Some blog comments that need more visibility

Editor's comment in red, Commenter in Black. This is a comment that a reader left under this blog post (a Q&A with our USW Staff Organizer), we thought we'd post it as a separate blog post to get it the visibility it deserves. This guy gets it.

This was very informative and helpful—thank you! I’ve heard a lot of good feedback from folks today about how appreciated this Q&A is.

Off topic from the excellent Q&A above, but the constant propaganda being sent to our homes is angering me more and more. Since when is expressing interest in being represented an open invitation to harass our families? I had a long rant here riddled with expletives, but I deleted it. In summary: fuck you. You’ve crossed a line bringing this to our homes, and you’re achieving the opposite outcome from what you wanted. You may have assumed the USW was going to be flooding our home addresses with “VOTE YES!” propaganda, and wanted to counter that. But, I’ve literally gotten one magazine from them. So, you’re dumb.

Okay! I’m calm now…

Consider this, guys. As we get closer to a vote, more tactics will come. COP can’t offer us anything, but they can try to captivate us with other things that might make us think they’re genuinely sorry and that they’ll never ever do it again. They’re running out of time and have limited options. “Desperation is a stinky cologne, John” Movie?!

Note that whatever happens will be just that—tactics. Anything said or done is only to convince you to vote no and retain their control of the future outcomes. It may sound great, but it is self-serving and selfish. IT IS NOT FOR OUR BENEFIT. They don’t care about you and have clearly demonstrated that. They only appear to be sorry and to “want to make it right” because they’re facing a real consequence. Saying that a petition is what is holding them back from fixing it, is a cop-out. If it weren’t for the petitions and looming vote, they wouldn’t even be trying. Remember that.

If we don’t punish them now, they WILL do it again. Spare the rod, and spoil the giant oil company, or something like that! I think Socrates said it? Anyway, they need a spanking—and I don’t mean the kind those rich, powerful weirdos probably pay for.

Here is my stance on this: COP could fire every responsible party, reinstate everything like it never happened, give us a 10% raise, put my kids through college, and I would STILL vote yes. Ensuring that if they ever wanted to take it away again, they’d have to ask first.

Just remember this, please. Whether you were a contractor for most of your career or have been company for all of it, your wages would not be what they are (or were) in either capacity without the USW union being present. We’ve all benefited from it and ridden their coattails over the years. I’ve always realized that, but I never—even while I was USW—fully appreciated the union and the real protection it afforded me. EYES WIDE OPEN NOW. They absolutely are the RIGHT union organization for us to be a part of. Ryan Lance says he suspects Hilcorp employees will take a pay cut in the first quarter next year—if he’s right, who do you think that pertains to? Guess who has a guaranteed pay raise negotiated into their contract next year? Rhymes with WOA! Who just happens to be represented by the USW. The same USW that can’t possibly be right for us!

Do not be scared—this is going to be a great thing for all of us. If we get Kuparuk, Alpine, and Willow and join the WOA, we’re going to be in a VERY strong negotiating position. Jeff H. knows that, and Conoco CEOs and below know that. They’re scared of us having a voice that substantial. You want an insurance policy against ever having an all-out melee attack against your livelihood again? Then I sincerely hope ALL of you will vote yes with me, and I look forward to what next year will bring.

In solidarity, brothers and sisters,

—FWW

And here's part of another comment our wise friend left on another blog post:

I previously worked for Hilcorp as a WOA worker and am now a Conoco non-USW-represented employee. First and foremost, you do not want to work for Hilcorp without representation—full stop. The reality is that Hilcorp taking over operation of some of these assets is more likely than not. When Hilcorp took over the EOA and WOA, the USW represented WOA did not take paycuts. They maintained the status quo.

I would gladly go back to paying dues if it meant having the protection that prevented anything like what just happened to us. There is something to be said for not having to worry about your job—about not suddenly being viewed as “too experienced” as you approach retirement age and then being RIF’d before you’re ready. There is also something to be said for not being “Compared to your peers” for compensation and benefits in a —- let’s just say disingenuous and insulting manner. When your peers somehow end up being your partner in crime’s midstream company and Dollar General O&M personnel (Exaggerating for emphasis). But, cherry picked data from an unrealistic pool of companies to support the outcome that they wanted.

They’re going to start mentioning that they’re working on a plan to reverse some of the changes they’ve made, that they realize they made a mistake, and that the petition is preventing them from fixing things immediately. Please don’t take that bait. We are smarter than that.

Anything that is fixed or given back without a contract can also be taken away again in CEP 2.0. If they truly intend to reverse and correct course on these actions, they can bring those plans to the bargaining table. I for one, do not want to be kicking myself in the ass next year because we got bait and switched—again.

WHY are they so scared of us unionizing? Scared to the point we’re getting targeted Facebook adds and harassed with gobs of propaganda at our homes when we’re trying to relax and not think about this place. Having to avoid tripping over the plethora of propaganda in camps? Being hymned up in conference rooms for hours and having to listen to their desperate pleas? It is 100% not because management are worried for us that we might be making a mistake. I guarantee you Ryan Lance and Co. are not flying all the way up here because he’s losing sleep over our wellbeing. He’s flying up here over fear of losing control.

The dues pay for themselves with the peace of mind that you get.

Well damn, well said. In between Dustin's letter (our USW local president) and this guy I feel like a 1st grader writing "I luv my kat" in crayon... I can't compete with these dudes- thank god they're on our side. But in all seriousness- I think this wise reader knocked it out of the park- their promises are only here because the big bad union wolf is banging on their door, if the threat of losing control when away tomorrow they'd be back to abusing us by the weekend.

Keep the great comments coming, we're incredibly fortunate to work with such thoughtful well-spoken people. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.