Striker, Striker

How would you like to work for a company like this:

• no sick leave
• mandatory 6 day work weeks
• mandatory 10-12 hour days (6 days a week)
• paying over $250 a month for insurance (out of pocket)
• supervisors only pay $80 a month for insurance (out of pocket)
• CEO of company received an $8 million dollar bonus
• but you make less now than you did in 2001

I would like to hear from one person who would want to work in conditions like this. My Dad has been working for this company for over 15 years and as of Saturday his union went on strike. Every 4 years their contract is up for negotiation and this year they decided they had had enough. They aren't asking for much - they would like a raise to help compensate for the cost of living increase and they would like their health insurance premiums to go down. Why doesn't Bobcat understand how unfair it is to make one person pay over $250/month for insurance but another employee only has to pay $80/month. And don't forget, the ones paying the $80/month are making a hell of a lot more money than the ones who pay $250/month.

My Dad has been on the picket line since the strike began. They usually "walk the line" in 4 hour shifts but today Dad was out there from 6 am until after 3 pm. Dad said the support for them has been good for the most part. Some area businesses have dropped off food for them.

On the other hand some people in Bismarck just see what they want to. Up on the Tribune (www.bismarcktribune.com) website a lot of people have commented that the employees are just being greedy. NONE of them are being greedy, if anyone is greedy it is the CEO that accepted the $8 million bonus and didn't think twice about how it would affect other employees. Yes, people that work there make very good money but so would you if you had to work 12 hour days, 6 days a week. Imagine putting in 72 hours in just one week! Of course you would have money because you would have no time to spend it! Many people who work for the company are divorced because they never see their spouse.

Both my brother & I worked for Bobcat as vacation replacements (what they call their summer temp. workers) - and I can truly say it was the worst job I ever had! Yeah, I made over $11/hour but I also had no life. That summer I worked from 1pm-11pm almost every day. I think I worked every Saturday except maybe 3 that summer. All I did was work and sleep. Oh, and did I mention no air conditioning?? The average temp. in the building where I worked was well over 90* - and you are required to wear jeans and steel-toed work boots. Oh yeah, great times!!

My Dad even made the local news! He is the one in the camouflage overalls with the black sweatshirt - yelling at the bus. Things are a little tense on the picket line - especially when the supervisors get bussed in to the workplace. I could keep rambling on and on but if you're interested you can find out more info. on the Tribune website - just look for the articles about Bobcat.