Strike this
August 20, 2010 By: Pit & Quarry StaffAccording to news reports, union workers at a Massachusetts Aggregate Industries plant have gone on strike against the company over benefits and minimum work hours. At issue, according to Local 170 Business Agent Edward J. Peloquin, is workers now having to pay for part of their health insurance and pension benefits. He acknowledged that many employees who work at other companies have to pay at least part of their health-care costs, but the workers had negotiated for company payment of health-care costs in the past and they shouldn't have to give up that benefit and start paying part of their health premiums. I'm not sure what's in the drinking water over there in Massachusetts, but last time I checked, unemployment was rampant in the construction industry and in general, and almost every job out there requires employees to kick in something for health-care benefits. Now I believe in an honest day's work for an honest day's pay, and fair cooperation between management and employees, but here's a message to the disgruntled workers of Aggregate Industries: 1) Be thankful you have a job right now, and 2) go back to work and pay part of your health insurance like the rest of us. And your time might be better spent lobbying on behalf of your industry for a new federal infrastructure-spending bill that will ensure you have a job in the future. – Mark S. Kuhar
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