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| Volvo Strike Enters Fourth Week; Senator Webb To Meet With Union Members Today |
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| Written by David Grimes | |
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As the strike enters its fourth week, union workers remained on the picket lines Wednesday afternoon at the New River Valley Volvo Plant, as some non-union workers have crossed the line. In addition, Senator Jim Webb is planning on meeting with union workers this morning.
Senator Webb is scheduled to meet with the union members and its leaders at 10:30 a.m. this morning at the UAW Local 2069 headquarters in Dublin. It was also reported that Gary Casteel, UAW Regional Director, will be at the Union Hall today, as well.
According to Local 2069 Union President Lester Hancock, Volvo has provided the requested information and the union has requested to start the talks again. However, Volvo has denied those requests to meet thus far.
John Mies, Volvo spokesman made the following statement Wednesday afternoon, “Because there has been some discussion in the press about information requested of us by the UAW, I will mention to you that as of yesterday morning, we have delivered to the International UAW in Detroit all the information requested. Beyond that, there is no other news.”
As for reports of workers crossing the picket lines, union officials said that no union workers have crossed the lines. However, several non-union workers have decided to cross the lines.
Strikers meet those workers crossing the line every morning at 7 a.m. and at 4 p.m. in the afternoon, as they enter and leave the plant. Union Workers, some using megaphones, boo the workers and call them “scabs”.
“We’re not out to harm them or start anything, we just want them to know that we’re out here fighting for what’s right and we don’t appreciate them crossing the line,” said one striker.
All the strikers on the line Wednesday agreed about one thing, “We want to go back to work as soon as possible. But, we’re not going to give up what we have worked for.”
Photos by David Grimes Comments (11)
  written by really unbelievable, February 26, 2008
I wouldn't mind seeing them both posted on here!
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 written by Responding to the Crybaby, February 26, 2008
Do you want the benefit package that we are fighting to save or the one that we will have if we give up and sign on the dotted line?
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written by This is really unbelievable, February 25, 2008
Those of you striking, how much money do you currently get paid to put the same couple of bolts together all day long? I could look it up, because it is public knowledge. Do you believe that this is a specialized skill that you have developed? Do you think that there is anyone employed at any McDonald's that couldn't honestly do your job. List out your current benefit package for us. If you are under paid and have no benefits to speak of I'll shut up. Otherwise, shut up and go back to work you bunch of BABIES!!!
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 written by Responding to Lori, February 24, 2008
What is truly unbelievable are the people like yourself that don't have a clue what they are talking about. My advice to you is talk to someone who knows why we are on strike. Don't just assume that because we work at Volvo, we have it made. We can give up, go back to work and then in the near future end up with minimal wages and no benefits. Would that make you feel better to have people in the same situation as you? The point is that we are standing up for ourselves because we can. Can you say that? Didn't think so.....
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Unbelievable !!!, Lowly rated comment [Show]
 written by wishing it was over!!!, February 24, 2008
No the company does not need to hire replacement workers. The people at NRV are some of the best people it the world. This is just a bad situation for all. It will be over soon I hope !
PS- Volvo workers, keep in mind that some people crossing the line have no choose in the matter because we have no union to back us and we have been told to report to work.  God bless you all.
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 written by Eric Reeves, February 21, 2008
A scab in union terms is an individual who chooses not to be in the union and crosses picket lines to work while union members are fighting to keep the benefits that everyone else has fought for. Of course supervisors are not going to be in the union and they are not called scabs. But scabs do need to remember that when this strike is over they will have to face these union members that they have passed everyday and it is really unfair but these scabs will enjoy the same benefits that we get.
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Scabs????, Lowly rated comment [Show]
Why Webb?, Lowly rated comment [Show]
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| Today's Birthday | |
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Sir James Matthew Barrie was a Scottish novelist and dramatist best known for creating the character Peter Pan, whom he based on his friends, the Llewelyn Davies boys. Educated at Dumfries Academy and Edinburgh University, he became a journalist and, later, a celebrated novelist who counted Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Thomas Hardy amongst his friends and acquaintances. Why was Barrie disappointed with the statue of Peter Pan erected in Kensington Gardens, London?
Companies aren't out to screw people anymore.
If you were an owner of a company-I bet you wouldn't want a union workforce!!!
And most of my friends were strong UAW members, five years later they agree. They lost everything!