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Doug
5/22/2001
nhbnj, didn't read your posting, stopped at OSHA,I have never faced a problem I couldn't handle internaly, be it a safety issue, pay problem or so on, there is a way to approach any problem without mentioning the word OSHA, I see no benifit in it, infact the exact opposite, we now have these harnesses that will snap you in half like a twig not to mention trapping you in your bucket when all hell breaks loose, collage educated fagots showing up on projects to certify all linemen in 3 point climbing, I could go on and on, I guess what I'm getting at is if I have a beef with my brother, I take it up with my brother, I don't run to mommy, it could be as simple as a walk around a truck or you may have to roll around in the gravel but you can fix the problem with out screaming from the highest mountain, I've never seen a legit bitch disregarded, but that's just my opinion,,,,
Doug
5/22/2001
I hear ya Brett, I never had a problem with LD, in fact I think he's kind of funny, Dave either, always got along with him and always thought that was a ballsy move, we did some work for Dot05 and it seemed that there was more ego than brains, try getting basic specs and it will start an internal battle, never really figured out the whole Dot05/RCN/Eastern thing,,,,,(never wanted to)
David G.
5/22/2001
Yeah Doug, those people that want OSHA or some other government agency to answer all their problems usually have a hard time thinking for themselves. Rules may be necessary, but life is full of risk. I bet our ancestors would say, "What a bunch of silly bastards".
hawkeye
5/22/2001
TC and GV I know of a cure for poison ivy.Its called wild touch-me-not.It grows along streams and creeks.Cut off a stalk and break it at the nodules(the stalks look like thick grass reeds,the bumps are the nodules)rub this all over the affected area.cure will take place within an hour usually.Try to find a picture in a wild floral book if you dont know what it looks like coz ,its probaly not a good idea to pull plants and rub nectar from them if you dont recognize it......Voodoo Dr. Jay
THE KING
5/22/2001
Think of the men that built Hoover dam,the next
time you run into some tree'd out run.
nhbnj
5/23/2001
Thanks for the support from a few of you. Keep the emails coming. The rest of you I'll give the benfit of the doubt. You aren't getting the a clear idea of what the problem is. I tried working within the company to get issues resolved.
Training (safety or otherwise = nearly nonexistant.
Vital equipment like meters, VOMs, test sets, etc... = not working, never issued for some field techs.
Technicians are routinely put in no win situations by management. Do all your safety stuff and get all the work done on time. Some technicians are often given schedules that exceed by almost double the companies own system of maximum work load. Technicians are expected to also sell and install digital boxes during their route for commision, making repairs as needed.
Technicians are getting written up for not getting jobs done. One technician was told that he should get jobs done even if he can't a letter of permission from a landlord to drill when a tenant compained. This came along with a vebal warning from a supervisor. Tech does the job the next day without the letter. A week goes by landlord gets back from vacation and complains to the company that he did not want any holes drilled and did not sign any permission letter. Tech is written up for not following company policy.
I more than agree that some OSHA regulations are out of whack with reality. But the enviroment I was in fostered a run and staple gun style attack on installations. Early last year a new tech with an overloaded schedule fell from his ladder when it slid and broke his back. 24 years old and less than 8 months on the job. He wasn't trained right and was cutting corners to try to make his appointments on time. The company's first reaction was to find a way to blame the tech.
I'm expected to fix HUM bar problems and can't get a VOM. I've been zapped a few time but never seriously. Half the techs have 36 channel meters in our fancy two way 800 mhz digital system.
I'm in the field 7 out of every 8 weeks. All of our service technicians rotate through as dispatchers. I work near my house when I need to use a bathroom. That wasn't my beef. Someone else who works in the building everyday must have called for that.
We are also trying to get a UNION in.
Think of all the things your own employer has you sign to cover themselves. The company wants you to get all the work done but also wants to disown you if anything goes wrong. the want to say we trained him and he never let us know there was a problem with the workload. 50+ nonpay disconnects for a schedule. Try to make customer contact and collect the past due amount. Also make sure you following all safety procedures. Also take a few service calls in your area. Also give a hand to a guy who is running behind with an install. Sell in some of those digital boxes out of your stock.
Not everyday is that crazy but it does happen often enough that guys are being to asked to do the impossible. The bottome line is to get the jobs done any way you can. But if you get hurt or have anytype of mishap the company can blame you.
I'm only scratching the surface of the the problems. I did not want to lose my job or make anyone elses job harder. I want me and my coworkers to be safe and treated fairly. Not a lot to ask.
Eddy
P.S. Joe Blow glad you like my website. www.EddyRolon.com has the location of where I train if you ever feel like stopping by.
satellitepatrol
5/23/2001
so you are made at them because they made you work for your money instead of hand delivering a check to you. you need to grow up safty or lack there of is every persons own responsibility. do you ever once go faster than the speed limit in your off time, or have a drink or hold the hand rail on stairs? if your not perfect at home why should you lay all the blame on the employer.
nhbnj
5/23/2001
Because they want to punish us for and insulate themselves from problems if they occur. If they weren't selectively enforcing some safety and legal rules while ignoring others, I would not have a beef at all. If the company is not being consistent then employees don't have a chance to try and do the right thing. Missing commisions, informal word of mouth changes to policy rather any written record, serious problems are ignored by lower level supervisors for days to months to years, go higher and you are looked at as ignoring chain of command and refereed back to the person who has not fixed the problem initialy.
Like many of you I've spent many hours of overtime, worked holidays and rearranged my life to accomodate the needs of my job. Upgades, digital and cable modem rollouts were done over two and three years ago. I helped make it happen. I was loyal and spent years on an ineffectual safety commitee. I quit that safety committee when I was expected to be the point man if OSHA ever came knocking. I refused because I knew we were out of spec over two years ago. Instead of working in good faith to correct the problems, I was looked at as someone who had stop being a team player. If that was the case I would have called OSHA years ago. I never threatened to do it and did not plan on calling people who know very little about our business to tell us how to fix it. Instead of insulting or berating me tell me what you would have done. I worked in house for almost seven years was put in charges of several important projects and was considered a go to guy for handling delicate customer problems. I was begged to come for OT two days early the week my daughter was born in 1998. The field was shorthanded and I made the wrong decision of putting my job before my family for the last time. My wife was rightly upset at me. I don't believe I have been rude to anyone on this board. I'd like the same in return. I probably won't get it but at least I asked. I'm also curious at how UNION systems run differently compared to non UNION. A Comcast areas in North Jersey are probably a couple of months from trying to vote in the IBEW 827. Another reason I feel I was terminated. Best wishes to all and have a safe day and a long lunch. Eddy
XMOD
5/23/2001
Hey nhbnj, those "long lunches" couldn't have been part of your problem could they?
davekavanagh
5/23/2001
We have joined the ranks of the farmers. The equipment costs more and the prices are back to the 70's. Don't bid them cheap in your home town because you will have to live with those prices for years to come.
