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* From the twitters…
Enjoyed learning about the training programs at the Pipe Fitters Local 597 in Mokena pic.twitter.com/Dfcou4fHp8
— Bruce Rauner (@GovRauner) April 28, 2015
1) I’m happy to see the governor has started to discover one of the greatest “real world” benefits of trade unions: They train a highly skilled workforce who make living wages and keep this state in the game. Anyone who has ever driven down I-55 has seen those big union training centers. Our regional economy (including Northwest Indiana’s) absolutely depends on that training.
2) Now, if the governor would only pause for just a moment to consider that maybe we need more of this, not less. “Right to work” would mean less. And then who’ll do all that training, and will it be any good?
3) From the local’s website…
Over 7,000 highly trained piping professionals ready to work for you!
That’s what Chicago Pipe Fitters Local 597 has to offer, along with a track record of excellent labor/management relations, proven by over 125 years without a strike.
Our four year UA apprenticeship program makes our pipe fitters, welders and HVAC service technicians the best in the industry, so your projects are done safely and cost effectively. Contact us for information about our work force, our career opportunities and our dedication to the advancement of the piping industry.
[Emphasis added.]
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:16 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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And, yes, it does appear to be Labor Day on the ol’ blog.
lol
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:18 pm
Luke…I am your Father….
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:19 pm
“Governor Rauner adorns his Darth Vader mask”
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:24 pm
People, this ain’t a caption contest.
I mean, it could easily be, but it ain’t.
lol
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:27 pm
“So you think we’ll have hot water in the mansion will work after this?”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:28 pm
===People, this ain’t a caption contest.===
Sorry. It’s just that it was sitting there… and he’s wearing a mask… I got carried away.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:29 pm
“Don’t mess up these shoe’s son. They’re worth more than your life.”
Comment by Theres no I in AFSCME Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:29 pm
Woman: Why is the mailman wearing a bucket?
Kramer: Because we are blind to their tyranny.
Woman: Then shouldn’t you be wearing the bucket?
Comment by Shark Sandwich Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:32 pm
Unions of all kinds, are good.
It is time for the GOP to stop seeing boogeymen they can politically exploit and it is time for Democrats to start reminding citizens that there are more ways to help our societies than by running to a government.
Unions are good for our society, whatever form they take.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:33 pm
Sweater vest and Hagar slacks.
This is the rich white guy in a nutshell.
Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:34 pm
He’s there. That’s a good sign. He tweeted about his visit, an even better sign. Positive yardage.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:38 pm
How benevolent of the king, rubbing elbows with the workers.
Comment by Cheswick Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:44 pm
==He’s there. That’s a good sign.==
It’s a photo op. Unless he knocks of his anti-union, anti-prevailing wage rhetoric his presence there means squat.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:47 pm
125 years without a strike? I’d say someone is overdue!
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:47 pm
Actually, UA has one of the best apprenticeship programs anywhere and is widely respected by both employers and other unions.
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:51 pm
I believe that Governor Rauner would prefer that training such as he observed in Mokena be carried out by non-union charter schools or for profit trade schools. He would also prefer based on everything he has stated that standards created and enforced by skilled craft trade unions be taken over by employer controlled organizations.
I do not think Governor Rauner will have an epiphany in relation to his perspectives on trade unions based on his visit to Pipe Fitters Local 597 in Mokena.
Comment by Rod Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:51 pm
Am I glad the Governor is there, yes.
I would also be just as glad if any governor went there during their term, not just this governor, at this time.
If a Twitter picture is “progress”, the bar as to measuring progress is no higher then the ground it sits upon.
It’s vital that this specific Governor understands that words matter just as much as pictures and tweets matter, probably much more, if being honest with ourselves.. but “yeah!” a picture with a union worker…
…as the Tournaround Agenda resolutions get the full court press for passage.
Unless you forgot about that…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 3:03 pm
Do not agree with VM that all unions are “good”. They have their place, and I certainly think that Rauner is anti-labor (and that also includes non-union labor), but there are too many horror stories of union-required requirements and actions to give them a complete pass.
Also, in many cases, “prevailing wage” for a county is union wage, whether a non-union worker could expect that type of wage or not. This drives up costs for government agencies in those areas where “prevailing wage” is NOT what workers expect.
Comment by downstate commissioner Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 3:11 pm
P.S. In case it wasn’t clear, I don NOT support Rauner in his break-the-unions campaign.
Comment by downstate commissioner Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 3:13 pm
“And, yes, it does appear to be Labor Day on the ol’ blog”
Rich, wait for Friday the REAL labor day.
Comment by a drop in Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 3:20 pm
“Oops… My hand slipped.”
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 3:23 pm
“See everybody, I’m not anti-labor. I’m watching a worker doin’ somethin on a whatchacallit”
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 3:26 pm
Serious question: Where’s the Jacket now? Is this not the perfect time for it? Sparks an all…
Comment by Walter Mitty Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 3:30 pm
“Ow, you just hit me with a spark… You’re corrupt!”
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 3:30 pm
Rorschach test - What do you see when you look at this picture?
If the patient sees a fat cat union boss, he or she has a thought disorder.
Seriously, this seems as much like the dropped g’s, and about as genuine.
Comment by AC Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 3:40 pm
Positive yardage - NOT
One tweet and a pic does not = positive yardage it = a band aid on a broken bone
Comment by BlameBruceRauner Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 3:42 pm
====Demoralized - Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 2:47 pm:
==He’s there. That’s a good sign.==
It’s a photo op. Unless he knocks of his anti-union, anti-prevailing wage rhetoric his presence there means squat.====
The squat it means Demo is that some hard working guy who trains people for a trade has an opportunity to talk to him and show him what he does. I bet this guy didn’t blow his shot to pipe up for the pipe fitters.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 3:42 pm
“The squat it means Demo is that some hard working guy who trains people for a trade has an opportunity to talk to him and show him what he does. I bet this guy didn’t blow his shot to pipe up for the pipe fitters.”
Which only matters if the Governor listens…
Listen, I’d rather the Governor do something like this than the other stuff he’s been doing, but he’s still been doing the other stuff, too. That doesn’t go away. If this is “positive yardage”, it comes from taking the snap in our own endzone. There’s a long way to go before we’re even out of trouble, much less scoring.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 3:50 pm
Did he remind the folks there about his Exec. Order 15-12 requiring them to report the total number of participants in any apprenticeship and training programs offered by the Labor Organization, or contractor and its subcontractors, the total number of participants who are (a) Minority Persons and (b) Veterans, and the percentage of total participants who are (a) Minority Persons and (b) Veterans.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 4:04 pm
“125 years without a strike” Kind of like the Cubs bullpen [rimshot]
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 4:19 pm
Almost a month late for April Fools Day Governor.
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 4:31 pm
Yep. Give the gov some hands-on education and before you know it, he’ll be the next William Jennings Bryan….
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 4:32 pm
This raises a good point.
I invite Gov. Rauner to have non-union electricians and plumbers work in his home.
Good luck with that.
Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 4:45 pm
Agreed, the Governor is readying his Cross of Gold speech, based in no facts whatsoever I know it to be true.
Comment by AC Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 4:47 pm
==that some hard working guy who trains people for a trade has an opportunity to talk to him and show him what he does==
I think the Governor already knows what they do. He just thinks they get paid too much to do it.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 5:03 pm
” And then who’ll do all that training, and will it be any good? ”
For-profit colleges (like the recently shuttered Corinthian). No, it won’t (because for-profit colleges). But it will cost a lot more.
Heckuva Job Brucie’s friends stand to profit mightily.
Comment by jerry 101 Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 5:20 pm
Just spin. His actions speak louder than any tweet.
Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 6:04 pm
This would be encouraging if Gov. Rauner were there to understand what good things unions bring to the table. But, somehow I feel like this is going to be evidence that he doesn’t have anything against unions… /*…see, I was hanging out at the 597 shop just the other day*/
Comment by anon Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 6:10 pm
Almost as funny a when Quinn pretended to care or Mike says he is worried about Illinois
Comment by just saying Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 9:08 pm
Governor Rauner has stated on more than one occasion he is not “anti union”, but his agenda speaks volumes otherwise! Word summed it up best - just spin.
Comment by XDNR Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 9:30 pm
What an ass. All for show. He continues to try to destroy union and his management team is basically refusing to negotiate. Take it or leave it strategy.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 10:12 pm
Theatre of the absurd disguised as political theatre…
Comment by Skeptical Wednesday, Apr 29, 15 @ 8:24 am