(WV) Ormet Picketers Threatened: Picketers find themselves staring down...

[struggle4progress]

... the barrel of a shotgun
Posted 3/13/2005 08:09 PM

Story by Shauna Parsons

Members of Local 5760 say this is the scariest thing to happen yet on the picket lines. It's been four months since union employees at Ormet agreed to strike, but nothing has happened quite like what happened Saturday night. Some union members conducted an informational picket outside of the River's Edge Activity Center in Sardis. The center is owned by 69-year-old Norman Maeinknecht, who also owns Westbank Harbor and Trucking Company, which union workers say cross their picket lines every day. Maienknecht allegedly came at the picketers with a shotgun during last night's picket. <snip>

http://wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=1524

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Good. He got arrested.

Exactly what should have happened.

[merwin]

2. Well, at least the asshole is in jail.

[Marthe48]

3. We appreciate the active employees efforts very much

My husband retired from ORMET 3 years ago and one of the things the union is striking for is to save the benefits for retirees. However, the court has agreed to open the 'contract' and change the agreements made, not just on benefits, but contracting out, job descriptions and seniority. Just a lovely place to work for.
I personally think the unions should make some kind of arrangements to get health coverage for their members and use union dues to help pay for it. A) it would take a great big bargaining chip off the table forever, and B) if the coverage is reasonably priced and covers health needs adequately, unions might recover some of their numbers and therefore clout.
If we don't hang together, we're going to hang separately.

[struggle4progress]

4. Companies should never be in charge of workers' pension money.

[pop goes the weasel]

5. 100% agreement from me!

Let unions provide health coverage--all sorts of people will start joining. And not that "gap coverage" that they offer now--real health coverage.