http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=14191491
 
 
Blatent abuse of union power!
Union leaders need to be held liable for any injury, death, property damage that is caused by this!

Fire the people -- fly in new workers.

People need to learn to appreciate their jobs.  It my current understanding that this over them wanting to pay road workers more than office workers, and also increasing the retirement age from 60 to 62.

Any person hurt in this should sue the union!

This is so F'ed up on so many levels.

State Government should be stepping in! Like that will happen!
 
Man I am sooooo pissed right now this is not even funny!

I know this is a firearms related site, but I would urge people to contact their legislators about this immeadiately.

What if this was a 'real' emergency?  We need to be able to count on these people to do thier JOB!

Another perfect example of how the government will protect YOU in a time of need.

   Sure heco is profitable....but dont you think they should share with their employees?....

Nothing wrong with unions ensuring workers are treated fairly and justly.
However, we are talking public safety, no way any union should hold that kind of power.
Common sense is in order.
There is time and place to strike, this is not one of them.

Nothing wrong with unions ensuring workers are treated fairly and justly.
However, we are talking public safety, no way any union should hold that kind of power.
Common sense is in order.
There is time and place to strike, this is not one of them.

Well, from a union management standpoint, I think this is the perfect time to strike.

You *NEED* them *RIGHT* now... what better leverage is that?

 

i dont like he timing on thist strike....had they gone on strike before or after the storm...then would it be justified as ok?...

48 hours notice is fine, but that was before anyone knew of an emergency.

Government employees, airtraffic controllers, and the like are not allowed to stike.  Reason is clear,
safety and welfare of the public, state,  and the country.

Same here, HECO is the sole provider of electrical power to the island, becase of this monopoly the should be considered in that catagory.  Issues of what is going on at this time should have had bering on the decision to strike.  Now all the union is doing is making all the workers who walked off the job look bad.  Very bad.
They could have postponed the strike, and not have lost face with the community, that would have put them in a much better postion.

Pinkslips!!! And deny unemployment benefits lol

Is there an alternative to HECO?

Solar and a generator! 

No - heco is a monopoly on energy.

COMMENT FROM A CUSTOMER ON HAWAII NEWS NOW WEBSITE:

I just want to say thank you to all of the electric workers around the island. I was shocked when I heard the news but I don't know how many people understand what strike means. All of these years the workers have been out there when the weather conditions were worse, risking their lives for all of us to have electricity all everyone understood was that "we have electricity" that is because the dedication of these workers. Strike doesn't mean they walk off on the worst day ever it means that on this particular day the president of HECO didn't want to settle the contract. From my understanding with this type of situations the president of the company has the last say so don't blame the workers. I have some friends that work in the company and they are very dedicated. So again try not to judge a history that you don't know. Help support these workers after all they have been there for all of you. 

Every day.  Hundreds of our troops put their life on the line, to protect this country.  They get paid Much less and have much worse conditions.
What if they walk off the job?
I'm sorry, but I just cannot agree with what you are trying to say.
Many many agree with me. This is not the time, nor the place for a strike.

I think it was the wrong time to strike.  If you didn't have an opinion on unions, I bet this strike would have swayed you to the opinion that they were bad. 

 the military is just like a company and unions...each individual is provided a contract...if you dont like a contract...you dont re-enlist...
isnt it why they sometimes throw bonuses @ re-enlistments...

guess the stevedores shouldnt be able to strike as well...

Heavies....were you part of the armed forces?

That letter is........pretty ridiculous. How can you beg for sympathy when you give none? The letter did not exactly make me bleed for them. The letter tries to make people believe that the workers are getting paid with peanuts and seashells and are only out there because they always have the good of the community at heart.

Give me a fu***ng break. It's called work. You get money for it. It's the only reason you wake up 5am or stay out doing something you don't like til 12am. You make like the workers had absolutely no choice. As if their goal in life that day was to continue working getting paid serving the community, but at 3:30pm, they were all kidnapped and physically held against their will at the exact same time; and the big fat evil corporation ignored their lamentation as they were fed to the beasts of hell, when all they wanted to do was help the community.
 
No.
 
Every single one of them who walked made a conscious choice to abandon Hawaii for profit during a time of need.
 
I am not against private unions over all, but a monopolized critical service to a Island chain in the middle of the pacific should not be interrupted for squandering of coin. By any parties involved.

I don't think it's the same situation at all. If you don't reenlist you are out a job. You walk. No going back after negotiation. 
Same as most of us regular joes.

I'm sorry to say, yes I believe stevedores shouldn't strike. Not in these islands. It is the life blood.
There are too many monopolies here, not enough competition. There is nothing for this state to fall back on.
The only thing the unions are doing is screwing the residents of this state. Including the hardworking people they are supposed to be representing.
Prices are skyrocketing, government is sticking thier grubby greedy hands deeper in everyones pockets, and they are deep in bed with the unions.
All the while scratching each others back, suppressing growth and freemarket. There is no incentive for others to come here and do business or if they try they are run out of town. (think superfery)

I work for the armed forces, I am in the union. If the SHTF, I'll be there to pick up the pieces. It's my job. Plus it's the responsible thing to do. 
I do not support 90% of what they do. But it's a nessasary evil I must endure for families sake.

Bad timing for us perfect timing for them............Sux, "It is what it is"

27 Year old Navy Tech Rate LF part time work!!! lol

W R U HECO??? I WILL TAKE THE OVERTIME!!!!!!!!!


That is what they should be doing, is just hiring new people.  There is a significant amount of unemployment here, and when you start taking peoples food off the tables -- then see how much they will strike.

As far as this strike goes, most of what I heard was guys in the field getting paid more (which they should, its harder work and more dangerous) and wanting to increase the retirement age by two years...

BIG DEAL YOU GOTTA RETIRE AT 62  --- WHAT ELSE YOU GONNA DO??? at that age, you are damn near worthless outside of your field of expertise. There are guys working in the damn shipyard for like 40-60 years... becasue they have  NOTHING better to do lol.