sts,utiliquest lawsuit

[cablemagne]

Anybody know anything about a lawsuit against dycom?

[LocatingAngel]

They are still working on getting it completed.

[swagman]

I guess it has been settled ,you should be getting a letter as to how much you are owed then what is taxable and what the attorney's fees are going to be(way too much):crying::crying:,then a total projection of what you may get back ,I think that Dycom should have to foot the attorney's fees ,if not for thier actions there would be no lawsuit:complain:

[AULupstate]

Another lawsuit against them?

[TechMaster]

Quick question on this law suit. How many of you chose to route yourselves at home off the clock while watching tv just to make your life easier? I know I have worked off the clock a million times just for that reason. Also how many times have you really drug your feet all day and stopped and talked to every contractor at almost every site way longer than you should have about nothing pertaining to work. Oh and do not forget all the times you went home early and charged overtime. Just something I have been thinking about!!

[Metroman]

Quick question on this law suit. How many of you chose to route yourselves at home off the clock while watching tv just to make your life easier? I know I have worked off the clock a million times just for that reason. Also how many times have you really drug your feet all day and stopped and talked to every contractor at almost every site way longer than you should have about nothing pertaining to work. Oh and do not forget all the times you went home early and charged overtime. Just something I have been thinking about!!

Well i have been locating for 15 years and have done none of these things.Is it that hard to follow simple rules?

[TechMaster]

What rules are you talking about? The ones they have now or back in the day when it was always balls to the wall, and locating was just locating? The goal was to protect the plant and the client. Working off te clock was your choice and you would not get punished for doing extra just to help yourself out. Just my thoughts on all this nonsens.

[RoadMap]

Quick question on this law suit. How many of you chose to route yourselves at home off the clock while watching tv just to make your life easier? I know I have worked off the clock a million times just for that reason. Also how many times have you really drug your feet all day and stopped and talked to every contractor at almost every site way longer than you should have about nothing pertaining to work. Oh and do not forget all the times you went home early and charged overtime. Just something I have been thinking about!!

So when you were told to route and trade tickets for your whole crew or for 10 locators in from out of town to help out your crew, you just did it out of the goodness of your heart. Even though it took a couple extra hours that you missed with your family. If I am away from my family doing work stuff, I GET PAID! PERIOD!!!

[big boots mcghee]

So when you were told to route and trade tickets for your whole crew or for 10 locators in from out of town to help out your crew, you just did it out of the goodness of your heart. Even though it took a couple extra hours that you missed with your family. If I am away from my family doing work stuff, I GET PAID! PERIOD!!!

Amen, brotha! I'm not a salaried employee, so if I'm doing anything work related I'm gonna get paid, one way or the other.

[Ainsquest]

This entire lawsuit is a result of a disgruntled employee who found a way (and a smart attorney) to screw the company. I have been here 16 years, and the company has been pretty dang easy to work for. As long as you do your job correctly, you are pretty much your own boss. Not many jobs out there provide the freedom that this one does. I hope everyone that plans on taking the money is actually owed the money. I'll bet if you've been doing this for any amount of time, and you tally up all the time you've charged when you actually were done 15, 30, or 45 minutes before your timesheet states, it would far exceed any time the company owes YOU!! IF YOU AREN'T OWED THE MONEY, DON'T ACCEPT IT! It doesn't say much for the integrity of a man who accepts something that he doesn't deserve. Also, if you think for a second you won't have an * by your name, then your just not being realistic. Yeah, the letter SAYS there will be no recourse if you accept, but anyone with half a brain knows that the company COULD make your life miserable to the point of wanting to quit, if they so choose to. Bottom Line... DO THE RIGHT THING FOLKS!!!

[Metroman]

This entire lawsuit is a result of a disgruntled employee who found a way (and a smart attorney) to screw the company. I have been here 16 years, and the company has been pretty dang easy to work for. As long as you do your job correctly, you are pretty much your own boss. Not many jobs out there provide the freedom that this one does. I hope everyone that plans on taking the money is actually owed the money. I'll bet if you've been doing this for any amount of time, and you tally up all the time you've charged when you actually were done 15, 30, or 45 minutes before your timesheet states, it would far exceed any time the company owes YOU!! IF YOU AREN'T OWED THE MONEY, DON'T ACCEPT IT! It doesn't say much for the integrity of a man who accepts something that he doesn't deserve. Also, if you think for a second you won't have an * by your name, then your just not being realistic. Yeah, the letter SAYS there will be no recourse if you accept, but anyone with half a brain knows that the company COULD make your life miserable to the point of wanting to quit, if they so choose to. Bottom Line... DO THE RIGHT THING FOLKS!!!

Well i remember when i started out at 7.00 an hour and received no overtime pay only straight pay with the promise that if i work less then 40 (wintertime)that i would get a 40hr paycheck.Sounds good till most your office quits and its cheaper to pay me no overtime and let me work 60 hours a week for 2 years till you hire someone new.Yes i received a check when they got sued (no i did not sue)and you know what i cashed it.There are many things locate companies do that are illegal.They keep doing them till they get sued.Simple as that.Another good one is companies not using a fixed start and stop point and not paying you to drive home.In most states this is illegal.So if you get a call that is 2 hours away from your house guess what, you get to eat the drive home because the call came in before 5 pm so its not "after hours".The list goes on and on.Dont get me wrong i love my job, but i will not hesitate to cash a check for money that is legally owed me."DO THE RIGHT THING FOLKS" has to be both ways.

[Metroman]

What rules are you talking about? The ones they have now or back in the day when it was always balls to the wall, and locating was just locating? The goal was to protect the plant and the client. Working off te clock was your choice and you would not get punished for doing extra just to help yourself out. Just my thoughts on all this nonsens.

What i meant by rules is whatever your company has set forth as company policy for all employees even if you dont agree with them.If they say do not work off the clock(which they all will for legal reasons) then you dont.If they say start at 7am not 6:45 because they dont want to pay you overtime,then start at 7.This also means not dragging your feet intentionally and having long contractor interactions.Hell we all have bad days.I have actually done a few of the thing you listed during my first couple years but i quickly found out its not worth it over the long haul.....Dont live the job youll burn out fast.
This is the best job ive ever had.No boss over shoulder,every job is different,pays is alot better nowadays.

[TheCableVine]

Heres how I see it. I look at it in the simplest of terms. The company hires a person and says they will give that person X amount of dollars in exchange for an hour of their time. They agree to that offer. They are now under a contractual obligation to do that work with the understanding They will receive money in exchange for that time/work. The company is under an obligation to give you that money. The company expects me to be honorable, I expect them to be honorable as well.

When a person works off the clock under threat of firing or whatever, the company is stealing money from them. When a person is not working and charges the company money for time not worked. They are also stealing from the company.

[Metroman]

Heres how I see it. I look at it in the simplest of terms. The company hires a person and says they will give that person X amount of dollars in exchange for an hour of their time. They agree to that offer. They are now under a contractual obligation to do that work with the understanding They will receive money in exchange for that time/work. The company is under an obligation to give you that money. The company expects me to be honorable, I expect them to be honorable as well.

When a person works off the clock under threat of firing or whatever, the company is stealing money from them. When a person is not working and charges the company money for time not worked. They are also stealing from the company.

Nicely put...

[sprayandpray]

Heres how I see it. I look at it in the simplest of terms. The company hires a person and says they will give that person X amount of dollars in exchange for an hour of their time. They agree to that offer. They are now under a contractual obligation to do that work with the understanding They will receive money in exchange for that time/work. The company is under an obligation to give you that money. The company expects me to be honorable, I expect them to be honorable as well.

When a person works off the clock under threat of firing or whatever, the company is stealing money from them. When a person is not working and charges the company money for time not worked. They are also stealing from the company.

Well put Steve. I know of no one who participated in the SM&P lawsuit that refused the $$. In fact the ones who were scared off by retaliation rumors really regret their choice. When someone threatens me I hit back. I will not go thru life being intimidated by some 'suit' in an office in another state. I verbally warned my Supervisor and DM that what they were requiring us to do was illegal. It was not my fault that the higher-ups ignored that advice in order to save a few dimes!
I don't know the facts of the Dycom lawsuit but I will guarantee you that some co. schill is putting out the rumor of retaliation. Remember 1 thing, if you could claim retaliation, you could get 5 to 10 times as much as the class action would bring! $$$$
Good luck!

[USIC1]

:shh:

:censored:

;)

Guess thats all I have to say...

[TBONE]

:shh:

:censored:

;)

Guess thats all I have to say...



Keep your grimey money grubbnin paws out of that kettle :bump:

[cablemagne]

Among other things I helped get a new office started for sts anywhere from 1:45 to 3:00 hrs from my house.how many times did I get called out after hours with multiple emergencies at opposite ends of the area and get called back out when I was almost back home only to hear the next day that I could not charge out all of the agreed upon time for emergencies(time from house to emergncy and back home including time at locate).I never once padded my time and only charged what I actually did.Its things like that that get these lawsuits started.I have purposly not taken my place in line with other lawsuits with other locate companies because I did nt feel they were right.I'm not so sure I can do that this time.Its things like this(along with no company loyalty or job security)that have turn me away from this business for the time being.Maybe someday some company will emerge that actually will value its good locators.I have heard that those conpanies exist but not around here.

[LadyLeatherneck]

I answer to a higher authority than any court or locating company and I have to be ethical and moral about any decision I make. (Couldn't live with myself otherwise!) Therefore, I won't steel from the company by claiming time I haven't worked, nor will I work without getting paid. I also don't stand around and gab to contractors or ho on company time, unless it is to answer a question in a professional manner. And even then I keep it short and sweet. It keeps everything on the up and up and fair to everyone.

[USIC1]

I think alot of locators are like boxers that have been hit to many times in

the ring of life...

So we all need to find something to survive and believe in...


Maybe one day a great locator will be born to save us...

:angelic:

[yahoo]

if you're looking for that person he has done come.....

[yahoo]

Quick question on this law suit. How many of you chose to route yourselves at home off the clock while watching tv just to make your life easier? I know I have worked off the clock a million times just for that reason. Also how many times have you really drug your feet all day and stopped and talked to every contractor at almost every site way longer than you should have about nothing pertaining to work. Oh and do not forget all the times you went home early and charged overtime. Just something I have been thinking about!!

i am not for sure what you are getting at.......lawsuit is a done deal....the money has been a settled issue since january....who will get it ....the lawyers or the workers ( or whatever you want to call them) my point is some one will get the money.......

[yahoo]

This entire lawsuit is a result of a disgruntled employee who found a way (and a smart attorney) to screw the company. I have been here 16 years, and the company has been pretty dang easy to work for. As long as you do your job correctly, you are pretty much your own boss. Not many jobs out there provide the freedom that this one does. I hope everyone that plans on taking the money is actually owed the money. I'll bet if you've been doing this for any amount of time, and you tally up all the time you've charged when you actually were done 15, 30, or 45 minutes before your timesheet states, it would far exceed any time the company owes YOU!! IF YOU AREN'T OWED THE MONEY, DON'T ACCEPT IT! It doesn't say much for the integrity of a man who accepts something that he doesn't deserve. Also, if you think for a second you won't have an * by your name, then your just not being realistic. Yeah, the letter SAYS there will be no recourse if you accept, but anyone with half a brain knows that the company COULD make your life miserable to the point of wanting to quit, if they so choose to. Bottom Line... DO THE RIGHT THING FOLKS!!!





totally agree with you!!!!!!!!!!!!i will accept the money and i will still be here posting years from now with the same job and the same company.....who will get this money me or the lawyers???????? some one will get the money!!

[Baltxlocator]

On the note of the recent lawsuit which i received papers on.I dont think its stealing in any way.I couldnt count how many times ppl in Balt complained about hours not being paid as overtime.How can u work 95 hours in two weeks and only get 8 hours pain as over time.So i say they owe us alot more than whats been set aside for the lawsuit.Now i no longer work for utiliquest but i liked it there for the 10 plus years i was there.But dont think i wont cash that check im more than deserving of it and more.

[scap]

all the guy's I've spoken to about it down here, cashed in.

[cablemagne]

My paperwork says the final decision will be made on July 23rd,so how come we won't get our money till October?And is there any chance the money will change by that time? Anyone got a clue?:stars:

[yahoo]

i haven't heard anything in months now but everyday i have all the class action lawsuit news coming straight to my computer......i keep checking the dycom website and there is nothing in the news.......

[cablemagne]

How do you hav this stuff sent to your computer?I am outside the loop so to speak.

[NINJA]

ok I wasn't really going to say anything on this subject again but for some stupid reason I feel compelled to throw my two cents into this mix. Yes I am one of the first hundred or so guys who signed up for this suit. This suit was actually brought up by the same lawyers who represented the cls guys and some how it came over to us. I spoke to one of the lead lawyers, my reasons were not out of greed, my reasons for joining this suit was because, I was at my uncles funeral in tampa florida, I was told that in order for me to attend I had to bring my lap top and clear the tickets in my area. Now keep in mind that my area was almost never behind and I was actually one day ahead in my area at this time. I was told by my manager that if I wanted the time off to go to the funeral, I would have to close my clear tickets and I would also have to use personal time. Keep in mind I was the most seinior guy and the highest producer the office had. I started to think back on how these guys had screwed us in the past. It was our offices unwritten policy to route ourselves after hours while routing we were clearing tickets at the same time. This was not to make our lives easier but it made the ofc. mgr. look good because of our numbers. That is what it was all about our numbers. The manager we had was not a bad guy just a bad manager.We were told to leave our radios on 24hrs a day seven days a week. When we went on vacation we were to take our computeres with us and clear our tickets.If we were sick we still had to cover our areas for emergencies and still had to use sick time. now the only compensation we got for doing this was the bonus programs. When dycom took over the bonus program was taken from us. Do I feel I did the right thing yes do I feel I am screwing anyone no because this manager screwed us first. I can not speak for all offices just the one I worked out of...........

[scap]

ok I wasn't really going to say anything on this subject again but for some stupid reason I feel compelled to throw my two cents into this mix. Yes I am one of the first hundred or so guys who signed up for this suit. This suit was actually brought up by the same lawyers who represented the cls guys and some how it came over to us. I spoke to one of the lead lawyers, my reasons were not out of greed, my reasons for joining this suit was because, I was at my uncles funeral in tampa florida, I was told that in order for me to attend I had to bring my lap top and clear the tickets in my area. Now keep in mind that my area was almost never behind and I was actually one day ahead in my area at this time. I was told by my manager that if I wanted the time off to go to the funeral, I would have to close my clear tickets and I would also have to use personal time. Keep in mind I was the most seinior guy and the highest producer the office had. I started to think back on how these guys had screwed us in the past. It was our offices unwritten policy to route ourselves after hours while routing we were clearing tickets at the same time. This was not to make our lives easier but it made the ofc. mgr. look good because of our numbers. That is what it was all about our numbers. The manager we had was not a bad guy just a bad manager.We were told to leave our radios on 24hrs a day seven days a week. When we went on vacation we were to take our computeres with us and clear our tickets.If we were sick we still had to cover our areas for emergencies and still had to use sick time. now the only compensation we got for doing this was the bonus programs. When dycom took over the bonus program was taken from us. Do I feel I did the right thing yes do I feel I am screwing anyone no because this manager screwed us first. I can not speak for all offices just the one I worked out of...........


all I can say is...WOW...bring your laptop to the funeral and clear out tickets? wtf? were you the only guy in the area?

[UULC]

I second WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!


:verymad: :stars: :breakcomp:

[yahoo]

How do you hav this stuff sent to your computer?I am outside the loop so to speak.

my homepage is google and one of the topics i can choose from is class action lawsuits which lets me click on another button that allows this to be sent straight to my email....by the way its any topic you pick but your email has to be set up to recieve it......i know that i have not fully explained this to you ....sorry i'm not good with this stuff ......ok the truth ....my wife set it for me....hahhahahhahahhehehheheheh all the class action lawsuits that are discussed in america will come up on one email everyday to me and then i look for the one that i'm interested in and delete the rest ....

[yahoo]

clear tickets at a funeral..........that's messed up dude......no respect???????? i'm feeling like i 'm going to blow a fuse...right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hate it for dycom????

[NINJA]

it was the truth, and no there was always someone including the lazy manager that could have fillied in if need be. that manager is no longer in the business but what really suprised me was the upper management had to know what was going on but the chose to ignor the problem hence the law suit

[sprayandpray]

This doesn't have anything to do with this lawsuit, but I know of a SM&P employee who's wife had a massive heart attack and after several weeks went into a coma and eventually was only living on life support. After a few more days the decision was made to disconnect the life support. This particular employee lived about 2 to 3 hours away from the Dallas hospital where his wife was - has anybody guessed what he was forced to do? Well, on the day they 'pulled the plug' , he had to complete his tickets, so they waited until late in the afternoon to disconnect her.
I will never forget this incident as long as I live.

[yahoo]

i'm sure i'll never look at texas the same again................texas would actually let that happen to someone...............messed up ...................what is our world coming too??? i would like for you to say that this is not a true story????? just don't tell me the company ?????

[sprayandpray]

I can stretch the truth with the best of them but I didn't in this case. The sad fact is, the locator still works for us and the Supervisor was promoted.

[ifinditunderground]

I hope someone would shoot me in the face if I did that to one of my employees. I would deserve it. That guys Manager should be hung.

[yahoo]

now thats.................what i'm saying......i mean really....we can't even call that bad management...i mean bad management can be corrected but that is no respect at all .......spray sorry you had to experience that?????

[bizybill]

Lets put it this way. I gave myself to this work and thought the better I did the job you would be rewarded. Well I found out that all they were concerned with was how many tkts were completed so they could bill for them. Never mind if tkts were falsified or done half a#*. Just close them. My hours at work were long, 6 days or even 7 days a week. Yes I liked o.t. But to find out the company was not paying the right hours was vulgar.

[yahoo]

welcome to the vine bizybill??????????glad to hear your frustrations...hope the best for you in the meantime....

[bizybill]

the 23rd is just around the corner. final court approval will take place

[yahoo]

i'm waiting patiently too.............

[cablemagne]

I'm waiting impatiently.

[bizybill]

Is there away to recieve some info as to the confirmation of the settlement

[yahoo]

if there is in the next few days everyone will know!!!! that is when it's supposed to be settled.....the confirmed info will come from Florida a certain newspaper is keeping close tabs on this info.....but cannot remember the name of the newspaper......

[sue me]

I used to have to go on call every two months for seven days straight.
If I was up all night with emergencies, I would still have to cover my area during the day.
How can they expect that?
Now, as far as being unpaid for overtime, I used to get calls from operators who had poor training - telling me that I had an emergency to respond to.
Knowing I only had one hour to respond made me run out to my truck and get on the road to get heading into my group's area.
Once I got the info of the ticket, I was required to see if it was actually in our area and then if there were any underground utilities that we were responsible for before making the trek.
I can't tell you how many times they were clear and didn't require a response - according to my supervisor.
Nievety meant nothing and we were scolded if we went to a clear emergency.
Sometimes two UQ locators would respond and I didn't have any reason to be there.
When I got smarter and didn't respond - as I was instructed to do,
I got nothing for answering the call and pulling the prints to check for utilities.
And then the operator would call me back two or three times to see if I got the ticket info.
These people should have gotten their act together a long time ago.
I hope they don't still treat there on-call locators like this.

[Baltxlocator]

Yes its final and payments are to be released by end of OCT.......Per phone call from BizyBill who spoke with attorney

[yahoo]

i'm surprised we haven't seen a press release or something of that nature.....??????

[bizybill]

:Anyone who wants to know info on the case . go to www.cptgroup.com. you must click on the case name on the right of the page (signorelli,et. al. vs utiliquest,llc) then it will ask you to contact by e-mail any questions.

[bizybill]

sorry , you must click on the case on the right of the page. then go with the rest

[cablemagne]

There is a phone number on the paperwork for the lawyers but I hav yet to get through to a human.It ends up putting me through to the utiliquest offic.I know they don't won't to talk to me!!!!

[cablemagne]

I tried going to the website but it asked me for a mailing ID but I don't see one on the mailing,unless it was on the envelope which is in a landfill somewhere.Did the final agreement go up or stay the same?

[cablemagne]

Talked to the lawyers wednesday and they said checks will go out Oct 15th.My birthday is the 9th and my daughters is the sixteenth,happy birthday to us.They said some peoples paperwork was not filled out correctly so if your expecting money you might want to check with them,some people will not recieve thier money.

[sprayandpray]

Word of advice, be sure and use a CPA this next year for your Income taxes. You will be required to claim all $$$ paid out, even to the attorneys. You can then deduct the attorney's as long as you itemize.

Signed - someone who just found out :bang::crying:

[USIC1]

Word of advice, be sure and use a CPA this next year for your Income taxes. You will be required to claim all $$$ paid out, even to the attorneys. You can then deduct the attorney's as long as you itemize.

Signed - someone who just found out :bang::crying:

If anyone needs any advice in that category I will arrange for Steve to forward me your initial consultation fees through him...

I only charge 15$ a minute... A few sense less than the going rate...

No monopoly money please..


:)

[yahoo]

oct is so far away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sprayandpray]

If anyone needs any advice in that category I will arrange for Steve to forward me your initial consultation fees through him...

I only charge 15$ a minute... A few sense less than the going rate...

No monopoly money please..


:)

I'm not sure I would use anyone with a "few sense less" :D

[ksm1989]

Does anyone have an update on when these checks are to be mailed out? FiberBoy wants to know

[yahoo]

i heard by a not so reliable source that oct 13 was mail out day!!!! i hope so.....

[NINJA]

Hey I just got off the phone with the lawyers they cant or wont tell me how much we are getting only the clearing house is sending out the checks on the 14th of october. If anyone wants I can supply you with the phone number to the lawyers just send me a pm and I will be glad to give it to you. :cool2:

[NINJA]

If anyone is interested I got my check today I hate the fact things happened the way they did the truth is if "My group of managers" I can only speak for my area. Did what they were supose to do in the first place this would not have happened. I am very happy because of my current situation, this will allow me to stay in my home for a couple more months. But I honestly thought it would have been a lot more. Anyway I thank God for this it could not have come at a better time......:cool2:....

[Metroman]

Word of advice, be sure and use a CPA this next year for your Income taxes. You will be required to claim all $$$ paid out, even to the attorneys. You can then deduct the attorney's as long as you itemize.

Signed - someone who just found out :bang::crying:

Why would you have to pay taxes on the money the attorneys received?Dont they have to pay taxes on that money.Oh wait thats right everyone gets taxed over and over and over and over and over.............................................. .................................................. .

[cablemagne]

get used to it.change is coming and you will have less of it in your pocket,change that is.:Titanic: