cls and sm and p merger

[tammanye]

Can anyone tell how this is supposed to be a merger if sm and p gets paid for travel to training both to and from. And CLS was refused the travel pay? Is anyone else having these troubles in either company? My husband has worked 3 weeks straight (including Sundays) with no break most days are 14 hours. Last night he was taken to the E.R. with chest pains,the diagnosed him with exhaustion. When he asked is supervisor if he could take the day off to rest,he was basically told to suck it up. Today his schedule was waking up at 4 am had to make sure 25 tickets were done by 12, so he could drive 3 hours to the training. Training ends at 9 pm and he has to turn around and drive 3 more hours back home. So he can repeat the same routine until saturday (work then training) with Sunday being the last day of training. Does anyone see a problem with this or am I just over reacting? Why didnt they wait to do the traing when tickets got slow (fall and winter?) Or make a better schedule for this training without killing these guys? 4 out sixteen guys have quit this week because of the pressure. Is anyone else going through this problem? I am trying to keep my husbands spirits up and support him,but this schedule has me worried to death. He just got out of the military and is no stranger to hard and long work hours,but this is just crazy wo treats their employees like this?:hammer:

[sprayandpray]

Since we drive company vehicles for work I wonder if the NTSB or DOT has any say over us and the hours we work? It might be worth the trouble to check into this tammanye.

[big boots mcghee]

Can anyone tell how this is supposed to be a merger if sm and p gets paid for travel to training both to and from. And CLS was refused the travel pay? Is anyone else having these troubles in either company? My husband has worked 3 weeks straight (including Sundays) with no break most days are 14 hours. Last night he was taken to the E.R. with chest pains,the diagnosed him with exhaustion. When he asked is supervisor if he could take the day off to rest,he was basically told to suck it up. Today his schedule was waking up at 4 am had to make sure 25 tickets were done by 12, so he could drive 3 hours to the training. Training ends at 9 pm and he has to turn around and drive 3 more hours back home. So he can repeat the same routine until saturday (work then training) with Sunday being the last day of training. Does anyone see a problem with this or am I just over reacting? Why didnt they wait to do the traing when tickets got slow (fall and winter?) Or make a better schedule for this training without killing these guys? 4 out sixteen guys have quit this week because of the pressure. Is anyone else going through this problem? I am trying to keep my husbands spirits up and support him,but this schedule has me worried to death. He just got out of the military and is no stranger to hard and long work hours,but this is just crazy wo treats their employees like this?:hammer:

Welcome to working for the world's largest locating company!

1) SM&P employees did not get paid to drive to training. Some may have due to long distance driving in some cases, but the majority of SM&P employees did not get paid drive time.

2) If I were ever denied a day off after working three weeks straight AND medical proof that I NEEDED a day off my supervisor would need a day off to tend to his concussion.

3) I'd suggest to your husband that safety needs to come first. However he needs to adjust things so that he gets home safe would be up to him, but to be on the road that late and that much is not worth doing it unsafely, regardless how much work there is to be done.

Like I said, welcome to the world's largest locating company, one that's full of piss poor communication, dogshit planning, and mistreated slaves, err, employees. You pose a lot of the same questions we all have these last few months, and being that we're the low men on the totem pole we do not receive the actual answers. We just maintain the lifeblood that is this wonderful organization. We do this because we enjoy the work. We keep doing it for this employer because some of us actually think things will get better, despite constant evidence to the contrary. Either way, do what you gotta to keep your husband's spirits high. Heck, at the very least get him on this forum to vent. It sounds like he needs it!:thumbsup2:

[Goldenboy]

Maybe you could speak with the doctor and get a doctors excuse for the exhaustion. Just a couple days off to recoop and start all over again.

I just can't believe any supervisor wouldn't give a guy a day off after 3 weeks and all the training included.

[PowerSweep]

I would have to say I am very surprised that any supervisor would demand a locator to continue to drive after the locator says the following words, "I am exhausted and no longer feel safe behind the wheel of a vehicle."
If your husband has a notification from his doctor that he needs to take time off due to health issues, he needs to abide by what the doctor has ordered.
Any company that values their employees would see the value in giving a valuable asset a short period of time to take care of their health versus a long term health problem or death.

[AULupstate]

LAWYER UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No joke, Medical professional diagnosed exhaustion, which could leed to worse things, oh yeah, make the calls!!!!! These people think they can run their employees to almost death and get away with it because of the Like it or Leave it mentality.
Poor timing all the way around for a training endevour of this magnitude. The work keeps pooring in like it or not. The work still has to get done. The time frame for this is worthless. I see alot of OJT coming from people who were too friggin tired to learn anything at these training sessions.

[PowerSweep]

Part of the problem with things now a days are people are so quick to "Lawyer up". Companies have to spend so much money on defending themselves in litigation, they spend less on things like: salaries, benifits, morale boosting items.

Most times it takes communicating your concerns to the right people in the right way.
In this case, I would bring my concerns to the HR manager along with the documentation from my doctor.

Sometimes, a manager can get so caught up in results, that they forget the human side of this industry. Many managers like this can be shown the light with some serious conversations from their people. When this fails and you don't feel that you are getting what you need from that manager, take advantage of the open door policies that most companies have. Let that manager know that you would like to speak with their supervisor.

[USIC1]

When will everyone see your just a manpower grunt???

Why would they promise anyone a golden egg???

Its just like fast food... If we expect more this ladder doesnt go there and you need to move on....


I do it for a paycheck some freedom and for being to dumb, lazy, and old, to move on...

Like they say in the 12 step programs- "keep it simple stupid"...

[shovelhead]

Part of the problem with things now a days are people are so quick to "Lawyer up". Companies have to spend so much money on defending themselves in litigation, they spend less on things like: salaries, benifits, morale boosting items.

Most times it takes communicating your concerns to the right people in the right way.
In this case, I would bring my concerns to the HR manager along with the documentation from my doctor.

Sometimes, a manager can get so caught up in results, that they forget the human side of this industry. Many managers like this can be shown the light with some serious conversations from their people. When this fails and you don't feel that you are getting what you need from that manager, take advantage of the open door policies that most companies have. Let that manager know that you would like to speak with their supervisor.Great points friend, but once again, let's put a locators spin on things...

Under NO circumstances is any locator who is suffering from a medical diagnosis of exhaustion legally obligated to go back to work. Just get that out of your mind right now. Legally, the company has NO leg to stand on here, and they know it. When your husband is cleared to work by his doctor, he can contact his supervisor and go back.

And serious conversations with supervisors, DM's or anyone else who's job it is to drill your man into the ground like a screw, that crap isn't going to amount to a hill of beans IMHO...

The ONLY people who will be straight with you folks about this biz are the locators.

Oh, and get a lawyer on this. NOW.

[yahoo]

i don't think a lawyer will help in this matter at hand!!!!!!!!! a miracle is what you need and i'm afraid it may come in a way you least expect......rest is something i just do....no one has to tell me when that time comes ..our bodies just shut down!!!!! i call my best work buddy or buddies...and tell him i'm sorry ahead of time and take off the days necessary to recooperate....then go back to work.....this is my opinion only!!! this is what i have done in the past.....my comp. did not fire me or even write me up or anything like that...when i came back to work ,,,,,it was just """back to work"""

[USIC1]

Is this like the hot box in "A bridge to Far"???

Except ours is dodging flies in a hot porta-stinky while trying to pee...


:greenapple:

[USIC1]

Is this like the hot box in "A bridge to Far"???

Except ours is dodging flies in a hot porta-stinky while trying to pee...


:greenapple:


To much of that can really break U down and need a few days off...I spose...

[malosuenos]

Listen if he's got a Docs note the Supe can't say anything trust me, it's illegal and no locating company wants to deal with a lawsuit in this economy right now. If he's still being harassed climb the ladder........ Supe, DM, Regional, just tell him to be strong in his decision. Nobody listens, lawyer time. I'm wondering whats gonna happen when we have our startup next month with 80% current employees needing training. As if this merger wasn't enough fun!

[AULupstate]

There was no 'hot box' in 'A Bridge to Far'. It was Alec Guiness in 'Bridge Over the River Kwi'

[Dracula]

I can only hope this is a single event and that it was a supervisors stupidity, and not what this new merger is going to be like going forward from here. I keep trying to be positive about it, but seriously everything is pointing in the direction that no one that has a say about anything gives a rats ass about the locators.

[frostypeters]

Tammayne,

Powersweep is right about going up the ladder the right way. It does sound like your husband is on the bad-end of an asshat (thx shovelhead) supervisor.

If his manager is worth anything, he will make things right, however. Once he does this, if action is not immediate, you must protect yourself. Now, we all like to go straight to "I'll sue!!!" But the fact of the matter is most of the live in "right to work" states and therefore legally, there is very little we can do.

Now, heed these words...

One, make sure your husband gets some rest immediately. Do it the right way, explain AGAIN, the doctors orders. DO NOT have him go back until he is physically fit. The training will be there & we all know the work will still be there.

Two, protect yourself (and your husband) against idiot, useless managers. There are a lot of them in this business & they all think they know better. It's not hard to seperate the good ones from the bad, but bad ones can make life miserable. Your husband needs to do his job to the best of his ability, we all do, but we need to understand what is working hard & what is excessive. Most locators have a little trouble with that part. Take the time and do your homework, look up state labor laws if you have to, but if you are going to play the "legal" card you have to make sure your house is in order. It's no secret the industry will push & take everything its locators will give them without much remorse when they break, they are also acutely awhere of what defending themselves in court costs also. Which means the GOOD managers will bend over backwards to make things right when an low level subordinate makes a bad decision the makes the company liable for lawsuits. Be prepared to protect yourself & document everything, but I think you will find that the DM and/or Regional Manager can & will make things right.

[Mr Blunderbuss]

When your husband is cleared to work by his doctor, he can contact his supervisor and go back.

In which case, what may happen, because it's happened before, is that SMP could say that your position is no longer available and send you packing. They can be very vindictive in this sense.

[LadyLeatherneck]

Be careful using the "Lawyer up" plan, it can bite you in the butt, no matter what the reason or how right you are. I've seen it happen! In a "Right to Work State" an employer has the right to terminate any employee for any reason or even without a reason. And trust me, if you piss them off, they will terminate you. That's the way things are, sorry to say, but that's reality folks. I would only use that plan if I didn't care about losing my job. If you care, you need to be TOTALLY PROFESSIONAL and do your job, being careful about making sure your front porch is clean before you proceed up any ladder. My best advice is to pray about it, let him rest as much as he can, you do more than your fair share to help him get through it, make sure you have a positive attitude, and lastly don't complain about it in front of him (if he complains, just listen and be kind). I hope this will help.

[yahoo]

our state is an employment at will state..................end of discussion!!! what can we do???

[underground quester]

L.L and Yahoo:


Okay, what is the difference between a "Right to Work" state and an "employment at will" state?

Sounds like they should be worlds apart but kinda sorta reading between the lines, you both seem to be saying the legislation is very much skewed AGAINST the worker. Would I be correct?

[sprayandpray]

Right to work means you do not have to join a Union to work at a particular company nor is a company required to use union labor. There are some exceptions when you do work for the Fed. Govt.

Employed at will means the company can terminate your employment without a reason. However, they have to be careful about discrimination. In other words they cannot fire just the minorities, or the women or the Old Farts like me.

[LadyLeatherneck]

Underground you can look up Right-to-Work - Wikipedia and will give you a detailed explanation of origination, arguments for and arguments against. If nothing else, interesting reading.

At-Will Employment: a doctrine of American law that defines an employment relationship in which either party can break the relationship with no liability provided there was no express contract for a definite term governing the employment relationship and that the employer does not belong to a collective bargain (i.e. a union). Under this legal doctrine:

"any hiring is presumed to be "at will"; that is, the employer is free to discharge individuals "for good cause, or bad cause, or no cause at all," and the employee is free to quit, strike, or otherwise cease to work."

There was a situation in one At-Will Employment state where a Highway Patrol Officer was shot in the line of duty, significantly injuring him. He filed for worker's compensation and was legally terminated as part of his settlement agreement. He is now suffering and permanently injured and the state is not required to take care of him.

So, be careful not to get hurt on the job. If you do, do not file worker's compensation unless you understand that you could and probably will lose your job if you live in one of the 42 states in the US that recognizes At-Will Employment!

[AULupstate]

Hence my previous statement of hiring a lawyer still holds true. No one will look out for you or your husband but yourselves. Legal representation is so you can find out what to so for real, our input is great and all but it doesn't mean sh*t. A labor lawyer can and will help you figure out your best next step.

[AULupstate]

Sorry that would be 'DO for real' typo on my part.

[LadyLeatherneck]

No labor lawyer can change the law any any state. The employer can still terminate any employee in any of the 42 states that recognize At-Will for any or no reason, no matter how much legal representation you have. Just food for thought!

[yahoo]

ug i believe spray has said it best ...i feel with that said........we just working with no hope ....only can rely on the good Lord>>>>>

[LadyLeatherneck]

Spray "the old fart" knows exactly what he is talking about!!!!!!!!!!!! :applause::drinks:

[Chicagoman]

Yes you should get a Lawyer or at least talk to one. Some of you in this forum would give your life up for this Company. I ask you why? I truly beleive USIC/SM&P/CLS would back stab you in the back in a heart beat. I have seen NRCG Comed locator loses there jobs to keep Comed happy. The $500.00 bonus is a answer to the IBEW and to keep locator's from signing cards. But it is not working. We have a 85% turn over rate in IL. Yes. I said 85%. If you dont beleive me. and your in IL. Look at the phone list and the dates people started. Some of you need to get your head out of the sand. Because USIC is behind you ready to stab you right in the back. I pray your husband gets the help he needs and that Supervisor hangs by his balls!!!!!

[underground quester]

[QUOTE=LocatingLarry;3369]Underground you can look up Right-to-Work - Wikipedia and will give you a detailed explanation of origination, arguments for and arguments against. If nothing else, interesting reading.

At-Will Employment: a doctrine of American law that defines an employment relationship in which either party can break the relationship with no liability provided there was no express contract for a definite term governing the employment relationship and that the employer does not belong to a collective bargain (i.e. a union).

Locating Larry:

re: wikipedia Will do when I get some time.

This is scary stuff, I had no idea this kind of legislation existed in the U.S. - OF ALL PLACES.

Not to be impertinent - I would expect that kind of legislation in a 3rd world country. One that is fighting for tons of American businesses to locate there. And, in order to avoid problems, that country would introduce legislation which on the surface at least appears to be draconian.- But America... WOW... that really does surprise me!!


Out of curiosity, was it the Republicans or the Democrats who had that freekin brainstorm; that somehow seems to have gone drastically wrong?

I am curious as Canada is at a crossroads at the moment politically. We have just had about 70 years of LIBERAL rule- think democrats (with a small break in there on two occasions). We are now goverened by a Conservative agenda (think Republican) whose party thinking seems to be leaning toward a right wing Republican agenda. I can assure you most Canadians are not too enamored with the Conservatives.

[beyond help]

Underground you can look up Right-to-Work - Wikipedia and will give you a detailed explanation of origination, arguments for and arguments against. If nothing else, interesting reading.

At-Will Employment: a doctrine of American law that defines an employment relationship in which either party can break the relationship with no liability provided there was no express contract for a definite term governing the employment relationship and that the employer does not belong to a collective bargain (i.e. a union). Under this legal doctrine:

"any hiring is presumed to be "at will"; that is, the employer is free to discharge individuals "for good cause, or bad cause, or no cause at all," and the employee is free to quit, strike, or otherwise cease to work."

There was a situation in one At-Will Employment state where a Highway Patrol Officer was shot in the line of duty, significantly injuring him. He filed for worker's compensation and was legally terminated as part of his settlement agreement. He is now suffering and permanently injured and the state is not required to take care of him.

So, be careful not to get hurt on the job. If you do, do not file worker's compensation unless you understand that you could and probably will lose your job if you live in one of the 42 states in the US that recognizes At-Will Employment!

The closest thing that any of us has to a "contract" is the handbook each of us were given. We signed off that checkmark list that we had which included all rules and regulations. This by law is considered a written agreement. SO the hand book is considered a binding agreement between the employee and employer. Know this handbook well. There is a copy on the website (if your with USIC/CLS/SM&P). This is what any labor lawyer will use. If you are termed for any reason, They would have to term anyone else for a similar instance, or they can be held liable for damages.

[tammanye]

Thank you all so much for your advice,Hubby is much better now,his area harassed the big wigs and got them to get their travel partially paid. (I have a brother in law that works for sm and p so we know both sides of the fence) Hopefully the hard part is over,and the company is learning a few things. I did seek out a lawyer for advice,and basically we may have gotten a small settlement,he probably wouldn't have gotten his job back,and right now that is not an option. I think for now, all you locators need to stick together and have each others back, the higher ups listen when you collectivly complain up the ladder! And when those tickets get crazy, it's always nice to get someone to come bail you out!

[frostypeters]

Thank you all so much for your advice,Hubby is much better now,his area harassed the big wigs and got them to get their travel partially paid. (I have a brother in law that works for sm and p so we know both sides of the fence) Hopefully the hard part is over,and the company is learning a few things. I did seek out a lawyer for advice,and basically we may have gotten a small settlement,he probably wouldn't have gotten his job back,and right now that is not an option. I think for now, all you locators need to stick together and have each others back, the higher ups listen when you collectivly complain up the ladder! And when those tickets get crazy, it's always nice to get someone to come bail you out!

Did he loose his job because of this? If am sorry if he did & hope you all the best to get through it.

[tammanye]

No he did not loose his job,he suffered through without a day off until this past sunday (the 6th) I just hate to see these guys get treated so poorly in order to make someone else money (especially when they have probably never been out in the field to see what a locator goes through) I have a problem sitting idley by when I feel someone is being treated unfairly (especially my husband). But all is well now and he recieved a job offer from another locating company today,so if its a better deal he will probably take it.

[USIC1]

Well if Justice had nt been stoned by fellow members and left I know what his thoughts would have been about sticking together...

:smash:

:escape:

[sprayandpray]

Well if Justice had nt been stoned by fellow members and left I know what his thoughts would have been about sticking together...

:smash:

:escape:

I think Justice might have been "stoned" way b/4 he joined this forum:stars:

[thejoker]

Well if Justice had nt been stoned by fellow members and left I know what his thoughts would have been about sticking together...

:smash:

:escape:


If he is still not doing well and has the correct amount of time in you could check into filling FMLA family medical leave act. I used this once. It will provide protection for your job and if you meet the requirments is a usefull tool.

:drinks:

[LadyLeatherneck]

I think Justice might have been "stoned" way b/4 he joined this forum:stars:

Spray you did it again. You are always good for a laugh! You crack me up!:yahoo:

[sprayandpray]

Spray you did it again. You are always good for a laugh! You crack me up!:yahoo:

I try to keep it light - some people take life too seriously. None of us are getting out alive nor are we taking a damn thing with us.