Did any of you that voted yes stop and think about these people??????For even one second???Did you consider that it might just not be a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for some???? OF COURSE YOU DIDN"T....you were to busy thinking about YOU!  Who cares? Where the hell is Soiux City anyway????? I'll tell ya where it is.....It's in Phoenix....and Denver....and Seattle....and Portland.....and every other damn city and state we work in.....And YOUR job is going to be NEXT! Think about this over the next FOUR YEARS....If you are still HERE!

Of corse those that voted yes didnt think about this. They figured that if they gave the big bad bully(Qwest) their way , then qwest would play nice.I DONT THINK SO.  the yes votes are nothing but shelfish people thinking about them selfs. and in doing so sealed their own fate at the same time. so dont go crying when your gone ya did it to yourself when you voted yes. see you on the bread line.

Why would you think that someone in Seattle, Portland, Boise would know what's happening in Sioux City?  Members within a city don't know what's happening between garages and central offices, between sales and design services.  We don't do a good job of communicating with one another, sharing our stories, what's happening, etc.  We don't know when a member gets seriously hurt on the job or if someone's out on benefits for an extended period of time...  You bet, there is nothing but bs happening far and near, but no one knows unless some one talks to some one else outside their cubicle, outside their office, beyond their garage.  This board is a great place to vent, but we need to have a reliable method of communicating the issues within our district, within our various bargaining units.  How many locals still have a newsletter, either on line or hardcopy, that is published on a monthly basis?  Do your area vp's report out on how many grievances and what type of infractions the company has committed, do you have a good and welfare column, latest safety concerns, training opportunities and a help wanted ad for work that needs to be done at the local with committees?  Can the state councils create their own on line newsletter so folks know what's happening within their state? when there's pending legislation at your state capitol that would impact our members for the good or the bad? when new rules and regulations are enacted at your state's dept. of labor, that they're posted there? where a tally of all the grievances filed, by type, what step they've been settled at, how many have gone forward to arbitration are posted? a place where surplusses are posted, how many took VSPP, who's looking to job swap, how many were involuntarily separated?  For those on this board who are officers at the local and state level, this is a suggestion.   Newsletters need to be published monthly and they need to convey the facts of life at your local, within the various bargaining units, within our state, and ultimately  within our district.  Each level should put one out and make it available to everyone.  Post the links on all union bulletin boards.  Hand out flyers in offices and garages.  Let's start talking.  Knowledge is power.  Unity is strength.  We're the communications workers, let's start communicating with all our members.   pnb

Management did a great job in Sioux City of swaying the vote to vote yes.  I hope all those people who constantly bitch and moan every day realize they sealed their own fate!  We had meeting on Friday and management came in to do damage control with all of the rumors about the site closing and these moronic people believed them! We were told we could apply online..yep I tried to apply for a position in Sioux City as a new hire and the Qwest web site would not let me..also we were told job service is hiring..I went thru all 746 jobs in our city and not a one matched Qwest!  I have to admit I am going to duke it out in Sioux City only because if we shut down we should be eligible to go back to school at the cost of Qwest..I voted no and I am proud..All the Sioux City ass kisseres (Safe Bet you know who they are and I am glad we are not one of them!) deserve what is coming to them..to the rest of you Qwest employees your fellow union member is supporting you..rebuild this union so in 4 years you get the pay and benefits you truly deserve!

ok who remembers the fight for MCI?? that came to a sudden, screeching stop, then low and behold, we are partnered with verizon wireless... then we get a verizon executive in the company,  now hire freeze and no word as to when it is gonna end ??   oh and i forgot that loca I&M had to inventory every damn item, pump, splice ect..... any thoughts, or did I add wrong,  that new company style accounting math gets me every time!