Do you love where you work?

[Rick]

I do. Always have. I get pissed at the company, who, by and large, has some of the worst employee relations in any industry.

I work in a union shop, and am a proud member of the Transport Workers Union. All of you union haters can hold your tongues, because unions are not what they were, and believe it or not, strive for the greater good of the company.

The last several days have produces some incredible, and in my mind, unthinkable things.

#1 The case of Frank Schmitt. There are a lot of arguments here to be discussed, but here is the skinny.

Frank is an 82 year old WWII veteran, still working for AA, or was, who as I understand it, got baited into a discussion about the DADT ruling in the military. Well good ole Frank gave his 82 year old opinion on it at work, using a derogatory term about homosexuals. He was fired. Had 54 years with the company and they threw him out like yesterday's garbage. Welcome to the new age of Corporate America.

Wouldn't a decent company give the guy some training and let him keep his job. How can you not do this?

#2 I just got this info on the phone a few minutes ago. Evidently, they were pushing a plane load of passengers off of gate A26 at DFW and the towbar, somehow, came unattached from the push tractor. The plane just rolled and rolled until it collided with two planes stationed on a pad across from the gate. Yikes. I've pushed planes all of my career. Career. I'm a fucking baggage handler. Career. Anyway, the only way a plane rolls that far is if someone was pushing it way too fast. I see this on occasion and it pisses me off. The downside is, it was a good friend of mine who was pushing. The point is, I'll bet he keeps his job, while Frank, as I understand, is done.

There is a video of Frank, who worked at JFK, in the link. Bare in mind, we're not Einsteins out there, we're baggage handlers. You won't hear them paging any of us to brain surgery, for sure.

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/national/stor ... yid=148573

[Rick]

And from the information I have received, it was that same manager that told him to "shut up" that baited him into the conversation.

[ebake02]

In the place where I used to work, a new guy made some inappropriate comments to a woman I knew. When she went to HR, not only did they fire the new guy, they also took disciplinary action against her with some bullshit claim that she was "leading him on".

[Saint John]

Frank gave his 82 year old opinion on it at work, using a derogatory term about homosexuals.

Unions usually fight tooth and nail for their employees ... normally bad ones. Aren't they going to bat for this old dude? If not, I'll represent Frank. And if he's white, so will Tito.

PS Why didn't the pilot apply the brakes when the plane started rolling, Rick?

[conversationpc]

Most unions blow and hurt the companies their workers are part of. It's kinda sad that many union members identify more with their union than they do their company. That being said, that doesn't mean all unions are bad but, by and large, they are doing more harm than good.

That being said, I like my work environment and the folks I work WITH (not for).

[ebake02]

I worked in a place with no union and it wasn't a pleasant experience. I've never saw a place treat employees that badly.

[Michigan Girl]

I read about this, Rick ...sad!! I think I remember him saying he was hoping to retire
w/55 yrs. and this incident caused him to miss his goal by approx. 9 mos?...Sad!!
That said, I think unions are good, for the most part...until they lose
track of why they were implemented in the first place, and many of them have.
I'm w/SJ, I can't believe they aren't tripping over themselves to go to battle for this man.


I do love my job, most days ...sometimes it interferes w/places I'd
rather be ...

[Moon Beam]

I've never worked where a union was in place but my Hubby Bub and family members always have.
I think Frank could has chosen his words better but I sure don't feel that he should have lost his job over it.
Can't believe he did, years ago I was called a fat fu**ing cow at work by two co-workers and I just returned
the sour says to them both and went back to work.
No one was reprimanded for it and we went on to work together for 5 years.
There is way to much political politeness going on and it has nothing to do with common consideration.
Interesting article and clip Sir Shoot, thanks for posting of it.

[Saint John]

I've never worked where a union was in place but my Hubby Bub and family members always have.
I think Frank could has chosen his words better but I sure don't feel that he should have lost his job over it.
Can't believe he did, years ago I was called a fat fu**ing cow at work by two co-workers and I just returned
the sour says to them both and went back to work.
No one was reprimanded for it and we went on to work together for 5 years.
There is way to much political politeness going on and it has nothing to do with common consideration.
Interesting article and clip Sir Shoot, thanks for posting of it.

You bring up a good point, Moonshine. How can a business, any business, let a single comment trump 54 years of fucking work?!? And try to get a read on intent. If the guy is huddled up around co-workers giving a fire and brimstone speech about how homos should be beaten and killed, then, yes, you can the guy. But I'd bet my ass hairs that this was an offhand comment, a la Archie Bunker. I'm also guessing he referred to them as "faggots." Big fucking deal. Send the guy home, make your point and start over tomorrow. This is simply a case of a company trying to garner PR points with the media at the expense of a 54 year employee ... and it's sickening.

[DrFU]

I was called a fat fu**ing cow at work by two co-workers .

Fortunately, from hanging out on MR, you knew the correct comeback was, "Mooo. Want a doughnut?"

[Moon Beam]

Fortunately, from hanging out on MR, you knew the correct comeback was, "Mooo. Want a doughnut?"

Or some other grade A post pounding.

[Don]

Work provides me money on which to live. If I don't care for my employer any longer, I will just move on. Nothing is owed to me beyond my salary. I give them a product, they reward me financially. If I'm stupid enough to say something that will get me in trouble, those are the breaks.
If you call someone a fag or a nigger, you can't take it back no matter how many times you apologize. Once those words come out, the die is cast, your inner self is exposed and you live the with the consequences.

There is no putting the toothpaste back in the tube so if you do enjoy your job, just think before you speak.

[steveo777]

Frank gave his 82 year old opinion on it at work, using a derogatory term about homosexuals.

Unions usually fight tooth and nail for their employees ... normally bad ones. Aren't they going to bat for this old dude? If not, I'll represent Frank. And if he's white, so will Tito.

PS Why didn't the pilot apply the brakes when the plane started rolling, Rick?

Maybe Julie Hagerty wasn't there to blow the automatic pilot.

[YoungJRNY]

I always liked where I worked. Right now I registered and enrolled back in school for an IT career (Computer Network Specialist) and for now I'm going back to work for my brother T-Time making t-shirts and also selling a whole bunch of Sporting Goods and all of that so to give an update on T-Time, he's booming! About 3 years ago, I left there to explore other options but there is room for me so I decided to help out as much as possible and return to the family business while I work on my diploma. Tony always treated me well so I'm glad to be back helping out my other brother as well. Although 2010 was a down year and a pretty much lagging year trying to find odd end jobs and qualifying in what I want to do future wise, 2011 seems to be off to be a very successful one.

[parfait]

Not at all. Sick and tired of stupid fat people.

[steveo777]

Not at all. Sick and tired of stupid fat people.

Are smart fat people ok?

[conversationpc]

Not at all. Sick and tired of stupid fat people.

I'm kind of sick of skinny, know-it-all, arrogant, dumb people.

[steveo777]

Not at all. Sick and tired of stupid fat people.

I'm kind of sick of skinny, know-it-all, arrogant, dumb people.

[conversationpc]

Not at all. Sick and tired of stupid fat people.

I'm kind of sick of skinny, know-it-all, arrogant, dumb people.

I don't like YOU, either.

[G.I.Jim]

Recently? No... I don't love where I work. This year is sucking pretty bad. It could be worse though, and at least I'm lucky enough to HAVE a job. I'm also thankful for all of the soldiers (and many friends) who are deployed and away from their families right now. God bless them.

[parfait]

Not at all. Sick and tired of stupid fat people.

Are smart fat people ok?

I work in a fat clinic. If you're a grown person who's become fat, then you're stupid (and if you're a parent who's made your own kid fat, then you're reaching a whole other level of stupid)

[Rick]

Frank gave his 82 year old opinion on it at work, using a derogatory term about homosexuals.

Unions usually fight tooth and nail for their employees ... normally bad ones. Aren't they going to bat for this old dude? If not, I'll represent Frank. And if he's white, so will Tito.

PS Why didn't the pilot apply the brakes when the plane started rolling, Rick?

Don't know yet. I'm waiting on the story about the plane rolling.

[conversationpc]

Not at all. Sick and tired of stupid fat people.

Are smart fat people ok?

I work in a fat clinic. If you're a grown person who's become fat, then you're stupid (and if you're a parent who's made your own kid fat, then you're reaching a whole other level of stupid)

EVERYONE has an area of their life that they overindulge in on a regular basis, i.e. a bad habit. Since you're so outspoken about other people's stupidity, how about sharing with us how stupid you are?

[G.I.Jim]

Not at all. Sick and tired of stupid fat people.

Are smart fat people ok?

I work in a fat clinic. If you're a grown person who's become fat, then you're stupid (and if you're a parent who's made your own kid fat, then you're reaching a whole other level of stupid)

EVERYONE has an area of their life that they overindulge in on a regular basis, i.e. a bad habit. Since you're so outspoken about other people's stupidity, how about sharing with us how stupid you are?

He doesn't make mistakes... he's the chosen one. Oh yeah, never mind, he doesn't believe in God. He believes we evolved from dirt.

[Andrew]

I love where I work, but my boss is an asshole. Always screwing up the good work I do and takes credit for everything I get right. One day I'm going to really show that SOB!

[G.I.Jim]

I love where I work, but my boss is an asshole. Always screwing up the good work I do and takes credit for everything I get right. One day I'm going to really show that SOB!

Kinda sounds like my boss!