This is a very well written article..As stated by so many people of the community - not many are standing by the strikers! In my opinion, I would not hire any of them if I had a business...too many horror stories of the picket line. Shame on all of them for the way they have been behaving! This just shows you what the union will do for you - NOTHING! How do all of you feel now about walking off your jobs? Feel a little stupid now? You sit there and bash the company and say that they are lying to you - no they are not! It's the union lying to you - HELLO! You are proving nothing other than that you don't care about your lifestyle or your families to put them thru this. I really hope the company can hire others and when your done standing behind your wonderful union for 5 years - your jobs are gone! I hope most of you wake up and cross over but I don't think you will - you have shown your ignorance already. Yea - you showed everyone didn't you. No unemployment - now off to welfare - good luck to you. From what I have read - you walked for stupidity!

Being a former business owner and a current business professional - I find that Metalworks has written quite a long article that really doesn't say much. Repeating that they had to strike and it is their choice is not a defense to the issue at hand. Why would an individual put themselves, their families, and their futures on the line if it was all a push from the union as Mr. Paine stated. I see both sides of the picture having employees of my own and it appears to me that if the workers choice to strike with that large of a number, and for this duration, during the holidays - there has to be more that is being left out.

I live in the Holland area and see the direct results of hard economic times on the companies here. If you have a job - Thank God! Please settle your differences and get back to work!!! There are many people more than willing to have your jobs as you stand around your burning barrels picketing. We all need to make some sacrifices and compromises during these difficult times. Please be realistic and get back to work!

As for the company offer of dec. 17 It had takebacks in it. The company withdrew 2 years of signing bonuses, still would not commit to language, And was a worse offer then the original contract that caused the strike. No wonder the workers did not even vote on it. If the picket line conduct was destructive in any way Metalworks has the right to put a restraining order on the union and reduce the picketers to 1 or 2 at each enterance. Being as this has not happened, even with guards videotaping picketers, one will be led to believe this is a mischaracterization. The union leadership did not bully anyone to go on strike. that is a outright lie. Of the 14 meetings that took place 12 of them took place before the strike. Of the 50% workforce layoff protection issue, notice Mr. Paine did not deny this issue. The only workers protected from subcontracting are those hired before 1998. those after are left unprotected. That is 50% of the workforce. The 2 tier wage system divides the workforce. It creates a 2nd. class of employee. It says to the workers, "We feel you are not worth the money we are paying you." So guess what happens when people retire, move on, quit, ect? the lower wage scale becomes the majority in the plant. Mr. Paine needs to remember metalworks core values. the 1st 2 are to treat people fairly and with respect, and to tell the truth.

Everyone commenting here so far has good points. Mr. Paine has written a very polite and mgmt. definitive article, but still leaves alot out of the total picture, as would be expected by mgmt.. And striking during the Holidays sure does have strong drawbacks to the teamster employees, so they must have some valid complaints to hurt themselves this way too. I think the best thing to remember here in the broad scope of thinking, is that our own National leaders in Washington, D.C., put very unfair business practices into affect with the passage of NAFTA/GATT. It continues to haunt us yearly and desperately needs repeal. Until the nation's citizens somehow get a lobbyist action to finally get those laws repealed, we will continue to spiral downwards in the manufacturing sector until nothing is left, as is now witnessed in the auto industry. American manufacturers need a level playing field again as we had for generations before us. We were always a force worldwide before NAFTA and can be again if we repeal this old mistake and protect American citizens from foreign slaughtering of our home-based jobs.

To be honest yes it was a very well written letter but if I had the money to pay high end lawyers this letter would sound that great too! Thats not straight from the horses mouth believe me. I honestly would love to hear these " horror stories " about the men on the picket line!? I have spent many of my own nights out their next to men and women I didn't know to let them I cared. Because I do. I work in a union myself and would expect the same out of any other union brother or sister! I wonder how many of you have stopped to think about what the contract ACTUALLY said. I've seen it most of you are talking about knowing so much but truly know little. I've heard time and time again " those people choose the wrong time to strike," HELLO you as an employee don't choose when your contract is up. Those men and women who are striking went with their hearts knowing that Metalworks wasn't given a truly fair contract to them. They went on strike hoping that they would have the support of the community that they help to keep alive. Look at Ludington. It's a rundown old retirement community where drugs and crime are pushing their way in. These honest caring and hardworking individuals are only asking for support. How can you turn up your noses without giving them a fair chance. So I challenge those who have turned your backs GO TO THAT MEETING! Liston to those men and women and their concerns , little do you know they are more angry and upset than you all put together. They are out their fighting for a job while they watch men and women who once stood next to them walk across that line and now drive past them with smiles on their faces. I dont think it is going to last. Metalworks is going to give in they want those hardworking employees back they don't want those men and women who haven't had a job in years who found a easy way in. Come on I seen people driving in their that I haven't seen work in YEARS. And believe me their has been opportunities around here not many but some. They found a easy in. They got it too. So heres my last thought. To all of you who crossed hopefully your able to look those "friend/brothers/sisters" in the face when you are asked to leave Metalworks . Because you have made a choice that will effect you for the rest of your life. You turned your back.

Sorry - "stupid" me again. I had to say something to R. I can no way see most of the communtity attending this meeting. Your so called "brothers and sisters" - well whatever - what is more important to you - your so called bothers and sisters - or YOUR KIDS AND FAMILY?? Come on - R what kind of sympathy are you trying to get here? And so what if some have crossed the line - SO WHAT? It seems that most people agree that you have to have a paycheck to survive. And the workforce - those "hardworkers" - yes I'm sure they are or "were" hardworkers - but they chose to walk. WHy shouldn't someone who has been out of work go to work for metalworks? I guess you have no idea how much money it costs to put food on the table and pay your bills! People have to do what they have to do to get by - just like those that are proving themselves by walking off those jobs - they also did what they had to do. Economy is tough and will be for a while. People will do what they have to do. But you really should behave yourself because what goes around comes back...