Chip,
I appreciate the time and effort you put into keeping everyone informed. I also understand what is personally at stake.
But just a couple of points. I remember last fall receiving information that the pension would pretty much be gone if the Company filed Chapter 11 and that was a key point in getting concessions to avoid Bankruptcy. Well that did not work. So I kissed the pension good-bye in August.
I don't know why it is all of a sudden a big surprise that the pension will most likly be elimated and replaced with some other plan. By filing Chapter 11 that triggerd the Pension Guarantee Fund and all of those nasty funding rules.
Bottom line. A job that still pays 6 figures with a sh***ty pension is still better than unemployment. At least at this time. I don't know where all this united front is other than the agreement that it does make people angry, frustrated, etc..
I have not asked my husband the strike question. We have only discuseed the fact that he is better off with a job than without one. We have already come to terms with the fact that the good life once promised isn't going to happen. So we have gotton over it. Maybe you should too. Accept the things you cannont change, and change the things you can.-- that is where wisdom comes from.
So now it is back to 4,000 employees impacting the futures of the other 26,0000. Isn't it better for all 30,000 of the employees to be working and getting paid, than for a Chapter 7. What does that prove????
Do we forget to see the forest for the trees????
I know it would feel better in the short term to just burn it down. That is where anger is best played out. But once the trees are gone and you have no house, then can you say it was a good idea???
I know we can all learn how to say "would you like fries with that?"
Keep Smiling. Maintain a sense of humor. Expect the worse and Hope for the best and Maybe the cards that are dealt will fall somewhere in the middle.
I don't think Dave is out to screw the Company. I think he is doing what he can to fill the squares to get the loan and contine to operate. Those conditions were not set by Dave but by outside forces. It's Dave's job to meet the conditions to keep the Company operating. If you are pisss****sed off at anyone direct your anger at the ASTB or the Pension Fund or Bonner.... They have made the rules on how the Company will get their Money....
KJB