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Union picket keeps volunteers from working on church
Out-of-town workers help out Habitat instead
By Mary Ann Ford
mford@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL -- Bobby Page has spent the last few months studying the plans for an 11,400-square-foot addition to the College Avenue Baptist Church and was prepared to lead a group of volunteers in the construction project Friday.

Instead, he and the 28 other members of the Men On Mission group from Trussville, Ala., put a roof on a Habitat for Humanity home at 13 Richwood Trail in the Woodbury subdivision.

When the second shift of 77 Men On Mission workers arrive in the Twin Cities today, they also will work on Habitat for Humanity homes or help the Fuller Center for Housing of Central Illinois instead of their target job at College Avenue Baptist Church.

That’s more than 4,000 hours of labor the College Avenue Baptist Church counted on but won’t get.

“Because of the nature of the project, we couldn’t do it without volunteers,” said the Rev. Clark Killingsworth, pastor at the church.

That’s also why the church chose MJE Construction, which planned to use nonunion workers, to do the foundation of the building, he said.

“MJE understood our goals and desires,” Killingsworth said. “We would have paid twice as much for a union bid.”

But the use of nonunion laborers prompted a picket at the construction site, and Twin City concrete contractors refused to cross it. On Thursday, two men who identified themselves as members of the Laborers’ Local 362, held a sign saying they were “on strike.”

Local 362 business manager David Penn said at the time he wasn’t aware of a strike by the union.

On Friday, two men held signs saying “Laborers’ Local 362” and “MJE doesn’t have a signed contract with us.” One man said it was an informational picket.

Penn could not be reached for comment Friday.

The picket and its effect on concrete delivery, combined with the recent rainy weather and a later-then-planned start to the project, prevented the project from being as far along as it needed to be for Men On Mission volunteers to do their work.

Clinton Redi-Mix finally crossed the picket line late Friday morning and poured the footings. But the concrete needs to cure before the walls and floor can be poured.

It could be another week before work crews can put weight on the concrete.

That’s about the time Men On Mission will be going home.

“I certainly understand the union position,” said Bob Wood, coordinator of Men on Mission. “My position is they ought to grant leeway to a church project that’s using volunteers.

“The actions of this labor union have prevented the College Avenue Baptist Church from benefiting from 4,240 man hours of skilled labor and has denied these 106 volunteers the privilege and personal satisfaction realized by lending a helping hand,” Wood said.

Each man in the team takes a week off work and pays $175 to travel to other Southern Baptist churches to help each summer, he said. Four other teams follow — one team a week. By the end of the fifth week, the project is supposed to be nearly complete.

“We save them (the church) several hundred thousands of dollars,” Wood said.

Because the crew was here to help, Wood said some members of College Avenue Baptist Church contacted Habitat for Humanity to see if they could help with their projects.

“I’m going to take 50 men,” said Bill Waller, Habitat for Humanity construction manager.

Electricians in the group are going to wire three houses — something that will save Habitat $7,500, he said. Men On Mission also will put shingles on two Habitat houses, frame porches on others and maybe do some siding, Waller said.

Meanwhile, Killingsworth is trying to look at the situation positively.

“It’s our loss but somebody else’s gain,” he said. “The Lord is in control. It (the church addition) was God’s project from the get go. He has a plan.”

Gerald Sampson, who heads Constructors for Christ, the second group that will arrive June 13 to work on the College Avenue Baptist Church project, said his crew of 350 families will pick up where Men On Mission leave off. If that means starting from the beginning, that’s what they will do, he said.

“We anticipated having some work to do in the end,” said Killingsworth. “We didn’t know how much.”

Now, it may be even more than expected.

Reporter Greg Cima contributed to this story

Take a look
Saw horses and materials are set up by Men on Mission members and Larry Oliver, left, and Brent Goodwin outside the home Friday morning. The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY
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Reader comments on this story - 169 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

MRS. wrote on Jun 21, 2008 6:30 PM:

" Sure does sound like leroy is pretty proud of unions. What the union should have done instead of looking like an ass is say here, let some of us help (free labor) and get the job done twice as fast. That would have gone a lot longer in showing they are real and sincere for the next business that needed work done. To picket a church is pretty low no, it is lower than whale poo and that's at the bottom of the ocean. What makes this union think they can tell anyone they have to use union employees? Do they really think they would stop the church from operating or their congregation from attending church? Unions started out good but now are nothing more than thugs, highly paid thugs but thugs. Unions should be more concerned with making sure companies treat their employees right. Let wages drop, everything else will too then those that have jobs will still be doing ok and the poor might get a chance to catch up. "

mdorf4 wrote on Jun 21, 2008 12:45 PM:

" Union staged pickets are intimidating because of its history. There isn't as much violence and property damage as there used to be, but many of us remember how some escalated in the 70's & 80's. That has an effect on how we view them. Thus I find them somewhat intimidating and threatening. I worked next door to a store that was being picketed 5 years ago. Because of insurance issues, we wouldn't let the picketers park in our lot or use it as a staging area. Several union members then threatened to attempt to hurt our business by passing the word that we were "anti-union" even though we used union labor in the construction of our building. It may not be intimidating to the person doing the threatening, but it is to the people on the other side of the picket. "

mdorf4 wrote on Jun 21, 2008 12:34 PM:

" They may not threaten with violence, but the intent of the picket is not to educate, it is to "punish" the business . If you don't think that the picketers are threatening and intimidating to owners of the business and its normal customers, it is only because empathetic towards the picketers, thus non-threatened. As you can tell by the posts, most of us are non-union. We could care less if the workers are union or not, so that information is useless. Intimidation, though is not so useless. The only people who care if companies use union labor are union members and their families. "

Honest truth wrote on Jun 20, 2008 11:16 AM:

" intentionally intimidating and threatening ..... I think you are mistaken. I think that pickets are a way to educate the public and other union members. Picketing is a way in which unions can put up a red flag. I never shop at any store which a picket is on.

further more, if I was a store owner, developer, mayor, principal, or a pastor I would be embarassed to have a picket up on my property. The church just needed to fix the problem and get MJE out of there. "

mdorf4 wrote on Jun 19, 2008 2:10 PM:

" cont'd
Everyone is looking out for themselves, unions included. It is easy to blame the other side, but as both sides are people, human nature prevails. Throw in the oftentimes violent pickets throughout history, it is easy for those of us not benefitting to dislike them. Although I haven't seen or heard of any around here turning violent, the pickets are intentionally intimidating and threatening. "

mdorf4 wrote on Jun 19, 2008 2:04 PM:

" It all comes down to greed on both ends. Unions were started to protect employees from employers who took advantage of them. As with any conflict, sides tend to take completely opposite stances on things simply to oppose the other. Unions want as much as they can possibly get, just like the corporations do. Union members can blame the corporations all they want about moving production overseas because of greed, but it works both ways. I don't think it was Bloomington1's intent to prove my point, but she said
" The union members are NOT highschool drop outs. My husband is a member of that union and he (and many of his friends in the union) are college graduates, with ba's and masters. He can make a better living working through the unions than he can in his fields of study. " "

mdorf wrote on Jun 19, 2008 2:01 PM:

" It all comes down to greed on both ends. Unions were started to protect employees from employers who took advantage of them. As with any conflict, sides tend to take completely opposite stances on things simply to oppose the other. Unions want as much as they can possibly get, just like the corporations do. Union members can blame the corporations all they want about moving production overseas because of greed, but it works both ways. I don't think it was Bloomington1's intent to prove my point, but she said
" The union members are NOT highschool drop outs. My husband is a member of that union and he (and many of his friends in the union) are college graduates, with ba's and masters. He can make a better living working through the unions than he can in his fields of study. " "

leroy wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:00 AM:

" hard hat if the picket was illegal why are there no nlrb board charges?? get the facts before talking trash "

leroy wrote on Jun 17, 2008 9:32 PM:

" must still be a power outage in some areas, voice if you got hit by the storm there will be a union lineman have you back up and going in no time, where you at?? "

leroy wrote on Jun 17, 2008 9:25 PM:

" to eyes about productivity why dont non-union contractors do 10 or 15 mile streach of interstate projects!! because there not productive, thats why the union contractors do it. they are capable of doing the work "

leroy wrote on Jun 17, 2008 9:14 PM:

" cross eyed iam sure your a republican so put your faith in them and read the report on infrastructure construction put out by your dept. of labor, union kick the crap out of non-union construction projects done on time and on budget clear across the county "

illini-dog wrote on Jun 17, 2008 7:08 PM:

" To rolls eyes;I hate to ruin you and your anti american crowds day but american workers are the most productive in the world and according to the qs rankings their quality is second to none. Maybe going back to the sweatshop days would make you happy, or we could be slaves like they are in your favorite country china. Honestly it's people like you with your attitude that help the unions and true americans realize their is a cause. Thanks for contributing to the cause. "

leroy wrote on Jun 17, 2008 4:57 PM:

" eyes remember back when we thought china "wouldnt be a issue any longer" its not the unions, people in my union that cant do the work get fired. maybe your talking about the teachers, how ever were talking about the construction industry completly differant!! "

leroy wrote on Jun 17, 2008 4:46 PM:

" mother jones said 'mourn for the dead and fight like hell for the living" voice of reason you should start your reading with her,if you can cut her down you must be a real piece of work!! "

leroy wrote on Jun 17, 2008 4:39 PM:

" smart developers use union trades so there project wil be done on time and budget.smart contractors are union so they cant get all the manpower they want with a phone call,when the job is complete they cut a check and go there seprate ways. mean while your still interviewing the non-unoin "craftsmen" "

leroy wrote on Jun 17, 2008 4:30 PM:

" they stll serve the same purpose today,and you hire who ever you want,you will get just what you pay for. "

*rolls eyes* wrote on Jun 17, 2008 1:59 PM:

" While at one time they served a purpose. . . unions today are a horrible drag on this country's productivity. They protect overpaid, underskilled workers who do shoddy work. I NEVER hire union workers. Fortunately, the global economy will kill the unions off completely over the next 25 years or so, and it won't be an issue any longer. "

leroy wrote on Jun 16, 2008 8:56 PM:

" my sister is a doctor she will have her student loans paid off when shes fifty, but thats how she chose to make a living ,no union there but she will be paying dues for quite some time.I choose to pay union dues because iam a member there just like members of the country club pay dues,elks club, eagles club etc. hell i bet some of you pay dues to shop at a sams,what about the farm bural. dues collecting goons every where huh. "

leroy wrote on Jun 16, 2008 8:37 PM:

" voice of reason ,I shop at shuncks also because it was built union and there employees are all union, and they dont have discount cards. you may be thinking of krogers there employees are union also,then agin maybe your thinking of jewel they are union too, gee where the hell are you going to shop now! i think you guys are onto something here .QUIT BUYING FROM ALL UNION SHOPS AND SEE WHERE YOU END UP AT. OH WELL ENOUGH OF THAT LETS GET BACK TO YOUR GREAT EDUCATION,IAM SURE YOU PAY SOME GOON FOR THAT DID YOU "

leroy wrote on Jun 16, 2008 8:27 PM:

" big red why are you not still living in the great state of texas, where the working man is so well off, you just keep right on working for nothing but the pride of being non-union and see where that gets you when you retire or will you be able to retire with dignity and pride along with a defined pension not a 401 k, and insurance , iam betting not. BUT I WILL!! GOD BLESS UNIONS!! "

leroy wrote on Jun 16, 2008 6:46 PM:

" voice of reason speaking of being brain washed whos been perform the work on you "

leroy wrote on Jun 16, 2008 6:44 PM:

" voice of reason; as highly educated as you must be you should take a litttle of your reading time and a little about how true americans gave there lives to the labor movement. how there were killed by you corperate goons that were to greedy to pay an honest wage for a honest days work!!and yes in deed the labor is responsable for you being able to go to a church on sunday and not to work. look in to wise ass, I bet some of your kin folk worked in sub-standard sweet shops so you could become this great republican you think you are!! GOD BLESS UNIONS !!!!!!! "

c.a.t.s. wrote on Jun 16, 2008 2:38 PM:

" that a boy LEROY seems she has nothing to say to that "

leroy wrote on Jun 16, 2008 7:42 AM:

" when people are dropping 10% of there income in the platter,union members are paying 50% more then non-union construction workers are paying to there church "

leroy wrote on Jun 16, 2008 7:38 AM:

" voice of reason2 do you know all the school teachers,police,and firefighters are all union members??? if they all made 10$ per hour iam sure you would feel better about it. "

B wrote on Jun 15, 2008 8:29 AM:

" You can talk all you want about how its a church and Volunteer help, bottom line its a Building, the church is the group of people that use a building.
I'm sorry but its a building plain and simple, its our right to strike against a contracter that pays sub standard wages and doesn't provide benifits for his workers.
I wonder if the elders of this churh think its ok for the familys of the worker of MJE to not have insurance, or have to draw food stamps , because of there sub standard wages.
But I guess if you can get something built for 1/2 the price then thats OK.
Shame on them I SAY!!!.....B..... "

Ladonna wrote on Jun 14, 2008 7:17 AM:

" To: Voice of Reason 2... You are about the most Un-American sounding person I think I have ever come across except for maybe Mrs. Obama. Wow, you only buy foreign made vehicles and shop at Walmart, that's a true American for ya. Your quote "American made products are mostly poorly made and much more exspensive." Have you forgotten already all the recalls on products from China with Lead in them that is harming (and probably killing our children). Have you not heard about the tainted tomatoes, probably from Mexico? Do you really think Walmart treats and pays their employees what they are worth and not to mention the non-existance of benefits? "

illini-dog wrote on Jun 13, 2008 4:20 PM:

" Voice of reason 2;Do you think getting a union card is that easy?Just apply like a credit card? 4 year apprentices would love to hear your non sense.I see you still don't get it but i will try to help you understand...whoever gets the winning bid for the job pays the employee their wage so if a non union comp. gets the job then the owner pockets the majority of it and gives the crumbs to his employees.You would be shocked to learn the cost of the job is not far off between the 2 but people like you could never understand that.I would complement your mentality but it is beyond priceless.LOL. "

illini-dog wrote on Jun 13, 2008 4:10 PM:

" Voice of reason 2; If you are a stockholder of wal-mart then you would know they never had a made in america ''thing'' and the reason they quit running that slogan was because the truth came out and 95% of their stuff is made in china.Do you think that all those cost's for retirees at gm are from the union?You keep proving you have no clue, just rants.Did the union tell g.m to keep making gas guzzlers while toyota was making better fuel effct. vehicles? Less than 13% of the jobs in the u.s are union and your trying to tell me wal-mart was hurt by this fact? LOL your funny and quite entertaining, I may drop cable for you so please hurry back with some more enlightenment. "

Voice of Reason2 wrote on Jun 13, 2008 8:30 AM:

" That's right Illinidog and Dutch: If the prevailing wage is $15 an hour and that's what companies can afford to pay your goons, get your buddies together and picket (even at churches) to get $30 and full benefits. Then, you can put the company out of business and blame someone else. Ah the union mentality - Priceless. "

Voice of Reason2 wrote on Jun 13, 2008 8:25 AM:

" To leoreece: LOL Family? As long as you toe the line and spout the union propaganda you're 'family'. I don't need to be a robot or be brainwashed to be part of a 'family'. I think 'cult' is another word for your 'family'. Getting into a union is not exactly rocket science so why would people be jealous? That is just too funny and a great illustration of the union mentality that makes people laugh. "

Voice of Reason2 wrote on Jun 13, 2008 8:20 AM:

" TO Illini-Dog: If you would read my post, or have someone read it to you, you would see that I was quoting a reliable source on those figures. They were not my numbers, they were Business Week's. Yea, you probably know more than them. Unions drove Wal-Mart to China because American Union made products cost too much due to the cost of Union 'labor'. Do the comparison and learn. Denial is not just a river in Egypt. The Made in the USA thing Wal-Mart did a few years ago nearly killed them. I’m a Wal-Mart stockholder and I know the facts. American made products are mostly poorly made and much more expensive. Again look at American cars. Junk in 5 years with no resale value. "

illini-dog wrote on Jun 12, 2008 10:36 PM:

" To dutch; It should be 2goons =30/hr each since they are union and not the non union wage of 15 apiece. "

illini-dog wrote on Jun 12, 2008 10:31 PM:

" To leoreese; Yes it's obvious that they are jealous and envious of what the union has gotten it's members otherwise why would someone want to see peoples wages and benefits lowered and not think it will effect them. I guess we should wish State Farm sends it's work down to mexico or illegal aliens take over the construction jobs so we are all taking a pay cut but that would make us just as bad as some of these people are and makes no sense . "

Dutch wrote on Jun 12, 2008 8:27 PM:

" 2 “Laborers’ Local 362” Signs = $5

2 "on strike" signs = $5

2 Goons = $15 / hour (each)


Negative Publicity for Local 362 picketing a church construction project = PRICELESS! "

leoreece wrote on Jun 12, 2008 8:17 PM:

" Big Red, your just jelous at not being included in that great family. Too bad for you, Good for me. Think what you want I know the truth. "

Big Red wrote on Jun 12, 2008 6:39 PM:

" leoreece My life is good cause local 362 couldnt organize us. If you ask MRS Blagoyevich? if her husband is doing a good job she will say yes, but millions in Illinois know he sucks. If you are in the Penn or Manual family then you are blind to reality. Ross would stab his brother in the back to advance his union. I know cause I was there. How many times have you seen someone do something wrong and the family and neighbors say he was so nice.
Honest truth- unions are unions regardless of whether they are construction or auto industry. Why dont you tell that to the laborers who tried to organize Auto suppliers. Voice of Reason 2 I would vote for you if you ran for President of the US. You Rock. "

illini-dog wrote on Jun 12, 2008 4:28 PM:

" Voice of reason 2;You have no clue how much the cost of labor is that goes into a vehicle .Using your logic then a car made in a non union plant down south should be cheaper than one made in a union shop right? Please educate yourself before you spout off this nonsense. "

illini-dog wrote on Jun 12, 2008 4:22 PM:

" Voice to reason2 ; You are so out of touch where to begin. GM's last contract had retirees paying for some of their benifits so don't believe everything you read and with union benefits i know the majority of members have degrees so your nonsense of being uneducated just shows who is the dumb one. Again the majority of these companies that move to mexico and china are making millions in profit and if your not smart enough to see who is the greedy one then you are beyond help. Next i suppose you will tell us how unions drove wal-mart to china too with your idiotic thinking . Do a little research and see if the declining middle class and union membership have anything in common and get back with us so we can enjoy more of your nonsense. "

Honest truth wrote on Jun 12, 2008 4:17 PM:

" Voice of Reason2, Rush Limbaugh, or what ever you go by. I think your missing the boat. This blog is regarding construction trades and MJE, not the auto industry. "

Voice of Reason2 wrote on Jun 12, 2008 12:37 PM:

" To bnrunning: Articles in both Business Week and Edmunds.com state that GM's global market share has been declining the past 15 years. Toyota now outsells them globally. Edmunds goes on to state that with the huge cost in oil prices that they predict GM's share will plunge. Not sure where you get your figures from, but that’s what those sources say. I would tend to believe those sources over union rhetoric. BW also states that GM has a $1,600 per AXEL legacy cost built into each car they sell. This $3,200 PER VEHICLE goes to just paying retiree benefits. And you are telling me they are going to compete globally with that noose around their neck? You have got to be kidding.
Labor Unions had their time, now they are just counter productive to business initiation and growth.
If I only had a high school degree I would want someone fighting to get me 70K a year for sticking a bolt in a hole too. I understand why people feel it's easier to join an union instead of working to get an education that qualify them for the 70k without having to carry around a little club card. "

bnrunning wrote on Jun 12, 2008 12:05 PM:

" Voice of Reason - you obviously have nothing nice to say about unions. However, I can take issue with your statement that GM is losing market share and can't compete globally. This is simply not true; while GM is struggling in the U.S. they are gaining market share globally, specifically in China and the Asian rim countries. You argue that unions are to blame for the automakers' woes; I posit that they are struggling because they are not being innovative in the development of alternative power vehicles. Toyota and Honda beat them to the hybrid punch and they killed the electric car in the 1990s.

In your arguments you tend to simplify a very complex situation. The truth is unions have been both very good and very bad. The worldwide economy will hopefully force us to adjust to realities while still maintaining a strong union presence. "

Voice of Reason2 wrote on Jun 12, 2008 10:34 AM:

" To Stevens: And if the labor unions keep you brainwashed you can find your grandchildren speaking Spanish or Japanese because that’s were all the jobs will be. Unless you can unionize McDonalds and get paid 50K a year with full benefits for serving french fries. But then McD's would have to charge $7.50 for a Big Mac which would put them out of business. Sound familiar? It's what's happened to the American auto industry.

American auto industry can’t afford to build cars with any quality materials in them because of the cost of labor and supporting a bunch of union retirees. Over 30% of an American car cost goes to these people. Over 30%! How can an industry survive and compete globally like that? GM has proved it can’t, and is losing market share every year.

Your ‘facts’ are union propaganda. My wages have done quite well in the last 25 years. This is due to my value to the company and my work ethic, not because I carry a little card that allows me to extort things from my employer.

You do sound like a good little robot though. "

stevens wrote on Jun 12, 2008 9:50 AM:

" Voice of Reason2???

You continue to ignore the facts, if you think the "free market" allows your wages to keep up you are wrong, any economist will tell you working peoples wages have not kept up with the great wealth of the top two to five percent of America in the last twenty five years.

One of the main reason's sited by both sides is the decline in union membership.

If corporations can keep workers thinking such as yourself, you will find your grandchildren owing "The Company Store" "

Voice of Reason2 wrote on Jun 12, 2008 7:52 AM:

" To Stevens: Look up ‘brainwashed’ and take heed. I do not, nor will I ever, belong to a union for a couple of reasons. 1) I qualify for my job because I’m educated and skilled, not because I carry a little club card. The only little club card I need to carry gets me a discount at Schnuck’s. 2) I make what I make because I provide value to my company, not because my buddies and I will picket if I don’t get what I want. 3) I do what others cannot; I don’t get $50 and hour to wire a light socket like we did in high school shop class. 3) It’s not intelligent to force companies to pay for things the market will not bear and force them out of business (See the Automotive Industry). Where will all the little union club members work when you force all companies to Mexico or out of business entirely? I guess you’ll just blame things on Bush or whoever the President is at the time instead of the image in the mirror. Good luck. "

Voice of Reason2 wrote on Jun 12, 2008 7:38 AM:

" To Illini-Dog: I guess it's being a 'true American' to force companies to pay under qualified workers to sit around and do nothing because they belong to a club huh? They had people at MMMA sitting around playing cards because they had nothing to do but couldn't be sent home because of forced labor levels by the union. That's your version of being American huh? And you wonder why car companies are going bankrupt? Hmmmmm Gee that's a tough one. How about getting skills and education that qualify you to earn what you want to make and letting the market forces take care of the rest? Gee that’s un-American? You need to go back and see what the union thinks of that so you can tell me what they want you to say. Robot. "

The Peanut Gallery wrote on Jun 12, 2008 6:43 AM:

" To cub fan - bud man

ANOTHER slick trick. You obviously have the ability to redact a previous post, an ability which none of the rest of us have. HMMMMMMMMMMMM. "

stevens wrote on Jun 11, 2008 11:50 PM:

" Big Red, I am sorry your friend betrayed you, the fact is, union is our family also, we believe in a fair share even if we have to fight for it, you and all other workers have benefited in one way or another, your questions about greed and companies moving out of the U.S. have been answered several times. You choose not to address the facts and continue as if you have read nothing

If anyone in any union acted in any manor as the things some of you accuse union thugs of, they would be in big trouble, the unions in this country are watched very closely by our government so I would not worry to much about thugs.

As I said before, working men and women only have power in unity and as long as America is free, we will stand and fight for the rights of working people in our country and around the world. "

leoreece wrote on Jun 11, 2008 10:36 PM:

" I think people who put down unions have a misunderstanding of what they do.
They provide safety equipment for the workers, a pay scale that a family can actually live on, benefits, people to make sure they get jobs. Non of you have a right to put down any Penn or Ross. I am a member of that family and I tell you what they are all good hard working people. Most of you need to look at fixing your own lives before you start in on someone elses. "

illini-dog wrote on Jun 11, 2008 10:17 PM:

" To hardhatguy. Just being on someones property could be considered illegal if they did not want you there so it doesn't matter what a sign says. I may be wrong here but i think the whole point was to let people know that jme was non-union and doing the work there. "

illini-dog wrote on Jun 11, 2008 10:10 PM:

" To big red; That does not sound ethical to me either. For one if the benefits of the union are not better than what you have then their is no selling point and you should never lie to try and organize. I do know for a fact your tax dollars are going to corporations for lawyers to just fight off unions so it's a uphill battle to begin with. Maybe someday i will see a person quit a union job and take a non-union job for less pay and benefits since according to you guys that sounds like the best jobs out there huh?Like i said earlier if you guys are happy being an at will employee then i wish you well and good luck. "

hardhatguy wrote on Jun 11, 2008 8:31 PM:

" To xnadar.....your question as to why they held "ON STRIKE" signs is a good one. The use of those signs is ILLEGAL when there is no actual strike. Its unfortunately just part of a "misinformational" picket. So please tell me illini-dog and stevens and others, why would the union resort to illegal tactics if this picket was truely on the up an up. "

Big Red wrote on Jun 11, 2008 7:52 PM:

" To all, Heres a thought to resolve this issue and show good faith to the community. David and John Penn resign and take the 362 leadership with you. Promote up and comers in the union to leadership. Not Ross Manual he's an idiot. "

Big Red wrote on Jun 11, 2008 7:42 PM:

" Stevens- If they truly had an undeniable love for America they woyuld not be so greedy and quit chasing good companies out of the US due to costs. My best friend betrayed me because of a union. Read my post to Illinidog. Does that sound ethical. "

Big Red wrote on Jun 11, 2008 7:37 PM:

" IlliniDog- The factory I worked at in Texas. The UAW was trying to organize us. I was interested. Two things bothered me and I would like to know your opinon on them. First when I went to the organizing meeting with other members in the very early stages, we were told "tell them anything they want to here, we'll even wine and dine them, just get them to sign a card". Second when they did not get enough signatures they had guys going up to the Mexican/Latino workers and handed them union cards and told them they needed to sign them to keep up their insurance. IlliniDog does this sound like an ethical way to do things? Bottom line is unions are a business people are getting rich from them at your expense. "

illini-dog wrote on Jun 11, 2008 3:39 PM:

" TO uniongoon; It's obvious that most of these people are envious of what the union has done for it's members but also sad that they could have the same things if they are willing to fight for them. The misconceptions on here are unreal like the tale that union dues go to democrat canidates when it is against the law to do that. The PAC money that they send to politicians is all voluntary and you don't have to buy one if you don't want to so no one is forced to give money to a canidate unless they want too. Corporations give 10 times more money to canidates than unions but you don't hear anything about that. "

xnader wrote on Jun 11, 2008 3:26 PM:

" Why do these unions write STRIKE on their signs???? If they are on strike, then they did not want the job for those wages. They need to start writing on their signs why they are picketing, then it might occur to them what they are doing there in the first place. In this case.........Being stupid!!!!!! "

stevens wrote on Jun 11, 2008 2:39 PM:

" I am no longer amazed at the fact that the union haters always end this conversation by getting hateful and calling people they don't know fools, ignorant or other names.

I have seen some intelligent comments today and you don't respond to them, I have read comments regarding the millions of hours union members donate to the community, millions of dollars for food banks, the training and the undenible love for America, the middle class is being pushed to the end and if you think you can stand alone, I wish you luck "

uniongoon wrote on Jun 11, 2008 2:09 PM:

" chickenman: A church is just a building. God's house is within the believer. Your home is not a commercial enterprise, it wouldn't be picketed. The picket is serving it purpose, a lot of people now know that MJE is a nonunion contractor and has no contract with the local unions. My wish is that everyone who works in the construction field could have the opportunities and the good life my union has afforded me. I bear no animosity towards nonunion workers, I want them to join my union and have a better life. A lot seem to have bought into the myth of self-reliance. Its a myth because noone has ever done everything for themselves. From the time you are born, others have fed, clothed, educated, and cared for you until you go out into the real world. In the real world you make use of your connections, family friends contacts etc, to make it. My contacts, friends, and family are in the union, we are just ordinary people who want to make a difference in our community-not misguided fools. "

bloomington1 wrote on Jun 11, 2008 2:07 PM:

" Chicken man, you're incorrect - YOU don't supply osha training and the government doesn't supply all OSHA training.

How many times has 'the government' come to your workplace to provide an education to you and your coworkers for the federal safety standards?
I'm willing to bet my left foot the answer there is NEVER.

Businesses are supplied with the OSHA regulations, and are supposed to remain complaint with those regulations. They are not, in any circumstance, required to teach their workforce each of those regulations.

You're response tells me that you don't really know what your talking about. I really recommend that you learn about the topic before you respond. I'm sure people would take more stock in what you write if it made sense. "

bloomington wrote on Jun 11, 2008 1:09 PM:

" Continued
They're also responsible for the good works that happen in the community. Not things they brag about, or televise.
Call the post office and ask who was there to do the loading of the boxes and boxes of food that they collected for their food drive. This was done on a Saturday, by the local 362 members with no pay. Just because the men, women, and their families wanted to help.
Call the local Salvation Army and ask them who's there to help each year with the preparing and delivering of food baskets.
Stop by the Special Olympics program on Father's Day and talk to the voluteers. You'll be amazed by how many of them are part of the local 362.
The Local 362 members have done everything from charity carwashes, to the building of wheel chair ramps for the disabled, to providing vollunteer labor to the Normal theatre.
Yup, I just realized reading the last of what I typed that the Local 362, that some of you are criticizing is full of awful people.
I am very proud of the Union Members (my husband included) and their leadership. "

airwren wrote on Jun 11, 2008 12:36 PM:

" Yet another reason why a good many Union workers are misguided fools. It is my sincere hope that in the ever changing global marketplace that these folks continue to picket themselves right to the unemployment line. "

chickenman wrote on Jun 11, 2008 12:35 PM:

" To uniongoon;
If this is your reasoning and you picket God's house, I would expect that you will be at my house next.
To bloomington 1;
The federal goverment supplies OSHA training therefore "I" supply OSHA training along with all the other taxpayers in this country. "

bloomington1 wrote on Jun 11, 2008 12:20 PM:

" Continued
They're also responsible for the good works that happen in the community. Not things they brag about, or televise.
Call the post office and ask who was there to do the loading of the boxes and boxes of food that they collected for their food drive. This was done on a Saturday, by the local 362 members with no pay. Just because the men, women, and their families wanted to help.
Call the local Salvation Army and ask them who's there to help each year with the preparing and delivering of food baskets.
Stop by the Special Olympics program on Father's Day and talk to the voluteers. You'll be amazed by how many of them are part of the local 362.
The Local 362 members have done everything from charity carwashes, to the building of wheel chair ramps for the disabled, to providing vollunteer labor to the Normal theatre.
Yup, I just realized reading the last of what I typed that the Local 362, that some of you are criticizing is full of awful people.
I am very proud of the Union Members (my husband included) and their leadership. "

uniongoon wrote on Jun 11, 2008 12:13 PM:

" As many have pointed out, the picket was informational in nature and against a local non-union contractor MJE. It was not against the church in question. It is unfortunate that Men On Mission didn't get to help this church as planned but great that they were able to contribute to Habitat for Humanity which is also worthy. As for the union in question Laborer's 362 was within its right to picket MJE. A lot of people are aghast that the site chosen was a church, to put it bluntly, this is the site where the non union contractor was working. It would serve no purpose to picket them where they aren't working. I applaud the picketers and their leadership for exercising their rights when it would be easier to say we dare not picket at a church site because it wouldn't look right. This is exactly what the nonunion contractors hope will happen and they gain market share and expand into doing work that traditionally hasn't been theirs. "

bloomington1 wrote on Jun 11, 2008 12:08 PM:

" Continued -
2) Local 362 provides OSHA training to its members, at no cost. Every man and woman deserves to have a safe work enviroment and this training benefits both members and the companies for whom they work.
3) Local 362 provides job training for new members. This allows local contractors and construction companies to have a trained work force at a the drop of a hat.
4) Local 362 leadership bargains to the best of its ability to ensure that their members are paid a fair wage. Members don't work in nice safe buildings, they do back breaking, sometimes dangerous work. Frankly, I don't believe they're paid enough. Continued "

bloomington1 wrote on Jun 11, 2008 11:54 AM:

" Did any of you actually read the article? The union was not picketing the church, they were picketing a non-union company.

Let me tell you a little bit about the union members and leadership you were criticizing.

1) The union members are NOT highschool drop outs. My husband is a member of that union and he (and many of his friends in the union) are college graduates, with ba's and masters. He can make a better living working through the unions than he can in his fields of study.
For those few who are less educated, does it mean that they're not worthing of a decent wage? Does it mean they are worth less? No, it simply means that they didn't finish high school. Nothing more, nothing less. They are still people with families who are worthy of a good and safe employment. Continued "

Stevens wrote on Jun 11, 2008 11:45 AM:

" The unions only want a fair share of the wealth created in America for working men and women.

The top earners in our country averaged fifteen too fifty percent increases in salary last year while the worker averaged about 3%, now if you can tell me upper management should get even ten percent of $500,000.00 while you get 3% of forty thousand then you have been brain washed an the people lost all common since.

Union workers are highly skilled, receive constant training and love America, if you want to down that, you have the right. "

Stevens wrote on Jun 11, 2008 11:36 AM:

" This has been a very interesting conversation, both the pro and con's, if we are ever to understand a different persons position we must discuss things in a civil manner.

Times have changed and if anyone thinks you can operate a backhoe without on the job and or apprentice training you are mistaken.

Even modern day laborers must have many skills such as knowing how to sit up a laser, shoot grade, learn CPR to help save a life and many other skills.

The point about CEO package is the fact they take away so much money that should go to the stock holder a thus to the economy.

Last night I read in the Wall Street Journal one CEO has a contract that his company shall pay his estate 17 million dollars after hid death so he won't compete with them, this is not isilated you are being cheated everyday. "

illini-dog wrote on Jun 11, 2008 11:31 AM:

" To voice of reason 2; You sound like a real american. Buy foreign vehicles and shop at wal-mart then you fly the american flag outside your home and ''fool'' everyone into believing your a true american. Yes i'm sure you have everyone fooled even yourself. "

Dave wrote on Jun 11, 2008 10:30 AM:

" Companies moved factories to Mexico and other foreign countrys so they could make more profit, not because they wanted to sell their products for lower prices.
If you believe CEO's and large shareholders (80% of stock is owned by 20% of the people) should make the money while workers live in poverty while prices for those products mushroom in America, then I guess you're happy.
If you enjoy seeing men and women on public aid who used to have nice paying jobs that moved to a foreign country, then you must be happy.
If you see all this as eventually catching up with everyone economically then you might be upset like a lot of us are. "

Dave wrote on Jun 11, 2008 10:23 AM:

" I'm pro union having worked in one for several years.
There is so much misinformation about unions posted in this thread.
We're not thugs. We have children and grandchildren. We go to church, we shop, buy cars and houses, go on vacations, treat our neighbors right and do a lot of giving.
We built the Baby Fold when they moved to the old Solders and Sailors home. We also volunteered our labor to build the soup kitchen at 2nd Pres. We've built park pavilions, donated labor to churches and remodeled houses for the elderly, all free.
I don't get the hatred of The other Dave and others for unions. They need to let God take all that bitterness away and begin to enjoy life. "

Voice of Reason2 wrote on Jun 11, 2008 9:42 AM:

" To The Cats: My cars was completely assembled and made in Germany. No American labor unions involved. I buy non-union whenever possible simply because I'm tired of them forcing their will on companies. The rest of your post was ignored. "

The Cats wrote on Jun 10, 2008 11:16 PM:

" To Shep...did the company not negotiate and sign agreements with the unions? Did the union not have the right to decertify? The answer to both questions is yes. The company moved the jobs not the union. Why the hatred for all unions and all union employees? BTW I own a company with a union contract. I decide what I can afford and we negotiate. I sell my employees on my position and they are smart enough to believe it when I say that is all we can afford. Unions work...like it or not. They just don't contribute to the republican party so they are bashed for it. They represent the working man...not the republicans. "

The Cats wrote on Jun 10, 2008 11:11 PM:

" To MRS...so we should depend on the benevolence of corporations to determine wages and benefits? Do you really believe that? Labor unions were formed to help improve working conditions and pay and benefits because the corporations were founded solely to maximize profits. Companies negotiate with the unions. They sign contracts. If you think the 4employees are overpaid you should blame management...would you work for less than you make by choice. We all try to maximize our earnings. Not even the Federal Government believes in your position...minimum wage...remember that concept? To do as all you union bashers want would destroy our economy by disrupting the spending power of millions of workers (union and non-union alike) If you don't think salaries trickle upward you have no idea about basic economics. "

The Cats wrote on Jun 10, 2008 11:02 PM:

" To Voice...another unreasonable and ill thought out post. You buy foreign cars because of American labor unions? How silly. Most of them are made in the USA by union American workers. What else don't you buy because it was made by a person working in a labor union? The steel that frames your building and highway bridges is made in a union shop...do you boycott those as well? Did the automakers negotiate wages and benefits with the unions or was that just some story spun by the liberal media? Did the union members poorly design cars or chronically mis-time the market...no that would be management. It seems you have an irrational hatred of an entire group of people...are you truly that narrow minded? I know, from your other posts, that you are a radical conservative (that explains your irrational hatred of union employees) but is there something else? What a foolish post...I expected at least some rational basis for your blanket statements and was disappointed. "

illini-dog wrote on Jun 10, 2008 10:56 PM:

" To the other dave; I know some of the best electricians and other skilled labor that have come out of the union. What you call extortion is bargaining and some things are worth fighting for or you can just take what the company makes you take. In over 30 years in the union i never seen one person quit and go non-union but i seen alot of people come from non-union jobs to take union jobs and it's obvious why.If your happy with your job then good luck to you and i wish you well but i can't bad mouth the union after all they have gotten me especially the pension i'm enjoying now. Yes they do things i don't agree with but that's true with everything. "

The Cats wrote on Jun 10, 2008 10:54 PM:

" To "the other Dave" condemning a whole group of people just confirms what we have all known about you all along. What a foolish concept. A union electrician (or any other union member) is unskilled? If you want to convince others your positions have merit you need to think and write with some degree of intelligence. "

The other Dave wrote on Jun 10, 2008 10:25 PM:

" To Illini-Dog, Yes I do think all union people are unskilled. I come from a union family. I have seen first hand hand unions extort money from their employers. If you had skills, you could easily change employers to advance yourself instead of threatening harm to your employer (that is what the thread of a strike is after all). "

illini-dog wrote on Jun 10, 2008 5:35 PM:

" To the other dave; Do you honestly think all union workers are unskilled?They don't have to get a trade or skill to market themselves because they already have one and their union has gotten them a wage to where they don't have to obviously. I personally don't agree with picketing the lords house and don't agree with it but i can see the big picture. If they are not getting the work then they have to lower their bid next time or pick their battles somewhere else. "

illini-dog wrote on Jun 10, 2008 4:51 PM:

" To Stevens; You are wasting your time on here.Most of these fools think union workers are lazy but have never stepped foot in a factory to see them working harder then they ever will. They will gladly by from wal-mart and be dumb enough to blame unions because wal-mart employees are on medicaid with no paid vacations. When they think that unions drove companies to china and mexico when the majority of them were making millions in profit they never will get it but if you ask them how they feel about millions of employees getting thier ins. thru the state or from medicaid they don't like that either. If you think the wal-mart business plan is not coming your way then you are in for a rude awaking. "

fiveducks wrote on Jun 10, 2008 4:02 PM:

" Maybe they should have asked for union worker volunteers and found a concrete company to supply the concrete at cost....and why is a church so special anyway? "

Luther Billis wrote on Jun 10, 2008 3:15 PM:

" The volunteers did more actual good working on homes and for a non-profit housing agency than putting an addition onto a multi-million dollar church. "

The other Dave wrote on Jun 10, 2008 2:55 PM:

" To Stevens, if I end up some day without an income, I will pursue additional education/training so that I gain some marketable skills. I would not expect my co-workers to leave their jobs and leave their paychecks to strike on my behalf. I will not blame it on the evil companies. Having marketable skills means that I do not need any union extortion behind me.

Until then, I will continue to provide valuable skills to my employer in exchange for fair compensation. Since I said that last sentence, I am obviously non-union. The union stance is that workers get more than fair compensation and workers will providing unskilled, manual labor for a short amount of time while hoping that the evil company goes broke. "

Melanie11 wrote on Jun 10, 2008 1:20 PM:

" Unions are good... for the most part. They help the community by volunteering and help workers get what they deserve in wages and respect from their employer. However, there is a difference in protecting the union members and hindering free trade. If a person or organization (i.e the church) chooses to use nonunion labor, that is there decision. It goes against democracy to strong-arm them into using your workforce. It sounds a lot like extortion to me. Hire union, or work wont get done. It doesn't seem right. "

Voice of Reason2 wrote on Jun 10, 2008 10:55 AM:

" To The Other Dave: Amen Brother! I'm so tired of these labor unions. They have killed the American auto industry and about every other industry they rule. I buy foreign cars just for that reason. I’m not supporting a company that allows themselves to be extorted by these high school dropouts. They have served their usefulness and need to be abolished. "

stevens wrote on Jun 10, 2008 9:32 AM:

" The other Dave:
If you have made up your mind I am sure I can not change it. The union is not made up of thugs nor do they protect non productive employee's, you have a point thirty years ago, times have changed and someday when you are working for nothing you may change your mind, until then or until you educate yourself we do not agree. Have a great day. "

The other Dave wrote on Jun 10, 2008 7:32 AM:

" To Stevens, so our union thugs should stop all churches from building to get back at a couple CEO's? I fail to see your logic.

Unions exist today to keep uneducated and unskilled people over employed using extortion. Personally, I look for the Non-Union tag. "

MRS. wrote on Jun 9, 2008 10:18 PM:

" IMO (and we all know that carries a lot of weight) we do need unions in some areas. Those areas shouln't have anything to do with wages. Companies should be able to pay what they want as long as what they pay is at least min. wage. If they can't get employees then they would know they can either pay more or go out of business.Where the unions should come in is to fight for employees to be treated in a legal and fair way. To make sure employers are following labor board regulations, osha regulations and those kinds of things. "

History Alum wrote on Jun 9, 2008 5:29 PM:

" Hey Flex... it wasn't the volunteers that refused to cross the "picket line"... it was the concrete contractors (which someone eventually did because it did get done, albiet later than the church wanted). The volunteers couldn't do anything because the concrete had to be done first. Try reading the story... "

Stevens wrote on Jun 9, 2008 12:58 PM:

" The reason these companies have moved to Mexico and other countries has nothing to do with being competitive and everything to do with greed! have you seen the price of anything go down since they moved to Mexico? they moved to exploit workers who have no UNION to help them and give the top people MORE and workers less.

When Al Dunlap fired fifteen thousand employees at Scott Paper Company, I thought if they need to do that for the company to survive then so be it, then at the end, Dunlap received a ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR bonus.

I don't know about you but I would rather see fifteen thousand people working and making fifty thousand dollars a year than one man getting a hundred million "

Stevens wrote on Jun 9, 2008 12:41 PM:

" Why would you want to fight working men and women who demand a fair share of the wealth in our country? Are you not sick of getting the short end of the deal??

We have CEO's in this country that make fifty thousand dollars an hour and you want to be upset that workers want enough to live on.

This is just what the corporate world wants us to do, division of the people is how you keep them weak, think about it, the fall of the Soviet Union started with the UNION in Poland. People united have power an the elite fear that.

Do not fight your fellow workers, they want a fair wage for you also.

We have had Ceos FIRED in the last year that received severance packages of over a hundred million dollars FOR BEING FIRED. THAT is a reason to be upset! "

Shep wrote on Jun 9, 2008 11:04 AM:

" Just ask all the former Eureka-Williams and Eureka Company workers what they think of unions. Unions cost them all there jobs and forced the move of manufacturing to Jaurez, Mexico. Thanks alot unions!!! You suck!!! "

ldylck7 wrote on Jun 9, 2008 10:50 AM:

" Like many people here posting blogs I too think that the Unions have gotten out of control. I really do think with the times and prices of everything going up including the price of gas then you need to look at your bottom line and price accordingly instead of what you think you deserve (Union workers). I too think the union people charge way too much for simple things and I can get it done for 1/2 the money. I would rather use my hard earned dollar on food for my family and not yours! "

Josh wrote on Jun 9, 2008 9:19 AM:

" Nornally, I would agree with a union position, but this one is horrible. Why picket a church???? I see these guys everyday when I'm on my way to work and I'm thinking, aren't there other jobs they could be doing right now to earn their money? There is plenty of construction going on; they're just wasteing time. Seems like Penn has lot control of his union, since it seems like he had no clue this was going on. It's been going on for about 2-3 weeks now. SHAME on LOCAL 362. "

Big Red wrote on Jun 8, 2008 2:58 PM:

" Nice Job Penn!!!!!!!! Everybody get ready for a bunch of idiots to respond with comments like "we brought you the weekend" The whole Penn clan is desperate for new members. They even had the guts to go after Mitsubishi suppliers which is UAW territory. You need to realize that unions are done in the US. You greedy people have chased companies to Mexico and God knows where else. We are on the verge of losing one of the biggest employers in Bloomington-Normal because of unions. Mitsubishi workers make more than Honda and Toyota workers and they sell more cars in a month than Mitsubishi sells in a year. Wake up people would you rather make what you are now and have a job, or be looking with the masses when your companies go out of business or move to Mexico because of unions. "

hardhatguy wrote on Jun 7, 2008 9:55 PM:

" My heart goes out to this church and it's membership. To have a project like this derailed by a union that couldn't care less about the mission of the church is an abomination. This isn't the America that I know and love. I hope the leaders of Local 362 consider the damage they have done to this community and the volunteers that have generousely donated their time and money to this undertaking. "

deanwormer wrote on Jun 7, 2008 8:27 PM:

" what a great advertisement for why not to have unions. selfish, selfish, selfish. maybe what they really want is to have union laborers, i.e. one working and numerous others standing around watching the one person who is working. and then complaining about why they deserve to get alot for doing nothing. unions are out of date and need to go away. "

Archie Goodwin wrote on Jun 7, 2008 6:38 PM:

" Get ready for the next round of pro union legislation from Washington. Last year they tried to pass a bill that would have let union elections abandon the secret ballot in favor of petitions. In other words, unions could establish themselves in previously non-union shops by sending around a few thugs and intimidating enough people to sign the petition. Unions and universities are the new home of the Communist party. "

hardhatguy wrote on Jun 7, 2008 5:38 PM:

" What an incredible PR nightmare. The behavior of the union towards this church is an abomination. The Penn family has ruled this local with an iron fist for 3 generations. If they continue to make these types of PR blunders they will bury it. Someone should be investigating the nepotism that has occurred in this local. Three generations of the Penn family have occupied the management positions in this local, while the rank and file laborers work in the field to pay for it. "

dmlh wrote on Jun 7, 2008 4:49 PM:

" I use to be a union contractor but with all the fees and dues it is nearly impossible to stay in business. Our employees stayed with us, we pay union scale and offer the same benefits. Not only did our employees get a 3% raise they got better benefits. I understand unions need to make money to pay for their employees but when the BA makes up a new high paying position for his son, who is getting screwed? "

Bluedog wrote on Jun 7, 2008 3:43 PM:

" This is another " boneheaded " move by union officials. Unions across the country need to enlist in a public relations strategy. They are seen by far to many as
" heavy handed and corrupt ". With only 10- 12 % of the workforce ( most of that being government employees ) they are in serious need of an overhaul in operations. To much top down instead of bottom up empowerment. Time for them to realize it's the 21st century not the 19th ! "

thvluvmcv wrote on Jun 7, 2008 3:40 PM:

" i wonder how many union members contribute to the rev. flock "

MR BILL wrote on Jun 7, 2008 3:05 PM:

" WE ALL KNOW THE RESIDNTIAL CONCRETE CONTRACTORS IN TOWN ARE NOT UNION ,GET OFF IT. THEY NEVER WILL BE. YOU ARE BEATING A DEAD HORSE, I HAVE WORKED BOTH UNION AND NON UNION I HAVE FOUND THAT IF YOU ARE A GOOD NON UNION WORKER YOU WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF ,LIKE COMPANY PICKUP,HEALTH INSURANCE,GOOD PAY, ECT... THE UNION JOBS ARE A JOKE, IF YOU NEED TO PAY FOR A JOB ,YOU ARE NOT A GOOD WORKER. I WORK UNION NOW , MOST OF THE PEOPLE ON THE JOB SITES HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING, BUT THEY ARE A FREND OF SOMEBODY, OR A REALTIVE OF A OLD UNION PERSON, SO THEY GET A JOB I WILL AGREE SOME TRADES NEED TRAINING, BUT TO DRIVE A TRUCK,RUN A BACKHOE, HOLD A SHOVEL, PAINT A WALL TO MANY TO MENTION IS A JOKE "

MR BILL wrote on Jun 7, 2008 2:45 PM:

" MR PENN NEEDS TO GET CONTROL OR GET OUT. THIS IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO ALL UNIONS ,LETS THINK BEFORE WE SEND OUR GOONS OUT NEXT TIME. "

thvluvmcv wrote on Jun 7, 2008 2:33 PM:

" oddly enough i dont see anyone mention any of the volunteer work the unions do.why not ask the baby fold or the special olympics of our committments and for those of you who holler lazy i challenge you to come out to a stark concrete pour on a 90 degree day. we will see if you holler lazy or overpaid so quickly. Also the last time I checked union membership is completly voluntary so you are certainly able to take your skills to some of our non union competition, but then don't expect health care or a decent wage or safety. NO you prefer to bash unions for outdated and overstated lies taken as truth.Like i said take the challenge come out and see some of the smart hard working union guys who do lots of volunteer work for all organizations that need help.Its real easy to find dave penn he is usually helping the special olympics personally. "

AM wrote on Jun 7, 2008 2:24 PM:

" Buckeye has a great idea. Mend this fence asap with union volunteers. "

RealityCheck wrote on Jun 7, 2008 12:54 PM:

" To 2 cents - it really doesn't matter who picketed whom. The fact remain that a church suffered as a result of petty politics and lemming mentalities. Shame on anyone who supports the bullying of this church. "

bnresident wrote on Jun 7, 2008 12:29 PM:

" 2 cents: So what if MJE doesn't want to hire Union people? I'm sure there are non-Union people that will do this within the budget of the church. Who says everyone has to hire union? All they like to do is throw their weight around, and are a throwback to a by-gone era. We don't need them to day - we have capitalism. If the contractor does good work, they'll get paid, and thus be able to grow, hire more workers, etc. There are plenty of qualified people that work that aren't union, and if its the church's prerogative to use them, so be it, but its contractors need to respect that decision, and the unions need to butt out. "

reader 1 wrote on Jun 7, 2008 12:25 PM:

" The unions should be ashamed - those on the picket line, and the higher-ups who told them to picket, should have picked up tools and helped this group of volunteers in their mission to help a local church. What a black eye for unions. At least Habitat benefitted from them being in town. "

slw wrote on Jun 7, 2008 12:24 PM:

" Is it a requirement/law to hire union help? If not, and I were those volunteers, cross their whiny little picket line! Unions are worthless! They are one of many reasons goods and services have increased in price. Most Union workers are lazy...they know that they won't get fired 'cause all they'd have to do is have their union get their job back. When looking for help, I make sure I get non union help...why should I pay twice the price for less quality? Most Non Union workers have pride in their work! I do know that some are forced into the union just to have a job, which is why I use the term "most". What a name they have for themselves now, whining at a church site! "

cents wrote on Jun 7, 2008 12:19 PM:

" DIDN'T YOU READ IT SAYS THE PICKET IS BECAUSE OF MJE CONSTRUCTION ONLY !!!
AND NOT FOR THE VOLUNTEERS THEY ARE FREE LABOR AND THE UNION ONLY CONPLAINS ABOUT CHEAP FOREIGN LABOR STEALING JOBS FROM AMERICANS. DOES ANYONE READ AND COMPREHEND WHAT THEY READ OR ARE YOU JUST INCOMPETENT AND SHOULD READ IT AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTILL YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IT SAYING BEFORE YOU MAKE COMMENTS "

hockeyfan wrote on Jun 7, 2008 12:02 PM:

" Shame on the unions! Unions are what is ruining this country! We pay higher prices for our vehicles, food, construction, etc. Not to mention union made items are junk. I have always had the "buy American" mentality, but I am going to get rid of my GM vehicles because of their poor quality. Not to mention it is becoming unfordable to purchase a home because of the union "shake down." VOTE NO UNIONS! "

2 cents wrote on Jun 7, 2008 11:52 AM:

" DIDN'T YOU READ IT SAYS THE PICKET IS BECAUSE OF MJE CONSTRUCTION ONLY !!!
AND NOT FOR THE VOLUNTEERS THEY ARE FREE LABOR AND THE UNION ONLY CONPLAINS ABOUT CHEAP FOREIGN LABOR STEALING JOBS FROM AMERICANS. DOES ANYONE READ AND COMPREHEND WHAT THEY READ OR ARE YOU JUST INCOMPETENT AND SHOULD READ IT AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTILL YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IT SAYING BEFORE YOU MAKE COMMENTS "

MR BILL wrote on Jun 7, 2008 11:31 AM:

" UNION MESSED UP A GOOD THING,I THINK THEY ARE OUT OF CONTROL AND SOMETHING MUST BE DONE, ARE THEY THAT HARD UP FOR WORK TO STOP AT OUR CHURCH, I AM A UNION PERSON, AND I AM ASHAMED OF THIS LABOR LOCAL 362.
SOME UNIONS NEED REALIZE WHAT THEIR PURPOSE IS. "

2 cents wrote on Jun 7, 2008 11:28 AM:

" Whatever, The church collects money from its people and say it's for god why does god need money for I doubt there is a wal mart in heaven and even if there was everything would be free. That 300,000+ house the preacher fellow lives in was bought with that money and the improvements made to this church should also. Union contractors go to church and I'm sure they have a few in this church that would have done this job for cost or a small profit and none of this would have happened so dont blame the union

Also the footing needs to cure then the walls need to be poured and cure for a few days more so why are they bringing people in to build now anyways they have a few days left to cure everything and they should not start building untill then

And stop acting like Habitat for Humanity could not use the help they work with the poor. "

The Cats wrote on Jun 7, 2008 11:10 AM:

" To Lurg86...another factless post. Do you ever think before you write? Labor Unions got the 40 hour week, health insurance, safety in the work place, and 100's of other benefits that YOU enjoy today in your workplace, regardless of whether it is a union shop or not. I am not a union member and am a manager. I do not necessarily like all the things that unions do but they built this country and they have certain rights one of which is picketing. If you want no unions go to a socialist (or Communist, or Dictator led) country to live. Your posts contain a lot of anger at most everything. You can get treatment for that. "

The Cats wrote on Jun 7, 2008 11:06 AM:

" To MacMan86...no lawsuit can be brought over this. "

nonunionandproud wrote on Jun 7, 2008 10:11 AM:

" It seems lately that unions are the home to many who are lazy and unable to have the initiative to better their situation on their own. They rely on mob tactics and intimidation to obtain the work that they would never be able to obtain on their own skills and hard work. "

wrote on Jun 7, 2008 9:49 AM:

" You have got to be kidding me. The union and their leadership should be ashamed to pull this kind of stunt at a church. Just when you think they can't stoop any lower, they do it in a big way. Shame on the unions!!! "

Dave wrote on Jun 7, 2008 9:23 AM:

" There's been a gentlemen's agreement here in BN that none union contractors do residential and union handles commercial work. Churches are commercial projects therefore a union contractor should have done the footings. Unions have built many churches around McLean County with no problems plus union members volunteer extra hours just to help them out in some cases. I don't believe anyone has a problem about the missionary men coming in and finishing the job. It seems the church wanted to try to do something underhanded and got caught. It serves them right. "

802 wrote on Jun 7, 2008 9:10 AM:

" You have got to be kidding me. The union and their leadership should be ashamed to pull this kind of stunt at a church. Just when you think they can't stoop any lower, they do it in a big way. Shame on the unions!!! "

thunderfan24 wrote on Jun 7, 2008 9:10 AM:

" i am a union member, UAW local 974 and i think that UNION=BABIES. they picket and strike for absolutely nothing, why cant there be a picket or strike for something worthwhile. i say they need to get a life and get off their lazy butts and work, sounds like an excuse for them to not work to me. "

DWill wrote on Jun 7, 2008 8:53 AM:

" Unless I read the article wrong the union wasn't picketing the church workers they were picketing the nonunion contractor. I'm sure if they came and asked for help the laborers would of helped. We do it all the time. However being a fat, lazy, undereducated, disgusting socialist, they probably didn't want my help. "

oppressed in illinois wrote on Jun 7, 2008 8:23 AM:

" Shame on the overzealous union labor in our town!!!! Unions were established to guarantee fair working conditions and fair wages for workers. Today, their mission appears to have gotten lost in attempts to throw their weight around and force their policies on anyone and everyone, including what should be a haven for those who want to help our community, our churches. Picketing a church who has lined free labor to come work from other areas of the country is seriously the most ridiculous thing I have heard and it speaks to the mentality of the union....selfish and extremely short-sighted. This is exactly the reason that companies close shop and head for Mexico, India and China. "

The Peanut Gallery wrote on Jun 7, 2008 8:23 AM:

" to cub fan - bud man

This incident illustrates the dark selfishness of collectivist thought. By the way - how did you manage to post comments on this story. Yours are dated December 31, 1969 and the story was posted June 7, 2008? Your ability to time-travel is a pretty slick trick! "

thi