An Iraq Vet's wife was screaming for joy, he came home 2 weeks ago

[Omaha Steve]

I walked in to buy a powerball ticket. I talk to her once a week or so. But she knows I'm big on labor. A former co-worker of hers is a good friend of mine. I walked in the door and asked her how it felt to have her man home safe for good? She started screaming with joy in her tone. He got a good job already. He will have at least 8 months work hanging drywall. It is a UNION job. He gets $14 something an hour and benefits. I gave her a big high five. She would have made a great commercial for things that are right (unlike the anti union press and attitudes) with being union.

I'm glad he is home safe and working at a good job.

OS

[ogneopasno]

1. If more organizers talked to the wives and girlfriends, there'd be a lot more organizing, IMO.

Once you get in with the wife/girlfriend and tell THEM about the health care and benefits, that makes a huge difference.

What a great story. How wonderful for them!

[femrap]

3. How about getting women to unionize?

How many women are working as head of family? Why not a Customer Service Union....or part of the Communications Union.

[ogneopasno]

10. I was speaking specifically (but not clearly) about construction unions.

Yes, it would be nice to get more women in the unions. As far as organizing nonunion construction workers, talking to the wives and girlfriends can be a big help.

[femrap]

14. You don't think women can be electricians?

Carpenters? Plumbers? Operate heavy machinery?

The older I get, the more I realize that humans are unwilling to evolve.

[ogneopasno]

15. If you want to illustrate how clearly you don't know me by extrapolating things I wasn't saying

from the words I was saying, knock yourself out.

[femrap]

16. You're the one who let it slip

that you're quite the oinker. Face it, it never entered your mind that women are in the construction industry...or maybe you don't want them there. You just want the wives/girlfriends to do the work for you in gaining union membership of the men.

You wrote it; I read it. And you obviously don't go a good job or explaining yourself...and your little 'spin' about 'extrapolating' is worn out.

You remind me of W....he never made a mistake either.

[ogneopasno]

17. Let WHAT slip?

I've met women in the union construction industry. I've worked with them. I don't want the wives/girlfriends to do the work of organizing for me; I've found that talking to the wives and girlfriends helps get past the stupid pride the men have of "being their own bosses" and "in charge of their own destinies" as 1099ers. I've seen women who suddenly get that if their men were covered by union contracts, they'd get to stop worrying about where health care was going to come from.

That's what I was saying. For you to say I've never thought that women could be in union construction, or that I don't want them there...well, as a woman who has applied to union electrician jobs, I have to say you crack my shit up.

[femrap]

18. Now was that so difficult? nt

[malaise]

2. You're a good man

Omaha Steve. Unions forever!

[tinkerbell41]

4. Whats not to like???

Good Wages, Benefits, Retirement. EVERYTHING THAT BENEFITS WORKERS??????
Oh yeah it benefits workers, that's why they are bad.

[billyoc]

5. The Helmets to Hardhats program is some of the best work we've ever done.

If I do say so myself.

[Fire1]

6. Terrrrrrrrrrrific!!!!!!!

[barbtries]

7. me too!

happy for them

[Berry Cool]

8. That is wonderful.

Good to hear some good news about someone.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

9. Peace out

K&R

[Omaha Steve]

11. kick

[obiwan]

12. That's great. Now let's do away with stop-loss so he doesn't have to go back.

[nonconformist]

13. This post made me smile. nt