Flying Suspended At Vance

[HornyU2]

Years ago in Del Rio, I always loved taking my post Ciudad Acuna, Mexico - drunk self to the Whataburger on a Sat night and having one of my crew chiefs take my burger order. Kind of a mind meld when your drunk - "Hey, can I get some extra LOX and some intake covers for this jet .......... I mean, fries with that."

Yeah........... I'm not so sure they were all war heroes (please don't send any Manatees my way - I've had enough)

 

[MasterBates]

Don't worry, no Manatees in Krock.. Just BMWs.

 

[torpedo0126]

Any word on how the traffic situation is there at Vance? Are they even allowed on base if they aren't at work?

Thats a good question. I will ask. I am pretty sure they said something about only coming in through a certain gate, but I am not sure if that applies to them coming on base.

***For incoming Navy/Marines to Vance.

We just got Word an hour or two ago that if the strike continues they are going to start 'ghosting' classes. Prior to the last few classes, there were only a few Navy/Marines in each class. Now there are 6+/2+ in each class respectively (because all of the people they are pushing through in Pensacola). This could start building up quite quickly if they start 'ghosting'....

I will ask about the time frame--as in when this is supposed to kick in.

 

[Flash]

If it is okay for these douchebags to strike, why not the civilian contractors overseas. Shit, maybe Blackwater should stop sniping/flying/killing bad guys and wait for a better check...

I am pretty certain that the guys overseas can't strike, I believe there are provisions in the contracts not allowing them for national security reasons, etc.......

 

[jt71582]

Torp, mind explaining what 'ghosting' means?

 

[jtmedli]

Unions suck...bottom line. Workers DO have a right to demand better working conditions though, maybe those guys WERE getting paid peanuts for the hours they worked...

Agreed!! Unions were a good thing when it came to improving working conditions and seeking hospitable pay, but now it just seems like they're a collective of Mobsters seeking to milk the American Business to death for they're own good or lack of work ethic.

 

[puck_11]

Better double-check that engine/ejection seat...

Pickle

If they're extremely undermanned and overworked I would check it as well.

 

[jollygreen07]

BreakBreak

Any word on how the traffic situation is there at Vance? Are they even allowed on base if they aren't at work?

Pickle

Traffic hasn't been affected. They union is picketing the industrial gate. Main gate is business as usual, aside from 100% ID checks. Really not that bad at all.

No, the union members aren't allowed on base in any official capacity. The guys who are retired military may come on base to utilize the facilities (clinic, commissary, etc.)

 

[HAL Pilot]

Because their actions directly affect the readiness of the military that is keeping them from being taken over by some third world dictator who tends to shoot/hang dissenters. If they were just a bunch of dishwashers/car assemblers/airline pilots...no harm/no foul by me. But they signed a contract with the DOD to provide a service that DIRECTLY affects the military (in a time of WAR no less)

If it is okay for these douchebags to strike, why not the civilian contractors overseas. Shit, maybe Blackwater should stop sniping/flying/killing bad guys and wait for a better check...

First, the striking workers did not sign a contract with the government - their company did. It is the company that needs to meet the contract and one of the ways to do this is to make the workers happy. Obviously the workers are not happy. And if the workers are willing to lose income and risk their jobs by striking, they must be really unhappy. Do you want unhappy workers doing the maintenance on your aircraft?

Second, I doubt if this strike is going to put a serious bite on the war effort. The federal budget and lack of money are going to hurt it more. Heck, there is a CVN that has been sitting at Pearl Harbor for the last week because there is no money for them to go to sea. That's a whole air wing of trained aviators grounded and not participating in the war.

You haven't worked in the civilian sector for a while. It's all about money & profit. Companies walk all over their workers and will cut their pay in a heartbeat to give shareholders a couple more cents on their stock value. Sometimes the workers have just got to say "enough".

Not only is that an issue, but how fucking secure are you going to feel going back to work with these guys now? Apparently your safety is expendable when compared to their checking account. Better double-check that engine/ejection seat...oh, and hope you don't need some of these firefighters to actually get close to the fire and save your ass...if they'll throw you under the bus for money, they sure as hell won't put their life on the line for you...

You think they should do it for free or shit wages/conditions? They are civilians, not service members. I actually feel better about the work provided by people that demand to be paid a reasonable salary and expect decent working conditions.

And no, I don't like all unions. I absolutely dispise the Culunary Workers Union in Las Vegas for instance. They forced themselves on the workers at one Vegas strip casino that ended up resulting in pay cuts and benefit cuts because the union contract was worst than what the workers were getting. They also stick their noses in local politics and try to dictate to other unions. They represent all that is bad in labor unions.

You and all the other haters need to chill the fuck out. You don't know the whole story from either management or the workers. It's up to them to sort it out and if The Air Force thinks it is out of hand, then they can exercise their options (like giving a different company the contract).

 

[HAL Pilot]

.... BUT, striking is not the way....

Bull Shit. Sometimes striking is the ONLY way. When my union takes a strike vote later this summer, I plan on voting to strike.

 

[torpedo0126]

Torp, mind explaining what 'ghosting' means?

it means no one is going to graduate, and no one is going to start. Classes start every three weeks, and right now there are 6-8 Navy and 2-4 Marines every class. So a definite back-up could start.

This is if things don't get resolved soon...which can't be too long.

 

[torpedo0126]

Traffic hasn't been affected. They union is picketing the industrial gate. Main gate is business as usual, aside from 100% ID checks. Really not that bad at all.

No, the union members aren't allowed on base in any official capacity. The guys who are retired military may come on base to utilize the facilities (clinic, commissary, etc.)

Yesterday, the picketers extended all the way from the industrial gate, on that dirt road, and slightly down Cleveland street.

My question is, why is the pool shutdown, the gym/library on reduced hours, etc. I didn't think they were all unionized as well?

 

[HuggyU2]

When Uncle Sam signs a contract, they know going in that a strike is a possibility. They take that risk. If they don't want that, stay with Blue Suit, or use civil service (can they strike?); or figure out some way to write into the contract that if said company's workers strike, they immediately forfeit the contract.
But the rules did not change. The workers feel they deserve a better cut of the company's profit. That cut may come in the form of better QOL, medical, dental, pay, vacation, etc...
Whether you like unions or not, this is a very "American" action, and not at all a surprise.
And, no, I don't come from a union family.

 

[Flash]

....civil service (can they strike?)...

No, it is against the law.

 

[jollygreen07]

Yesterday, the picketers extended all the way from the industrial gate, on that dirt road, and slightly down Cleveland street.

My question is, why is the pool shutdown, the gym/library on reduced hours, etc. I didn't think they were all unionized as well?

This was covered at that commanders call a few weeks back. CSC, PRI/DJI, and a few other companies run just about everything on base, from MX on our aircraft to the civil engineering department, to emptying out the trash in the squadrons... They have a finger in just about everything short of the commissary and clinic facilities. Without people to run/support the pool, gym, and library they can't operate at normal capacity.

My buddies and I had a bet going to see how long it would take for the brass hats to have studs doing manual labor. It took one day. We were pulling weeds in front of the squadron yesterday... It's cool. I needed the sun...