upset about new strike development

**lisettelovebug** · 10-20-2007, 09:31 AM

So, as I've said before, Dh is on strike - STILL! Well, that's not the worst of it. He received a letter Thursday by certified mail stating that the company wants to meet with him about the alleged sabotage of his machine - in August they said that a lot of the machines were supposedly sabatoged. They all got letters and the state police even came out and talked to many of the employees. The police obviously didn't find anything to charge anybody with because that was 3 months ago and nothing has been done. Dh didn't even run that specific machine that night because he had to take the frame over to the drill press.

My husband's machine is one of those essential pieces of machinery. This machine is HUGE and does the frame. Well, this letter stated they wanted to meet with him about it. Everyone's thinking it may be a ploy to get him in there to run the machine. It's a manual machine and it took Dh 6 months of training before he could even run it. Dh still isn't proficient as the other guys even after a year on it. Even Dh's supervisor does not know how to run the machine. THere is only 2 other guys in the factory that know how to run it besides Dh, and they are in strike too.

So far Dh is the only one to receive this letter. If they tell him he can either come back or be fired for sabotage it will be a tough decision. I've already told Dh that he needs to talk to union pres and find out what happens if the comp fires him. Will the union stop paying their part of COBRA for me? I'm pregnant and due anytime here and have to have coverage. Will he still get union strike benefits ($300 a week)? We know he will have to reapply for unemployment and there may be some weeks with no money while he fights for it. So I guess dependent on how the union will support him depends on if he crosses if faced with fired or cross. I really wish he wasn't the only one who was in this position - it really sucks.

We had just gotten the whole COBRA thing straightened out and everything seemed to be going ok. We were getting credit cards payed off and actually building back up our EF fund. Why is it always like that? Things start going ok and then something else happens. Not good for the stress levels. Both me and Dh did not sleep well last night. This is really crazy. I wish I was able to work right now because I would. THat would reduce the stress a little. UUGGGHHH

Sorry this is so long - just feeling stressed and need to vent to all my frugal friends...

**lisettelovebug** · 10-20-2007, 09:38 AM

Oh.. and add to all this the fact that someone in the school district has MRSA. SCARY!!! It's not in his school but it's still scary. We found out last night and now this weekend I plan on going through the whole house and sanitizing stuff. I just hope the school district is doing what it's supposed to be doing and it doesn't spread. They said they already do what they're supposed to according to the health dept. But I wonder if that's enough. I guess we will find out - hopefully no one else will get it. I don't think they are taking it as seriously as they should, considering all the deaths from it in the recent weeks. I had just watched a news program on it not more than probably 2 days ago or so. If someone in ds's school gets it, I will be pulling my kid out for a while I can tell you that. I'll home school if that's what it comes down to.

I pray that the kid who has it ends up getting better and that no one else gets it.

**Darlene** · 10-20-2007, 09:52 AM

For those who don't know what MRSA is: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, "staph" bacteria that are resistant to many antibiotics such as methicillin. A staph infection that is reisitant to usual treatment can be a killer. We just had a student with this in a neighboring county, he's ok now and many schools are on bleach patrol this weekend in the schools to ward off the spread.

I don't know what to say to you OP except that I wish you well & hope things get back to "normal" for you all soon. Big hug.

Sorry for your troubles

**Mom23boys** · 10-20-2007, 11:44 AM

I just wanted to send you a

. I think your DH is put in a difficult decision. I hope he makes the right one for you and your family.

As for the STAPH, we have had two of DS#2's football teammates hospitalized with it. One ended up having surgery on his knee to remove some of the inflammation caused from the staph. He is doing much better. The other one was placed in the hospital this week. We keep telling DS#2 to protect any open wounds. I hope they sanitize their locker room really good!!

**Rompers1** · 10-20-2007, 12:13 PM

The whole staph thing is scary..I thought it was local to us, we've had 3 schools come down with it. Yikes.

I'm sorry about the trouble you and your family are having. I hope everything works out for you!

**leezza** · 10-20-2007, 04:09 PM

Lisette,

I would suggest that you husband takes a copy of this letter and goes to the local sheriffs/trooper office and asks them if this is legal......I don't think it is, I would suggest that he takes a police officier along to this meeting to be there as a witness. It sounds like to me that they are trying to pull a fast one.

Sorry your family is having problems.

leezza

**SewCrafty** · 10-20-2007, 07:22 PM

I just realised you are in the southern tier of NY, so am I!

So sorry to hear about your hubby and the strike, I have been there and it is a scary process.

May I ask what school has MRSA? I babysit kids that are in Whitney Point schools and my niece and nephew are in CV. TIA

**frugalfarmwife** · 10-20-2007, 07:39 PM

Bigs hugs from all of us here, know we're thinking of you. I wish I had advice but have never dealt with this kind of situation.

But, YOU TAKE CARE OF YOU!! Get your rest, know that this will all work out for the best.

kj

**Jaded** · 10-20-2007, 08:59 PM

You cannot disinfect MRSA away with anything but straight chlorine bleach. It's immune to almost everything. A girl at work got it, and almost died....from an infected pimple on her leg!

I'm sorry I can't sympathize on the strike issue, but I've already stated my views on unions. That being said, I think he should definitely talk to the President of his union before he does anything like crossing the picket lines. Once they get you to cross, I think that ends your personal strike.

**Darlene** · 10-21-2007, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by SewCrafty

I just realised you are in the southern tier of NY, so am I!

So sorry to hear about your hubby and the strike, I have been there and it is a scary process.

May I ask what school has MRSA? I babysit kids that are in Whitney Point schools and my niece and nephew are in CV. TIA

http://www.wstm.com/Global/story.asp?S=7241202&nav=2aKD That's all the info I have Dee. How the heck are you stranger?

**Missourimom** · 10-21-2007, 07:01 PM

My 16 year old daughter has had MRSA twice and is carrier. It's tough and she has to take precautions for the rest of her life. Whenever she has a cut or scratch, she has to cover it and whenever she seeks medical treatment, she has to let them know she's a carrier.

She's obviously embarrassed by it, but she shouldn't be....it isn't her fault.

**Edna_E** · 10-22-2007, 05:10 PM

Can he offer to meet with them off-site, with someone else to witness the meeting and/or record it? It seems like that would be a showing of willingness to discuss potential sabotage without breaking the picket line. Otherwise, can he offer to meet with them as soon as the strike is over - again indicating a willingness to cooperate but not to break the strike.

**baxjul** · 10-22-2007, 06:45 PM

First of all, big hugs, and I hope everything works out.

Second of all, you wouldn't believe the amount of people that are infected with MRSA. People everywhere have it, anddon't even know it. You just have to practice good hygiene, handwashing, etc...