Seniority

Furlough picks 2008 commence tomorrow morning at 0500. It is safe to say that some people will be disappointed with what they ultimately end up with, either by default, because their slips were filled out incorrectly, and/or because they failed to show up. Unlike watch selections, furlough picks are conducted in the open and are live from the roll call room. Being present assures one of at least having some say in what one ultimately ends up with. And there is the salient point in all this: SHOW UP OR SHUT UP. While Blogmaster has some sympathy (very little) for those newer pcos who are almost assured of winter furloughs due to their low seniority, there is simply no excuse for not showing up and then complaining about it. But past experience has taught Blogmaster that there are always a few out there that don't show up and then never shut up.

While on seniority, Blogmaster has watched the latest fiasco unfolding at the OEMC with sadness. All the hoopla about implementing a "rotating voluntary overtime" list seems to have divided the operations floor and not in a good way. Apparently, this is a contractual provision, and allows all voluntary overtime to be rotated among ALL members. Presently, OEMC practices affords overtime strictly (by watch first) by seniority and this is a direct contradiction to the contract. Blogmaster would like to remind ALL pcos--before they turn completely against one another--to look first to management and notice how skillfully they played this one out and what they have/had to gain from it. For the cynical among us know that management ALWAYS has an agenda when it changes track. Again, its a divide and conquer tactic which they employed brilliantly because ultimately, we cannot stick together for anything.