Do you support striking Latrobe Steel workers?

[Freedom]

Just wondered which way the wind was blowing on this topic.

[Anon_One]

They have some of the highest paying jobs in Latrobe yet they want more and more. They should be glad they are working.

[why_not]

I support them and commend them for standing their ground.

Research should really be done (past media releases) into what the strike is really about.

Workers reporting to their shifts last night at midnight were told BY the company to go home, with no further details. Upon leaving the plant, the gates were closed and locked.

And just FYI Anon_One, they aren't working, hence the strike.

[strike supporter]

The workers gave concessions over the last 6 years so the struggling company could reinvest in the plant. The company had profits over $42 millon in 2006, $80 million in 2007 and project $80 million in profits for 2008. The company still demands concessions. Go for your share people.

[Anon_One]

USW rejects final offer, strikes Latrobe Specialty Steel
By Tom Aikens
Bulletin Staff Writer
Pickets are up at Latrobe Specialty Steel Co. today after employees
resoundingly rejected a final offer from the company.

" I rest my case, they rejected the finial offer what did they expect."

[why_not]

I'm going to base my assessment of your intelligence on the content and grammatical errors of your post.

That being said, I wouldn't expect much less.

[Anon_One]

Latrobe Specialty Steel Co. said Thursday it will use temporary workers next week to maintain production during the strike by about 350 unionized steelworkers.
The steelmaker will use workers hired by a staffing agency because it wants to fulfill existing orders and "maintain the business on a day-to-day basis," Hans J. Sack, president of Latrobe Specialty Steel, said yesterday, the first day of the strike by the United Steelworkers union Local 1537.

"I think we are very well-prepared to keep our customers supplied," Sack said. "We are fully prepared to do that on the long term," he added.

The company supplies special steel alloys to customers in the defense, energy and aerospace industries, which use the material to build parts for items such as helicopters and jets.

[why_not]

Glad to see the company has hired replacements.

[Fed Up]

If we are in the recession that everyone is talking about, the workers may want to rethink striking. If they don't want the jobs, a lot of people will gladly step up and take them.

[why_not]

why_not wrote:

Glad to see the company has hired replacements.

Atleast make the location correct when supporting your own agenda.

[Jerry]

I feel they went on strike because Ed Rendell told them to.

[A Closer Look]

At this day and age everyone pays for benefits. Suck it up, that's our wonderful economy.
As far as comparing to competitors, those so-called competitors are overseas where most economies model socialism a little closer, thus resulting in universal health care. This means the "competitors" are not having to take from their profits to pay worker benefit packages. Those are the numbers you should look at - the percentage of the company's profits that are put into worker "packages."
I agree that the recession should cause these workers to rethink their positions on the strike - I just hope that the replacements are able to how expendible workers acutally are. There are millions of people out of work, what's 350 more?
Also, let's remember that Latrobe Steel did have the opportunity to close shop and operate overseas - can we show a little gratitude for their choice to support a local economy?

[hollow]

I bet most people in Latrobe don't make 1/2 what the people at Latrobe Specialty Steel make.

[why_not]

That's a safe assumption considering half of them are on welfare.

[George]

I won't feel bad for them when they bring replacement workers in. The money they were offered was more than most people get now days and yet they want more. Maybe Latrobe Steel should do what Regan did fire them all and keep the replacement workers.

[George]

why_not wrote:

I support them and commend them for standing their ground.
Research should really be done (past media releases) into what the strike is really about.
Workers reporting to their shifts last night at midnight were told BY the company to go home, with no further details. Upon leaving the plant, the gates were closed and locked.
And just FYI Anon_One, they aren't working, hence the strike.

Well why_not your not correct on that one they went on strike and didn't report for work. You need to get your story correct.

[why_not]

George wrote:

<quoted text>
Well why_not your not correct on that one they went on strike and didn't report for work. You need to get your story correct.

Please, continue to base your intelligence on the media.

I find the level of intelligence within this topic laughable.

[A Closer Look]

why_not wrote:

<quoted text>
Please, continue to base your intelligence on the media.
I find the level of intelligence within this topic laughable.

You talk a lot about other peoples' intelligence, but I haven't seen a single comment posted by you that contains an ounce of knowledge.

[getagrip]

I don't support them at all - they think the comapany will fold without them - I am glad they are bringing in replacement workers - workers who have already proven in other steel mills that they can do a better job than the current union workforce at Latrobe steel.

They complain about how unfair the company is treating them - would you want to treat them any better? Considering they make more than most employees in the tri county area? I am not saying they shouldn't get a fair contract, but they aren't exactly being fair to the company. Ask them how many of them do hardly anything to earn those wages.

[striking employee 1537]

Please do not insult my coworkers and I when you do not have the facts, you only have what you have read in the newspapers.I would rather be working than striking. How would any of you non supporters feel if your boss told you he was making record profits but you would not get a raise for the next three years? Then when that contract expires business may slow down and then it be another few years without a raise. Please do not judge until you do our jobs, and know all the facts.

TO GETAGRIP: When was the last time you were in the mill to see what kind of jobs we do? What kind of job do you do? Is it dangerous?