Pa. Steelworkers Told to Work During Superbowl

[cigaretteman]

It's only natural that Pittsburgh-area steelworkers would want to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers in Sunday's Super Bowl.

But a U.S. Steel memo says workers in the Clairton, Irvin and Edgar Thomson mills who miss work Sunday or Monday "without just cause" will face "severe disciplinary action."

The United Steelworkers union has criticized the memo. A U.S. Steel spokeswoman tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the company doesn't comment on employee relations.

The newspaper says USW International vice president Tom Conway responded to the memo with an e-mail - in black-and-gold type, the Steelers' colors - that suggested adjusting schedules so volunteers who don't want to watch the game can work during it. Conway suggested lost production during Sunday's 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift could be made up later.

Pa. Steelworkers Told To Work During Super Bowl - CBS News

 

[CycloneYoda]

A sporting event is NOT a reason to skip work.

 

[Chipper]

Good. Being blue-collar and working class doesn't come with exemptions.

 

[cyfanatic]

Does not pertain to this story...but I really really wish the Super Bowl was played on a Saturday night! It would make getting up for work on Monday so much easier!

 

[ianoconnor]

If they have PTO they should be able to take it. I'd skip for sure if I were one of them.

 

[IowaCYcler]

A sporting event is NOT a reason to skip work.

Yet there are portions of our fanbase that call out farmers in the fall for not making it to football games.

 

[gocubs2118]

That's rather ridiculous. It's one day out of the year.

 

[AlleyAddict]

Yet there are portions of our fanbase that call out farmers in the fall for not making it to football games.

The irony.

 

[cytheguy]

I think they're being a little too harsh and think they can find some middle ground here. I'm sure there are workers who couldn't care less about the game (probably not many though). Let them work and have the rest of the workers make it up later. I realize that might put a small dent in production, but come on, give your workers a little morale boost once in a while.

 

[superman_101680]

So, the people who are being paid to work are complaining they have to work?

 

[CYKOFAN]

cytheguy has it right. Pretty sad management isn't a little more flexible.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

cytheguy has it right. Pretty sad management isn't a little more flexible.

Why? Work has to get done, deadlines need to be met. I was working remotely out of a hotel room in Dallas last year during the Super Bowl. There was a problem with one of the systems that needed to be back tracked and resolved. What am I going to tell the client, "I'll figure out why you're system is down after the Super Bowl is over"?

 

[ISUKyro]

Does not pertain to this story...but I really really wish the Super Bowl was played on a Saturday night! It would make getting up for work on Monday so much easier!

I'm with this all the way. Hang overs on Monday suck :sad:

 

[CarolinaCy]

I used to work at the Firestone plant in Des Moines, where production is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (or at least it was then). Second shift (6pm to 6am) on Super Bowl Sunday was the highest rate of absenteeism all year.

 

[cyclone13]

Why? Work has to get done, deadlines need to be met. I was working remotely out of a hotel room in Dallas last year during the Super Bowl. There was a problem with one of the systems that needed to be back tracked and resolved. What am I going to tell the client, "I'll figure out why you're system is down after the Super Bowl is over"?

THIS

If you have a job and you are working for someone else, you need to be more than prepared for this kind of situation. If you don't like what your boss/management does: then the only option is to leave.
I bet there are tons of people who would prefer working during the superbowl to sitting at home unemployed this Sunday.

 

[mj4cy]

A sporting event is NOT a reason to skip work.

I would think STEEL workers could watch the STEELERS play in the superbowl. Smart bosses make their employees happy. They find a way to get it done. It's one freaking day of the year.

 

[CtownCyclone]

I think they're being a little too harsh and think they can find some middle ground here. I'm sure there are workers who couldn't care less about the game (probably not many though). Let them work and have the rest of the workers make it up later. I realize that might put a small dent in production, but come on, give your workers a little morale boost once in a while.

If you post a sign saying "Steelers Fans can have Sunday Night Off", guess how many Steelers fans there will be at that plant? Every single one of them. And you have equipment there that doesn't just turn on and off with the flick of a switch. Shutting down for the Superbowl would end production not just for a few hours, but for days and possibly weeks.

 

[Broodwich]

Who cares? The Chinese will work through the game.

 

[Irresponsible]

If you have a job and you are working for someone else, you need to be more than prepared for this kind of situation. If you don't like what your boss/management does: then the only option is to leave.
I bet there are tons of people who would prefer working during the superbowl to sitting at home unemployed this Sunday.

I agree, but if one thinks the workers aren't going to get revenge, one hasn't spent much time in a union factory.

(Gack, that's awful phrase-ology. But "you" isn't appropriate here).

 

[Dormeezy]

Smart bosses make their employees happy. They find a way to get it done. It's one freaking day of the year.

QFT.