a job or can't get a job, the threats by union workers to "walk off their jobs" doesn't "ring positively" for you. Maybe that is why there isn't the public outcry the unions are looking for.

As I said earlier, there are people in low paying jobs, or jobs they don't really like, but they are "holding on" during these tough financial times. They probably figure any job is better than no job at all. I think they are being wise, not foolish. They won't look kindly at union workers who aren't content with their jobs to the point that they want to "walk off the job" or make trouble in other ways.

Best wishes,

Lloyd

[connedbyselmer]

Hey Lloyd
I didn't mean to say everyone in here was anti union but as you can see you kinda get a feeling sometimes and all you have to do is go back and re read the post and see what I mean.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The Conn- Selmer situation was unfortunate on both sides. Regardless of who is right or wrong the government will decide and we will have to both try and live with their decision.
The Trumpt Hearld has seen fit to remove some of my post on being to political in nature and that is their right. It was not my intent but that was their opinion and I respect it.
It is people like you Lloyd that I enjoy hearing their honest opinions even though I may disagree with some of them. Other people try to inject their own opinions and anyone who happens to disagree with them they want removed.
Best wishes Lloyd

[lmf]

connedbyselmer,

Thank you and best wishes,

Lloyd

[connedbyselmer]

Our CEO here at Steinway musical Dana Messina and chairman of the board Kyle Kirkland are truly multi tasking executives. They not only run Steinway, in their spare time they own and run a casino, A offshore based (Cayman Island) hedgefund Aria Partners and a new startup Blank check venture.
These 2 men were trained by the famous Michael Milken when they worked together at Drexal, Burnham, Lambert before they destroyed that company.
Messina and Kirkland are what are called " turn around specialist" . Their new business venture is finding undervalued companies for clients,and arranging a purchase without a guarantee of return in investment.
You have got to admire gamblers like these 2 Guys who bought Selmer when they were only in their late 20's with mostly other peoples money.
Their Casino business should also be highly profitable because they have had plenty of experience of separating people from their money.

http://clubonecasino.blogspot.com/2008/06/under-new-ownership.html

[westview1900]

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I could never figure out how a turn around specialist could run a company better than someone who had worked in that company's industry all their life. How can someone who who hadn't spent a significant portion of their career in an industry be better than someone like Lee Iacocca who was able to turn around Chrysler in the 1980's precisely because he understood the auto industry because of all his years at Ford and therefore knew what Chrysler needed to do to turn around. Why wouldn't a musical instrument manufacturer want someone who understood the business of musical instrument manufacturing run their company? I'm sure that there must be exceptionally talented individuals who can step in and turn around just about anything, but I think that they are the exceptions to the rule.
_________________
Carpe Diem
and Plan for Tomorrow
Pat Paulsen for president
http://www.paulsen.com/
Stephen Colbert for president

[connedbyselmer]

Because today it is not how well you know how to run a business it is who you know and how to put together a fininciall DEAL that no own else can compete with.
After Magavnox sold money making Selmer because it didn't fit into their core business it was aquired by Intergreated resources which was a company that was already on its way to bankructpy . Messina and Kirkland who already new Selmer was highly profitable came in with JUNK MONEY and substantially out bid our experienced president HW Peterson who desperately was trying to acquire selmer with conventual money at a realistic price.
Kirkland and Messina then claimed they saved Selmer from barkructpy and turned it around.
Messina and Kirkland who were taught by the junk bond king Michael Milken who is seeking a presidential pardon from president , have been very lucky in their corporate dealings in making money in the short term.
It apears with the Casino. the blank check business, Aria partners Messina is diversifying before his sell off of Vincent Bach is complete.
Here is some information on Messina's Blank check business and a example of the ethics followed at Steinway.

http://ipoportal.edgar-online.com/ipo/textSection.asp?cikid=765889&fnid=57252&IPO=1&sec=bd&coname=CONSUMER+PARTNERS+ACQUISITION+CORP.

http://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/33-8019.htm

[connedbyselmer]

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THANK YOU RON GETTELFINGER
8-Jan-09 07:32 am I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of myself and my brothers and sisters of conn-selmer local #364 UAW to personally thank our president Mr. Ron Gettelfinger in his long standing support, both finacial and legal, in this long battle against the corporate forces of evil that exist, as Steinway musical trys to destroy our union.
Mr Gettelfinger has never been shy about demanding sacrifice from his rank and file as witnessed in negotiations with the big 3 , however he is able to distinguish between sacrifice and rape and destruction of his union.
His steadfast support has made this nearly 3 year struggle possible and with the final outcome in the hands of the new federal NLRB hope is still at hand.
So again thank you Mr Gettlefinger for your support and regardless of the final outcome we can say we have fought the good fight against evil.
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