I once had to work 12 hour shift 7 days a week for 3 months straight. Got PAID.
Didn't cry about it.
I can't retire till 65.

share the wealth baby!  check out the bonuses and totals! lets cut more workers benefits for bigger bonuses! 
as everyone has a unique opinion on unions...there are always pros and cons....and just like religion many wars have raged over beliefs....crazy yah 

What many people may or may not know is that Management in All sectors have cut back on Service related personnel hoping that what few younger people that are left can handle "Emergencies"

I have watched the City & Counties road maintenance crews go from full service to just barely able to maintain the streets.  Now much work is done by contract hires.
     If you grumble about roadwork taking too long, that's why. 

Where I live, road work was done but the markings haven't gone in.  Work was done months ago.  Used to be City marking crews would hit the marking as soon as the asphalt cooled.
     Now the work is by contract. Guess I have to call the Mayor's Office and complain.

Much of the emergency service crews for HECO, Hawn Tel and others have been cut back.  After Ininki, electrical crews were brought in from as far away as Vermont.  Local crews were sent over from All
     islands to Kauai.  They Still were short.

Don't know if you have noticed that Heco has had several rate hikes based on "fuel costs" to maintain "profitability" to their shareholders.  The PUC have let them have the hikes.

HECO is also using transformers that weigh in at over 100,000 pounds.  Try shipping and moving those babies in and out of where they want to put them.  Heco had to build a new road for one location.
    Not to mention that there aren't that many cranes that can handle that kind of weight or the trailers for that matter. 
    Some of the routes barely clear the roadways that they have to go under.  Want to think about the Damage to the roadways such a heavy load can do?

Service related cut backs are a way of life because people want max returns on their shares of stock.  Can't have profit without reducing overhead costs.

So I was *REALLY* thinking about this lol.

If you were striking -- why the hell would you go picket?  LIke seriously, f that rofl.  If I am not going to work, I am not going to go waste my time walking in a circle holding a sign. I would be doing something at least fun or taking "vacation".
I'm betting that those salaries compare to mainland or other similarly situated CEO level executives. Heck, the NRA VP makes about a million and its a "non-profit" lol.

I got a response back from Kim Pine today. 

Aloha Brendon,
Thank you for your support last week as our community worked to overcome the power outage and its aftermath. I am proud that we all came together to help our residents.
An editorial in today’s Star Advertiser attacks me for my comments urging actions by responsible groups. It claims that I did nothing but point fingers during the crisis. Quite on the contrary, I spent the following days on the ground with workers and residents, listening to residents’ needs and finding solutions.
As you know, it frustrated me that the union and its leaders prioritized bargaining in a time of crisis when you and your neighbors sorely needed their assistance. They are mobilizing their immense resources against me, so I ask for your help.
It’s important that your voice is heard as well.
Please share your opinion of my involvement by emailing a Letter to the Editor. Letters can be emailed to: letters@staradvertiser.com.
Let me be clear: I support the union’s right to strike. But the crisis was not handled well, as they were the only group able to fix the crisis in a timely manner and they decided to sit it out.
I stand by my statements. I am still not satisfied that enough was done to help our community.
Through the media, Senator Espero alerted the community to the lack of police officers on the scene. The problem remained, so I called 911 to report the insufficient presence at intersections. I was told the police didn’t have enough officers to help with traffic direction in Ewa Beach, so I called the Governor and the City.  The intersection was soon turned into a four-way stop with flares and a police presence.
I was especially concerned about care homes for the sick and elderly. West Loch Elderly Village was one of the few areas still without power, so again, I immediately called the Governor’s team to get help, and they received the help they needed.
HECO representatives and I have been in close contact to ensure that generators are delivered to residences or businesses that serve populations dependent on electricity.
It is now time to move forward. I will host a Town Hall meeting on March 22nd with residents and the involved agencies to discuss how we, as a community, can do a better job to respond to emergencies that may arise in the future. The meeting will be a Ewa Makai Middle School at 7:00pm.
I very much appreciate your support and am looking forward to your feedback.
The Star Advertiser editorial can be found at this link: http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/20110310_Yes_stuff_happens_but_lets_not_overreact_and_preclude_civil_discussion.html#
 
Mahalo,
 
Rep. Kymberly Pine
District 43 - Ewa Beach, Puuloa, West Loch Fairways, Iroquois Point
T: (808) 586-9730
reppine@capitol.hawaii.gov

I am proud to have Kim as our representative. She is a conservative, and a supporter of gun rights. She is no-nonsense type that has the backbone' to stand up for the needs of her district!  This is the type of leadership that Hawaii needs, other district leaders should take note!

As usual, the Staradvertiser has bashed the Republican for doing her job, while other lawmakers sat on the hands.
Please send letters supporting her actions, and in opposition to the recent commentary in the Staradvertiser.

I got a response back from Kim Pine today. 

Quote

Aloha Brendon,
Thank you for your support last week as our community worked to overcome the power outage and its aftermath. I am proud that we all came together to help our residents.
An editorial in today’s Star Advertiser attacks me for my comments urging actions by responsible groups. It claims that I did nothing but point fingers during the crisis. Quite on the contrary, I spent the following days on the ground with workers and residents, listening to residents’ needs and finding solutions.
As you know, it frustrated me that the union and its leaders prioritized bargaining in a time of crisis when you and your neighbors sorely needed their assistance. They are mobilizing their immense resources against me, so I ask for your help.
It’s important that your voice is heard as well.
Please share your opinion of my involvement by emailing a Letter to the Editor. Letters can be emailed to: letters@staradvertiser.com.
Let me be clear: I support the union’s right to strike. But the crisis was not handled well, as they were the only group able to fix the crisis in a timely manner and they decided to sit it out.
I stand by my statements. I am still not satisfied that enough was done to help our community.
Through the media, Senator Espero alerted the community to the lack of police officers on the scene. The problem remained, so I called 911 to report the insufficient presence at intersections. I was told the police didn’t have enough officers to help with traffic direction in Ewa Beach, so I called the Governor and the City.  The intersection was soon turned into a four-way stop with flares and a police presence.
I was especially concerned about care homes for the sick and elderly. West Loch Elderly Village was one of the few areas still without power, so again, I immediately called the Governor’s team to get help, and they received the help they needed.
HECO representatives and I have been in close contact to ensure that generators are delivered to residences or businesses that serve populations dependent on electricity.
It is now time to move forward. I will host a Town Hall meeting on March 22nd with residents and the involved agencies to discuss how we, as a community, can do a better job to respond to emergencies that may arise in the future. The meeting will be a Ewa Makai Middle School at 7:00pm.
I very much appreciate your support and am looking forward to your feedback.
The Star Advertiser editorial can be found at this link: http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/20110310_Yes_stuff_happens_but_lets_not_overreact_and_preclude_civil_discussion.html#
 
Mahalo,
 
Rep. Kymberly Pine
District 43 - Ewa Beach, Puuloa, West Loch Fairways, Iroquois Point
T: (808) 586-9730
reppine@capitol.hawaii.gov

I am proud to have Kim as our representative. She is a conservative, and a supporter of gun rights. She is no-nonsense type that has the backbone' to stand up for the needs of her district!  This is the type of leadership that Hawaii needs, other district leaders should take note!

As usual, the Staradvertiser has bashed the Republican for doing her job, while other lawmakers sat on the hands.
Please send letters supporting her actions, and in opposition to the recent commentary in the Staradvertiser.

Please help me out and toss me an article where the republicans were bashed so I can reference and write something up for your representative!

Here is the article of reference.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/20110310_Yes_stuff_happens_but_lets_not_overreact_and_preclude_civil_discussion.html#