Utility crews in Alabama know a little something about natural disasters. Working in one of the deadliest tornado states in the country provides invaluable, if unwanted, experience.

They also know that outside assistance is necessary in storm ravaged areas. State crews worked side by side with utility workers from all over the country after the April 27 tornadoes tore through Alabama.

That’s why crews from Decatur, Huntsville and Trinity, Al headed north to Seaside, New Jersey when the city put out a distress call in the wake of Hurricane Sandy’s destruction. Upon arrival, they were turned away because they aren’t a unionized company, according to WAFF in Huntsville.

According to the report, “Derrick Moore, one of the Decatur workers, said they were told by crews in New Jersey that they can’t do any work there since they’re not union employees.”

Several media outlets report that some of the crews moved on to Long Island to help with recovery, while other crews have headed back home.

The Daily Caller reports, “Electric repair work for public utilities in New Jersey is dominated by the International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers, a unit of the politically powerful AFL-CIO. Many parts of coastal New Jersey are projected to be without electric power for at least seven to 10 more days.”

RFDC hates the middle class.

Isn't that where the Jersey Shore vermin are located?

Chus won't like this thread.

Why? What happens in New Jersey doesn't affect me.

Would you have a problem if non-union workers in the same field as you came to Chicago to help after some form of disaster?

:lol: C'mon. Sure, its a hypothetical, but its not something that is unlikely. It is quite possible to have a major blizzard here in a couple months that could knock out power to millions, or an F3-4 tornado next May that could destroy a dozen or more suburbs.

-They are all lazy
-They are all greedy
-They all stand around, and do nothing all day
-Unions suck because they make you wear hard hats (who wants a safe work environment?)
-Unions members are idiots, because their reps get bigger raises than they do
-The only task involved in renovating highways, is spreading asphalt

Unions are as irrelevant as Phish.

Frank, if you have thoughts on this subject, please share. In the future, I ask that you refrain from inserting me into situations like this. I am never afraid to share my opinions on a variety of subjects, and I have no problem engaging in battle with anyone. However, I see no reason to participate in any union discussions, as they quickly turn into union bashing threads, usually by "experts" with little or no experience and/or knowledge on the subject. In my six and a half years as a member here, I have learned the following about union workers:

-They are all lazy
-They are all greedy
-They all stand around, and do nothing all day
-Unions suck because they make you wear hard hats (who wants a safe work environment?)
-Unions members are idiots, because their reps get bigger raises than they do
-The only task involved in renovating highways, is spreading asphalt

and my personal favorite:

-All unions members are mindless drones, who vote Democrat no matter what, because their local endorses them

I have no interest in debating such silliness as this.

My opinions regarding unions are no secret. Anybody is free to agree or disagree with them. I really don't care.

I have no interest in debating such silliness as this.

Pathetic.

Nobody asked you about any of the things you posted.

Every union thread turns into that. They just do. I'm not making this up. I'm not going to get involved in this discussion, no matter how much I am prodded.

You were asked that if a storm or some other major disaster hit Chicago, what would be your thoughts on non-union guys working to try to get the area up and running again.

I told you that I have no interest in debating a hypothetical situation. I'm sorry if this doesn't satisfy you.

You side stepped the question at hand and ranted about something else completely. Sorry for inserting you the way I did. If I had said, "I wonder what Chus thinks about this," would you have answered or ranted on the way you did?

Again, you are more than welcome to think I am side-stepping questions. I said nothing about this, until you dragged me into it. I merely gave a short, calm response, explaining my lack of interest in debating such issues. You can call that a rant if you want.


My thoughts on the subject are that I wouldn't care who was working to restore power/internet/ roads/ TV/ cellphones, etc to myself, friends, family, and neighbors as long as it was done in a safe and timely fashion. Once the infrastructure was back up and running and normal, things should to back to the way they were (union or non union) before the storm/trouble hit.

Next time, just roll with that, and leave me out of it.

Are all of you under the assumption that these non union crews were doing the work for free? They are there profiteering.

I don't have any problem with the city trying to have some reasonable belief that the work will be done correctly the first time by hiring only those with qualified credentials rather than some carpetbagging hayseeds whose idea of utilities are two soup cans attached by string.

Are all of you under the assumption that these non union crews were doing the work for free? They are there profiteering.

I don't have any problem with the city trying to have some reasonable belief that the work will be done correctly the first time by hiring only those with qualified credentials rather than some carpetbagging hayseeds whose idea of utilities are two soup cans attached by string.

Are all of you under the assumption that these non union crews were doing the work for free? They are there profiteering.

I don't have any problem with the city trying to have some reasonable belief that the work will be done correctly the first time by hiring only those with qualified credentials rather than some carpetbagging hayseeds whose idea of utilities are two soup cans attached by string.

Are all of you under the assumption that these non union crews were doing the work for free? They are there profiteering.

I don't have any problem with the city trying to have some reasonable belief that the work will be done correctly the first time by hiring only those with qualified credentials rather than some carpetbagging hayseeds whose idea of utilities are two soup cans attached by string.

Of course they are going to profit. No one doubts that at all.

But there are ways of verifying their credentials other than just rejecting anyone not in a union. Union employees are not the only ones who know how to get jobs done correctly.

Why take the risk. You notice the story never mentioned whether there the work was either done or being performed, only that some underqualified people were turned away.

It also said it might take 10 days or more to restore power. I would think that with more help power could get fully restored quicker than that.