A friendly reminder & an article on UT

Today is the start of my new sched, so far I like it. I worked with Troy Rodgers. He did the forklift and I did the riderjack. Nothing really important happened today. I just felt that the management is so silent today and took a time out giving us hard time. To hell with them! Just a reminder "It was pride that changed angels into devils; It is humility that makes men as angels."-Saint Augustine
At 4PM Alex A. is so " mayabang" on the start of the shift but after an hour, maybe receiving some good news about the outcome of the rally. He becomes silent. Well, he should know the real score now! Virgil confessed a lot of things this time. He is ok!
Some of the guys who called in sick last week are present maybe after bringing their Doctor's Certificate.
Benny Tatoy gave me a nice shirt that says " PilipinoAko, 'Di Nabibili Ang Puso Ko!"I really love it! Salamat, Mang Benny!!!
We did a lot of OT today( now doing the hopper on system 3) 6 hours and 45 minutes!Anyway Pam C. (supervisor) approached me nicely this time. I gave my URL to some of my co-workers. I hope this will help them inform and educate about the union! Sinbad also gave me a copy of the article published by UT (Titled: Informational picket conducted ) about the rally last Friday 08.24.2006!
The article please click here:http://thecharmsquad.blogspot.com/2006/08/article-on-ut-friday-august-25-2006.html

Call In Sick Situation (Friday & Saturday ) Aftermath

I just had an information from Ernie B. and Fred P. that all the people who called in sick last week (Friday & Saturday) were sent home by Pam C., that's what they've said! Unfotunately, they can only go back to work if they present their Doctor's Certificate. For what I know, the company's policy about occurences is; you only need a Medical Certificate if you were not able to come to work (sick) three days in a row. I don't know why they have a sudden change on their policy about absences. Anyway the people who called in sick were Antonio Gomez, Edgar Fernandez, Lemuel Maghirang, Armando & Alex. Oscar and Sinbad had called in sick too. I hope they have the same treatment as the others, but I don't think it is fair!
Also I was informed that they had 3 hours overtime because of the palletizer! Well it is good, more OT meaning more money for us!
Lemuel seek help from Ernie about his Doctor's Certificate, and they need an advice from Benny Tatoy! I hope they resolve this problem. Well, good luck guys! What a dirty game they have started...so roll the dice!!!Remember the Union-Tribune is trying to screw us in anyway that they could! They are fighting so desperately, they are eating their own people. They are "Cannibals!" Uhhm???

Can You Hear Us Now?

Two days in a row after the succesful community & workers rally last Thursday August 24, 2006 was a good impact to all my my friends & co workers in UT! Now they start feeling that we have a strong and united union behind us.For working here more than 11 years this is the first time I feel the real camaraderie of my co-workers!The moral is up and really proud of themselves which they lost for so many years!
On the other hand i think the management should be professional to face the reality! They should accept a gentleman's defeat! Friday & Saturday no one supervised us at work, no one of them wants to work, we will prove to them that we can run the place without them, they do not deserve to be here as our leaders and treat us like a dirt, unbelievable!. So unprofessional and uneducated. Now they are showing their real colors! A lot of my co-workers are really proud wearing their black shirts saying "Can you hear us now?"Ed & Skinner decided to wear thei s too! Well, they should!!!My people now knows "Who is a big liar!" and "Who really cares for them!"Thank You for all my brothers and sisters and participants of the rally!"It Is A Good One!!!"Next week will be the start of the new work schedule that they want to implent that cause a lot problem and economic hardship to all my co-workers!
I also notice this dumbed-ass Jose Estrada is loosing his face and his group of friends. Nobody wants to talk to him.He deserved to be alone because he only cares about himself, you cannot trust him. Also today a lot of people called in sick like Edgar Fernandez, Antonio Gomez, Lemuel Maghirang and later called me that Cris Norton wants them to bring their doctor's certificate when they come back to work next week. Again this son of a bitch who was once active as a union supporter now nos.1 union buster!I don't know how this man can still live with his conscience. I don not know what moral values he is handling down to his family and kids! To Hell With Him!!!
Chris Norton doesn't give a damn if we are only three of us (Me, Ernie & Ding) working on C Press, He doesn't care if there is a problem on the stacker on B Press. He just enjoy his starbuck coffee that day and doesn't care about his job!

The Pay Cut, re-Classification & the Palletizer Incident

Today I just heard that the white envelope that is being handed by Michael Connor personally to some of my co-workers is about the pay-cut. Some will have $2 to $5 paycut on their pay hour wages.
This is the result of the bidding schedule that the company wants to implement and forced us to sign and give us a deadline. Some were demoted to Packager III to Packager I. Some are surprised and shocked because from full-time worker they become a part-time worker. Some who are getting 5 shifts every week, now they have 4 shifts.
I know that they (management) want the workers to blame the union for this consequences.
Also today Bill, the mechanic told me that one of the driver accidentally and damaged the new palletizer, it is good the damaged is only minimal. But caused him (Bill) to come to work as early as 5AM. He told me " I missed the fun!"

The White Envelope,Michael Connors' kind of leadership, or his last card?

While working on System2 with the 3rd shift people, I just notice Michael Connors handling out white envelopes to some of my co-workers! Some of my filipino friends has witnessed his action. They are Manny Aquino, Nath Rabina & Ric (the new Filipino guy). Also little Maria and Josefina (Mexican Girls) told me about this. One recipient is Boyet Agilo ( I saw the enevelope on his back pocket while he was working on the palletizer and David Corrales on system 1)Josefina told me it is about the cutting down of salary & re-classification, and this is the result of the new schedule that the company wants to implement as early as next week! I also knew that Michael & Greg is working with graveyard shift for almost a week!
I remember this bid sheet schedule was mentioned to me by Michael Connors...Now I know what he meant, this a BIG TRAP for everyone of us!This is an "IDIOT TEST" said by my good friend Paul Bandahuer! YES! IT IS...

"It Makes Sense, It's More Than a $"

I just wear the new shirt ( Doctor's style) personally made by Ernie B. Again I would like give my appreciation to my dear friend, my partner Ernie for his creativity and consistency. This is an answer to their old propaganda. Benny Tatoy contributed to this idea.
Me and Ernie always talked about life and one time I told him seriously that to be a good man is to sacrifice...to sacrifice is to know how to love...have time and spend your money and it's not that easy! We don't know why we're doing it but we surely know it is the right thing to do! Today we worked on B press with John Weinner and luckily no one (supervisors) bothers us! A lot of my friends got the meaning of the message, especially Lisa, Arsenia, Nath & Jing and other Pinoys. It is a good day for us!!!
The only thing that we notice that everytime Cris N. is the supervisor he let Ben Lam and Andrew Tat operating the rider jack which is very unsafe and against OSHA safety regulation.

My Daily Journal

Wednesday 08.09.2006

Today Marina let us work on the pelletizer eventhough we were not trained to operate this machine. Maybe because she got no choice. I'm sure, she just want to finished what we need & have to acomplished that day. Fortunately we got a good ROP run that day, even though we were not authorized and operate this new machine. I let and give Edgar a chance to learn & took his time to learn the computer and the palletizer. Discover some techniques if the machine has a problem, cuz we already know that everytime they used the pelletizer we end up into mandory OT and Voluntary OT but luckily we end up a good run today. It's only a matter of giving us a chance of proper training and respect and trust to operate this machine. And it's not a big deal if you really assign to work over there and I really have a high respect to my co- workers that they can learn this new machine faster than them. And the worst thing to mention is, they only pick some group of people whom they want to be trained and work on this new machine which I can't understand! The real problem is how they treat the people right and giving favor to others!I could say "Poor Filipino Friends" once again you are a guinea pig! Don' be a victim and don't be a FLIP! What everybody says " They Love The Money Maker Machine!!! So Always Be Ready For Overtime Everyday!!!"

Friday 08.11.2006

Uppal told me that she went to HR because Jose Estrada verbally harassed her. She told me that she was just asking Jose E., " How much more run we have to do?" Jose replied " I don't Know!" Isn't it that you worked yesterday, you had overtime right?" she asked again. "No I didn't worked yesterday!" Jose answered" So, if you don't worked yesterday where were you?"" I am with your daughter!!!" What a man!!!Got no respect!"

Today Ernie B. is modified and worked on the reject station!

Saturday 08.12.2006

After helping them cleaning whole place, because they had a bad run yesterday. 2nd shift crew stayed late up to 3:30AM and 3rd shift crew had an overtime also. The press C start at 2 1/2 late today. Although Ernie submitted his doctor's certificate as modified they let him to work with me on stackdown on C press. Later Pam C. knew from Marina D. that Ernie is modified and has a medical certificate which Ernie gave him the other day they start asking him what happen and pull him out on C press and Skinny Ayele replaced him. We don't know if this is intentional or a neglect on their part. Ernie went home on time at exactly 12PM and canceled his OT on 2nd shift as pre-scheduled, it's good for him!

Today Jose E. showed me a funny cartoon from the newspaper that all the Union people including me is chrashing him and Pam Uppal is on the steering. This dumbed ass really know what will happen to him if the union comes in!

Monday 08.14.2006

Today after stacking down on B Press, Michael asked us to set up the stacker on B Press downstair. Although Edgar has an idea how to operate the palletizer last week, unfortunately Greg and Michael didn't give him a chance or gave him the chance to operate, to learn or even teach him this time, I don'tknow why, while on the palletizer I saw my other Filipino operating the palletizer on system1 & 2. They were Alex Jovero and Boyet, which they never think & realized that they are being used by the company and they allow themselves to be like that and never really think what's real issue and this is an example of "Favoritism."

Also today Mama Carol told me she's really upset about the new schedule. And infact she asked the HR about this, And they told her that they only follow what Union wants...to apply the seniorityof the workers. Again this is another dirty trick of the company against the union..."that workers should blame all the bad things to the union!" This is a BIG lie..a black propaganda against the union!

Today our first break was given 45 minutes late (5:25PM) by Greg, also Michael also worked on the palletizer with him!

Wednesday 08.16.2006

While doing Night & Day Rop, I notice Nathaniel Rabina operating the palletizer on the other end(on System nos.1). Alex J. was doing the line monitor for him and Juan Plasencia helping him to fix somebundles, this time. I also render my help counting and hand insert the Night & Day on the jackets.I had a short conversation to Nath, and he told me that he was wandering why they let him operate this new machine without any formal training, which i really don't know why? But anyway i should congratulatehim with a two thumbs up for performing this new task as if he was trained " Ibang klase talaga, kayang-kaya mo 'tol", Im proud of him because he is one of the many good filipino co- workers here in UT. And it only shows how flexible are we,even without a training. And we learn fast just observing " Pinoy Yata Yan!,this is quality of every filipino, a real hardworker "Galing mo talaga!"

Wednesday 08.16.2006

While doing Night & Day Rop, I notice Nathaniel Rabina operating the palletizer on the other end(on System nos.1). Alex J. was doing the line monitor for him and Juan Plasencia helping him to fix some bundles, this time. I also render my help counting and inserting the Night & Day on the jackets. I had a short conversation to Nath, and he told me that he was wandering why they let him operate this new machine without any formal training, which i really don't know why? But anyway i should congratulate him with a two thumbs up for performing this new task as if he was trained " Ibang klase talaga, kayang-kaya mo 'tol", Im proud of him because he is one of the many good filipino co- workers here in UT. And it only shows how flexible are we, even without a training. And we learn fast just observing " Pinoy Yata Yan!, this is one of the good qualities of every filipino, a real hardworker "Galing mo talaga!"

Thursday 08.17.2006

Today system nos.3 didn't run the whole shift ...It is really a bad day..and Virgil told me that he had an interview that next week he will be trained to operate the palletizer like the other Pinoys, and and maybe it is good for him! " Wag lang syang pagamit!" for all we know na " Walang dagdag na sweldo ito!"

And always remember the catch of the letter that was posted..."This is a good opportunity to learn something new!" What a big trap!!! I hope they give you the credit that you deserve!

Also today Ernie told me that the pain he feels is not job related!!!But anyway your doctor certified that you are sick and modified!

Friday 08.18.2006

Today is friday and it's a union shirt, A a lot my friends are really proud to wear their union shirt saying "Something stink@ Union Tribune!" Let your voice be heard and do not be afraid!"It is your freedom like their business as the only one newspaper in San Diego "Freedom of Press." And as their worker we also have certain rights!

Today I worked with Sinbad on system3 as forklift and jackrider, so far we run smoothly we only have 15minutes OT. I hope they will assign me doing this job more often. And Esther is so nice to me and offered me teaching me about the computer, because they never trained me and showed me how. Anyway Esther, you are so nice! But we don't have time today to show me how because I don't want to mess up or run out our inserts for we know the computer is less important. Anyway Thank you, Esther...some other time.. I really appreciate it!!!