Twelve SFNE workers strike

I understand everyones arguements here, but jeez you are all so harsh. We complain about what a poor job SF maintenence does, and complain when they ask for the tools to their job right.

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I also would assume from a simple liability standpoint, that SFNE would'nt want mechanics driving around in random vehicles on thier property.

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Actully the park i work at all they want is your insurance card and for you to put a special sticker on your car. From there on in they dont care if you drive in so long as your seat belts on.

However, the park has probably around 20 S-10's and rangers for Maintence and other depts. And they wont let you touch them till you pass a "Sixflags drivers licence test".

Also, just to let everyone know, theres alot of interesting stuff you can hit with a vehical inside of an amusment park. ;)

SFSTL-Is union, until two years ago you couldnt so much as change a light bulb. I am not exagerating on that.

As I said in the news section. Free country, free speech, free action. If you dont like your new schedule quit and move on.

We are becoming so whimpy as a nation.

If I did not show up to work and said it was because I did not like my new schedule, I would be let go.

Actually, in my opinion, quitting and "moving on" would be the WIMPY response.

Staying put, and fighting for what you want and deserve despite the possible outcome is not WIMPY

Solidarity forever!

The new schedule was undoubtedly implemented by a middle manager who didn't want to be at work at six, and didn't trust the crew to work without him being there. Been there, done that. "They" always used to think that we sat around and drank coffee and ate doughnuts the first hour, which was far from being the truth.

Your outlook probably depends on your region and proffesional work level.

In Texas we are a right to work state. This means you can get fired because they dont like your hair. The employee does not have to be given a reason other than we no longer need you. So...maybe we take changes better...I don't know.

As a proffesional hoping to get a larger raise, bonuses, full time status, or promotions, you keep you mouth shut when minor changes are presented to you. This is not a big deal.

I can only imagine how tramatic those poor guys would be if they were here at my job, when we were told we were working the next 8 weeks with no days off and no extra pay. You say " OK", or you leave. *** Edited 2/7/2005 8:52:30 PM UTC by Markieb***

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a1967Tigers said:
Actually, in my opinion, quitting and "moving on" would be the WIMPY response.

Staying put, and fighting for what you want and deserve despite the possible outcome is not WIMPY

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Right on bruthuh!

If you don't like the way something is, you do have the ability to quit, but that doesn't really get anything changed. My only advice would be to pick your fights wisely. You don't want to hurt the machine that feeds you.

By the same token, companies would do well to keep their employees happy. Happy employees = happy customers = repeat customers = $$ (and even though the mechanics don't work directly with the public, I'd venture that a safe customer or a customer who has access to the full product is also a happy customer)

How about that for a bottom line Mr. Smith? ;)

Well said, Janfrederick, well said.

Arghh Jan! :-)

In my opinion, the only WIMPY party so far is Six Flags. They should fire the malcontents yesterday. It does nobody any good to have a bunch of malcontents around.

Unless this group has some sort of unique skill sets and talents, then I see no reason to treat them with kid gloves.

Again I base my opinion on the understanding that they are being paid a fair wage for their education level and job responsibility. Nobody responded when I asked IF the wages were fair. I'll take the lack of response to mean that these are basically entry-level maintenance workers with minimal educational requirements mandated for them to perform their duties.

As such, I say FIRE em!

P.S. Then they can then be tough guys, proving their point, without a job, while sitting in front of their inflatable bulldog! :-)

*** Edited 2/8/2005 12:35:51 AM UTC by Jeffrey R Smith***

I can tell you that their entry level wage is $4.00/hr below what it is on the left coast.

I really don't see what the gripe is all about. I have worked in retail for all most all my life, and I think these guys need a reality check. Try a job where you are working double shifts, sometimes triple, getting paid a few cents above minimum wage, and you NEVER know what your schedule may be from one day to the next. Add on to that dealing with be public direct, and their poor attitudes. Every one of those jobs have been an at will working environment where if you didn't like a new policy or a change in hours you walked out the door, no unions allowed.

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I can tell you that their entry level wage is $4.00/hr below what it is on the left coast.

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This seems about right. California wages are usually higher than the rest of the country. A few more points...

1. Why are some so quick to assign guilt to Six Flags and hero status to the non-sanctioned strikers? I read the article. It seems like the bone of contention is that Six Flags wants to shift daily work schedules by one hour and workers feel that they have to use their own trucks (notice I did not say they are being forced to use their own trucks). This certainly does not seem like Six Flags is out of line IF the facts as the article suggests are indeed true. Even IF you believe that Six Flags is wrong in asking people that it employs to follow an actual schedule that is beneficial to the company, do you believe that this is reason enough to walk off a job?

2. Is it too much to ask that individuals who go out on strike at least be unionized? They took a non-union job at their own will and now wish to behave in a manner that suggests they are in a union. I find this behavior laughable and insulting to those who take their own time, effort, and money to organize legitimately. These posers do not deserve to be treated as an organized force. They should be treated as non-compliant individuals.

3. All my posts are based upon the information available now. It seems they are paid fairly and there are no outrageous actions by Six Flags. I’ve certainly read or heard nothing that would indicate that these workers' conditions rise to the level of a striking. In my opinion, these guys/gals seem like a bunch of whiners who are trying to get special treatments and benefits they have not earned by virtue of their education, job responsibilities, and non-union status.

These are the reasons I believe these clowns should be fired. Should new information become available that indicates Six Flags is grossly underpaying or mistreating this group, then I’ll change my mind. I refuse to buy into the Kerry/Kennedy mindset that all labor disputes are justifiable because all companies treat their employees badly. *** Edited 2/8/2005 1:26:50 AM UTC by Jeffrey R Smith***

It would be interesting to know how many of these people are carryover from the old ownership. This could shed some light on the situation. Going from a family owned and operated business to a corporate enviorment may have led to this. May have been smoldering for a long time.

The 12 workers are mechanics and communications employees.

Mechanic is different from "entry level maintainence".(This aint RCT) Which is exactly why they havent been fired. If they didnt have any special skills or knowledge (ie: retail) they would have been canned already. $15/hr is on the low end for a mechanic with specific certifications (especially in Massachusetts.)

Im getting tired of the Fox News/George Bush attitudes that seem to inspire nothing but complaints about your own working conditions, yet never any support for others trying to better thiers.

If they arnt Union they shouldnt ***** about the change in hours. Its resonable request.

The truck issue is a diffrent issue. I wouldnt want to drive my truck into a theme park day in day out. (Well ok so i use to, but thats not the point) People drive stupied in parks and there is alot of crap to hit. How would you like your $20,000 truck to look like it was in a destruction derby after two years. I am not exagerating.

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Jeffrey R Smith said:

It does nobody any good to have a bunch of malcontents around.

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So treat your employees fairly so they aren't malcontent! ;) I'm not saying that Six Flags is wrong in this case, however, I'll bet Dutchman is on to something there.