I was driving past Delmarva Power in Salisbury yesterday morning and saw a very large crowd of men in reflective vests standing at the curb, handing out flyers (attached). From what I can decipher from the flyer handed to me, it is from the Asplundh workers and they seem to be members of the IBEW Union as per the footnote at the bottom of the page.
The complaint seems to be that they are somehow holding Delmarva power responsible for their having a lack of sick days, safety training, retirement plans, medical benefits, sick time, travel reimbursement and are being paid less than their mainland counterparts by their employer, which id Asplundh.
It seems to me that they are barking up the wrong tree here, no pun intended. Delmarva Power pays Asplundh for a service on a contractual basis, which I would think would be a result of a bid process won by the lowest bidder. It’s up to the Contractor, Asplundh, to decide what to do with the money after that. If the employees don’t like the pay and benefits, let them get the IBEW to negotiate a better deal for them from Asplundh.
Their flyer asks us customers to call DP and complain about something. What? That I want them to charge me higher rates and give the extra money to Asplundh ant tell Asplundh how to spend it???? I don’t think I’ll be doing that anytime soon!
These guys need to go look for better jobs if they’re not happy at their present employer, just as everyone else in the Country has the right to do!
What are they going to do next? Are workers going to drive out another of the few large employers left in Wicomico County? Did we not learn from historical strikes? And yet, here we go again...
ReplyDeleteMaybe we can put the Cracker Barrel there instead? Convenient to Lowes and won't block whatever mall store complained about the last locale projection. Of course, no one will be able to afford to eat there, but that's another story.
Those are not local jobs...especially to wic co...
ReplyDeleteA lot of locals work for Asplundh, but the nature of the job is to go where the branches need trimmed at the power lines all across the grid. More local than Hulcher's, going to clean up wherever the train wrecked in the nation.
ReplyDeleteThese guys have been sitting on their union arses for too long!
Delmarva power is a criminal organization.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the IBEW wants us to help overpay their dues paying members to justify a meaningless existence. Maybe the members can become $15/hour burger flippers.
ReplyDeleteThis is the most stupidest thing I heard of. They want another company to pay for their companies mismanagement. Asplundh is a contractor to Delmarva Power under a negotiated contract. If Asplundh refuses to pay benefits to their employees then that is an Asplundh problem. Their employees have to make their union negotiate these benefits and other concerns they have or quit. If they are unionized go on strike. Do not show up for work. Don't expect other people to do your work / responsibilities. If they are that disorganized / lazy then they don't need a union. I say this as an ex - union member that held every local position and several State positions for 22 years. I would never be their representative because they would never support you.
ReplyDeleteWriter is exactly right...the unions beef is with the employer not the contractor for services...idiots want someone else to pay their stupid dues! Tell the union to take a hike!!! The one person said DPL was a "criminal organization...let him be reminded that he can purchase his power through other sources then he won't have to deal with them... wha wha wha
ReplyDeleteDelmarva Power is a government regulated and instated mafia. I really don't understand why you guys are supporting their actions. I support these workers in their strike, but I would say that it is their employer they should have their main beef with. I am sure that the employer can negotiate a fair wage and health benefits for guys who do such an important and dangerous job. This is just another reason that we all need, single payer health care, and paid maternity leave for women and men.
ReplyDeleteI don't support Delmarva Power but my first thought when I heard about this was that they were targeting the wrong group. Why would Delmarva Power be responsible for them not getting benefits. That would be the responsibility of Asplundh. If Asplundh doesn't care enough about their employees to make these benefits available to their employees then Asplundh would be the bad guy here, not Delmarva Power.
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