Hi Garrett-

Thanks for the article. It was a little light on facts, but that was to be expected. It would take quite some time to go through your article line by line and help you get your facts straight, and I'm not sure that it would make a difference.

I do know this. If Instafab was guilty of doing all of the things that Camarillo and Pei Wu are accusing us of, where is OSHA, Labor and Industries, and all of the other watchdog groups who exist solely to make sure things like you accuse Instafab of doing don't happen? Where are the investigations, the fines, and all of the other punishments? They don't exist. The NLRB complaints are a different matter. They don't involve safety or working conditions, they involve union rules. Several of those have already been dismissed, and we expect more to be dismissed in the future. You don't have to have any evidence to file one, just write your complaint down and sign it.

It would be refreshing if Camarillo would be up front about his intentions. He put the strikers on the union payroll right after they walked out. He's tried to downplay his involvement, but it is obvious and documentable. He seems to have no problem trying to use the strikers to reach his goal.

I feel somewhat sad for Diana Pei Wu. She reminds me of a hunter that doesn't eat what she kills. It's all about the sport. The details don't seem to matter- it's about the show. She took everything she was told by the strikers at face value. Learning the truth would obviously diminish her claims. I guess people like to hear only what supports their beliefs. She does not know what the facts even are, and I'm sure she doesn't care.

Our workers deserve a respectful, safe, worthwhile place to work. We do not abuse our workers- we never have. I think that the timing of this strike coinciding with the number of projects that Local 29 is currently not working on is not just a coincidence. It's on record that he said that Instafab is Camarillo's largest competitor- his claim, not mine.

We are required by law to offer our workers certain protections. We have an obligation as humans to provide the the rest.

Being signatory to a labor union is not an obligation- it is a choice that the workers themselves have to make. I suggest that Mr. Camarillo should come clean, back off, and let the process work. Quit trying to bend and twist everything. Quit taking advantage of the strikers for your gain. If you're union so good for every company, why are ALL companies union? Or do you just want the ones that cut into your bottom line?

Bruce

Who is shocked by more anti-union rhetoric? Anyone?

Bruce, put your money where your mouth (or in this case your fingers) is, because the workers striking against you wouldn't be saying all this if it wasn't actually happening. Simply denying their claims doesn't refute evidence and you're not providing evidence to the contrary, which is especially damning because it seems you're hellbent on gaslighting the organizations and leaders working with them.

But anyway, being anti-union is American as apple pie. Nothing new here.

Whoever "Bruce" is clearly didn't read the article because there is mention of BOLI fines in the article.

I have to say the idea that Instafab workers are striking as some sort of conspiracy on the part of the local union to run the company out of business is laughable. That guy belongs on r/conspiratards. I was sympathetic to the employer's side until he said that was his explanation, now I don't believe a word of it at all. At least admit you need to meet with your workers and improve something, don't blame some supposed clandestine conspiracy for which you have zero evidence.... or do, it was GREAT for a laugh!

T.O.S.P.I.T.W.-

I expect this kind of response. When you say things like "the workers striking against you wouldn't be say all this if it wasn't actually happening" Huh?

You place the burden of proof on me, which is convenient but not fair. If you have evidence as you say, show me.

And by the way, I'm not anti union, just anti union harassment.

Please get that "evidence" to me as soon as you can.


jamera-

If you know of some BOLI fines related to the strikers claims, please let me know. I have nothing like that on file, and they are my files. Maybe you could get that information from BOLI for me?. I'm glad that you find Local 29's obvious role in this dispute so funny. I'm sure that you're correct- all of Camarillo's participation, meetings, press conferences are purely coincidental. Oh, here are the notes from a meeting with PDC !!

"Summary of Local 29/Mr. Camarillo's position:
Local 29 is starting a campaign against practices at Instafab with which they have issues: no water, lax safety training, no apprenticeship, no gender or racial diversity in the workforce, failure to pay prevailing wage, and other issues, including that it took one African-American employee two years to move from $14 an hour to $18.50; and there is no record of ever hiring a woman to perform iron work in the field. In addition, when 7 members of Local 29 spoke out about these issues, owner Bruce Perkins refused to meet with them and terminated their employment."

"The campaign by Local 29 includes upcoming meetings with Mayor Hales and other elected officials, picketing and other actions on the Block 67 job site, public testimony before the PDC Board, and media and other communications."

jamera, believe what you want, say what you want. But you have to admit, that's a lot of involvement from someone who's not involved.

It shouldn't be a burden to provide proof you are supplying your workers with water and adequate shade. It shouldn't be a burden to provide proof you are supplying your workers with safety equipment.

B.G.T.O.A-

I agree. How do I do that in a way that will satisfy you?

I just re-read the article. It's got so much misinformation in it, it's hard to get it ll in just one reading.

One (of the many) things that jumped out at me is the apparent process that Jobs with Justice uses to guide their decisions. This is Diana Pei Wu's process:

1. Hear a list of complaints from strikers, which shocks her.

2. Based on their unsubstantiated claims, you decide that Instafab committed "egregious violations of Federal, State, and local policy".

3. Demand that the City of Portland quit hiring General Contractors that use Instafab on their projects.

For an organization that claims to want justice for all, there seems to be a total lack of any kind of due process. This is anything BUT justice, if that was ever really the goal.

If we are the ones lying, why did we show up to talk while you hid?
Meet with us. We tried on your terms and you cowered because you know we are right.

Why won't you meet with us if we are such liars? Why did we show up at the meeting trying to meet your conditions while you hid?

Come clean Mr. Perkins.

We know that since this campaign has started that raises have been handed down and new-hires are suddenly being hired at a higher wage.

We know that your guys have been caught welding in the field with ZERO certificates.

Where is your safety training? I know for a fact that there have been 3 injuries in the last 2 months including a broken foot and another that ended in stitches.

Quit trying to steer the readers away from you and accept that you have screwed up.

I am very much NOT on Union payroll don't be a liar.

Meet with THE COALITION OF WORKERS FOR INSTAFAB JUSTICE!

SOLIDARITY!!

Fact:
The striking workers were NOT approached by the Union.

The striking workers didn't know how to improve their situation and sought help from the best possible resource. The ironworkers. The men and women who have been dealing with scummy employers and helping the workers for 110 years.

What type of retirement plan do you offer? Why were some of your employees got welding without proper weld thirds on a job site even just today? Why is everybody in the shop gotten a raise within the last month Why are the accidents that are happening in the shop not reported and covered up by Instafab? There are just a few questions for you Bruce?

Why all the fanfare Bruce? Now that this is getting into the publics eye you feel the need to post under your real name and try to appear to be a victim? No one is buying your wolf tickets sir. 14 men have left your company because they thought the conditions they worked under needed to improve, and guess what, you have quietly and sneakily improved some conditions for the employees you still have just so you can save face. Tell them we all said they're welcome. We want a meeting that you have the decency and respect to actually show up to, with the intention of resolving our issues, not just to bicker and point fingers. Can you do that or should we just wait for your daughter to take care of your business for you?

Hi Laramie-

You said a lot of things, so let's just take them in order-

About our meeting; the real question here is why, after I emailed you the day BEFORE the meeting saying that I would not be attending, did you all show up anyway and then act like I stood you up? I have the email, and so do you. Does it make you feel good to create a problem and then complain about it?

Also, why would invite Jobs with Justice, after you agreed not to, and then lie about it?

Raises; Yes, people have received raises. Wages continue to go up. That's been going on like.......forever. Are we supposed to freeze wages so you can complain that we underpay our workers? I'm not sure what you're asking us to do. How can we keep good workers if the labor market is tight and wages continue to go up?

Welding Certs; It is strictly against company policy to perform welding without the proper certifications. No exceptions.

Safety training- We have revamped our safety training program. We had training yesterday, and we will continue to have it. The documentation was lax, and we worked with Labor and Industries to make sure that we are in compliance at all times.

Yes, there are injuries in this business. Things do happen, but I will compare our safety record with any similar business in the area. Yes, Mike dropped a plate on his foot and broke it. You know Mike well. Is Mike unsafe? Is Mike poorly trained? Is Mike inexperienced? Of course the answer is "no", but things happen in this industry. Mike will be on light duty for 2 more weeks. He says he can't wait to get back on the floor.

Approached by the union; Laramie, you don't know what you're talking about. Maybe technically, this time, our "superintendent" made the call, but 29 has been after us for years.

Retirement; we have no retirement in place at this time. Our goal is to get the 401 back and do a match, but we're not there yet. We need to pay down some debt first.

Why are accidents not reported or being covered up?; The simple answer is that we follow strict state guidelines when it comes to workplace injuries. I'm not sure if that was a question or an accusation. Some kind of example or supporting documentation would be helpful. I hate these "have you stopped beating your wife?" questions.


Now I have a couple of questions for you-

According to your LIST OF DEMANDS, please help me understand-

Uniform pay scale- we pay people what we believe they should be paid, what we can afford, and what they agree to accept. We try to research the labor market, but we are not going to lock our wages with anyone else's. Everyone is different, and everyone's contribution is different, every company is different. We use our best judgment about wages, and there's always room for negotiation and conversation. This is a union method. It probably makes their job easier.

Uniform pay increases- please see above

Employer provided health care; We do 80/20 for the workers, and make coverage available for their dependents at our cost. I don't believe in covering dependents at the companies' expense. Would it be fair to have one worker with no dependents make $25 per hour, and have his co-worker, who is also making $25 per hour, have 4 dependents that the company pays for? That does not seem fair to the employee with no dependents. I do not want to provide dependents coverage at company expense.

Provide safety equipment; Laramie, you know that we do that. Who made out this list?

Consistent Safety training; We have always done that, but not as much as we should. We are making training a higher priority.

Appropriate area to eat and store meals; This puzzles me! You have a huge lunchroom with 2 microwaves (plus the microwave downstairs), a refrigerator/freezer, a water machine, heat and AC, and a 32"TV. The lunchroom is clean, well lit, and comfortable. Again, who made out this list? Why did you not tell whomever made this list about your lunchroom?

Tools and OSHA; We just had a complete and thorough inspection from L+I one month ago. A couple of the extension cords had to be tossed, and we had some frayed straps that needed to be replaced. Problems are corrected, no fines or citations. What is it you want here?

Bathroom Restrictions; I don't even know what to say here. No restrictions on length of time? How about cell phone use in the bathroom? OK with you?

Bathroom Question; Another bathroom issue- Our restrooms are cleaned multiple times per day, but you know that.

Why are you demanding union representation, but it's not on your list?

Why do you claim that the field workers don't have water, when you know they do? What's in the water jugs that the guys fill here and take with the every day, if not water?

Why do you claim that we don't pay overtime, when you know we do?

Why do you deny that the union is paying you? Or are they just paying everyone else BUT you?

Why do you say that the field workers do not get consistent meal and rest breaks? You're a shop guy, and a good one. As far as I know, you've never worked in the field for Instafab. Why would you even claim to know?

If you want me to throw myself at you feet and beg, forget it. I started this company when you were in kindergarten. We have faced many challenges over the years, but this last recession was our toughest test. We still have a lot of ground to make up, but we are going in a good direction. We will stay our course, and you are free to do the same. Or, you can come back to work. Your choice.

Bruce

There are probably valid points on both sides of the situation, but as typically happens, the pro union voices are taken at higher face value than the business owner's and most people take the little guys' side in this.

Sounds like there are still areas for improvement (as there is with most companies who are very busy and experiencing growth), and hopefully this whole situation / article will lead the company to focus more on that and address any legit grievances. Unions often play a good and critical role in our economy. But, people need to also realize that union tactics are often geared at sensational claims aimed at rallying new members, so that part of the whole situation is not surprising and anyone with any experience dealing with unions (beyond just getting their info. from news outlets that fit their political leaning) will understand that.

Skyler-

You seem to have learned a lot about Instafab in the month and a half that you were here. I see that you took the $150 harness allowance the company gave you, opted for the upgrade Exofit harness for an additional $158, and agreed (and signed a contract) to pay that money out of your next check. Then you claimed that you were forced to pay for your own safety gear, so we reimbursed you for your portion that you agreed to pay, so YOU'RE welcome! You can still pay what you agreed if you so choose. You have our address. $158.19 to be exact.

Fanfare? You're accusing me of fanfare? I'm surprised you guys don't have your own reality show by now. All of that attention must make you feel important. And you accuse me of fanfare.......

As far as waiting for my daughter to do something for you, good luck with that. She's seen firsthand how Instafab has impacted our family over the years, and she'll have nothing to do with it. And please drop the fake familiarity. You were not here long enough to pull it off, and you've never met my daughter. I doubt if you've ever even seen her.

Bruce

JTR-

Yes, we have and will continue to look at all of these issues, and fix what we can. We are committed to that. There are a lot of things we can do better, but things were never like these guys have described. I thing that exaggerating and sensationalizing claims only makes it more difficult to resolve them.

Thank you,

Bruce

Concerned Citizen -
I screwed up. I thought that your comment was Laramie's. I responded to your questions in my note to him. Sorry!

Bruce

Also Concerned Citizen,

Would it be asking too much for you to use your real name? This is a real discussion, and you have been a part of it for a while. It seems to me that things you talk about would take on new meaning. Maybe that's what you're trying to avoid?

Bruce if any of the things you are saying were true you wouldn't have good hard working people asking you to be a better person. Your pay has only gone up since this campaign has started. Don't deny facts.

Bruce, let's try this again then. Let's meet. You know who will be there. Don't hide anymore you have only addressed issues since this has started because of the magnifying glass placed on your sub-standard business practices. So meet with us and figure out how to make it better and stop blaming the Union for men, FOURTEEN in fact, who are speaking out against you.

I love how much Bruce likes to talk online. Hiding behind his computer screen like so many other internet trolls.
I want a face to face meeting. That is where this needs to go and you know it. Not as a way to point fingers but to resolve issues and get back to work.
Unless I have also been illegally terminated that is.

Hi Laramie-

Let me get this straight- you want me to lower our worker's wages and treat our guys like crap so you can try to come in here with the union and fix it? That's an odd request!

By the way Laramie. Please refute my statements above one by one, with some back up. I've repeatedly responded to claims that you've made against Instafab and me personally. I am addressing things that you claim. If you are not willing to explore your accusations and follow through, please don't bring them up.

After how things went down on July 8th, I now believe that a meeting with you and your group would be a mistake. You were being sneaky and it blew up in your face. You won't even be honest about me cancelling the meeting by email the day before! You have not demonstrated the willingness to have a civil conversation so far, and I don't see that changing any time soon. As soon as something goes sideways with you, you resort to insults and name calling. One of the main reasons I wanted to meet with you was so I could look you in the eye and ask you why you think you have to lie to make your case, but I now have no expectation of getting a straight answer out of you or anyone else in your group.

I'm not sure how personal insults and name calling are supposed to resolve anything. Just because the people that you surround yourselves with know how to work the system, that doesn't mean they are always going to give you the best advice.

Also, I am checking with our attorney to see if your group can just show up at our current workers homes in the evening unannounced like you did last night to give them your union schtick. Even if it is legal, it seems like it's rude and in very poor taste. You might want to rethink that one.

I will not go down the list one by one it gets us nowhere. I am a good man, a voter, a tax payer, not a felon, not a drug addict and not a liar.
No one has called you names or insulted you but I did say you act a certain way.
I will go anywhere I damn well please to make sure you get things straight in your depressed shop and work environment.
I say again, meet with us and stop hiding behind your keyboard.

An internet troll is a person that deliberately says and does things on the internet only because they feel there is no repercussion.
Guess what Bruce repercussions are coming for you.
We are getting all of this press because we have taken our proof to the media. We have made our case.

I am going to see this out to the end.

I do NOT want to put you out of business. What I do want is a place that I could have a career at and retire from comfortably.

What is wrong with that? It wasn't even a possibility before I went on strike and now things on the shop are getting better. We must be doing something right.

Contact us at instafabworkers2015@yahoo to set up a meeting. I'll give you my personal cell number to set it up.

Everything out on the table.

OK Laramie-

I never got to know you that well when you were here, and I don't want to assume anything. Maybe you know all about running a business with 70 employees?

Do you have any idea what it takes for a mom and pop shop like mine to have a contractual relationship with a labor union?

OK, now this mom and pop shop has to be in a contractual relationship with TWO labor unions at the same time?

Unless you are completely delusional, you would understand my chances of survival are right at ZERO. Don't expect me to pretend that it's a good idea just because you say it's a good idea.

Laramie, if you really want to be a hero, go follow your dreams. Just quit messing with mine.

Bruce



Oh and "repercussions"? Whatever.

I know that there are smaller signatory shops than yours and 70 employees isn't quite mom and pop anymore.
If other shops can thrive than so could you. You can't feign ignorance about that.

Instafabworkers2015@yahoo

Show me one Laramie-

Fab and install, all union. First generation, and no rich kid's toy.

Just to be clear, make sure it involves (2) separate unions, or possibly (3) with Teamsters driving our delivery trucks, and please don't give me an MBE of any kind- woman owned, minority, or veteran. Your example needs to be real.

This was your idea Laramie.

Is this a private conversation?

As a long time employee of Instafab, I'm embarrassed and ashamed of these "strikers" spreading nothing but lies about a company I work for. So many lies, right from the first flyer that went out and every statement, flyer, interview, and wolf cry since. 99% of the claims are laughable. Waters always been available (heck when it's really hot we buy popcicles!), bathrooms have always been cleaned, safety has always been a priority (our only mistake there was having the wrong employee in charge of it). Field crew can't take breaks? What the?? Who's stopping them?? Who exactly is out in the field telling the guys no breaks?? Oh that's right - nobody. No lunch room? Are you kidding me? So that room upstairs with tables, chairs, a fridge and two microwaves, a TV and AC.... What's that? William Russel claimed no raise for two years on the first flyer. Ummm... The guy had a $5 per hour increase in his first 4 months, and another raise right before he "went on strike" after 16 months of employment! He didn't even get to 2 years to make his claims. Laramie, several raises were given prior to the first strike in February, if you weren't one of them - doesn't mean they didn't happen! So what if we give more raises now? It's kind of how it works.. You do a good job, you get a raise. Are we supposed to all freeze in time so your claims sound better? No OT paid? No PW paid?? Show us when, where in the history of IFC that we intentionally didn't pay OT or PW! Errors may happen but are always corrected, we are human after all. 2 hours to wait on the bathroom? What a joke. One of you stated in an interview that there are 60 guys in the shop and one toilet. Seriously? Take a math class recently?? Our entire workforce is typically not more than 60 employees. The administrative team has 2 bathrooms for about 12 employees. And the shop has no more than 25 employees in the shop per shift. And there's 2 toilets for the shop crew. where do you get 60 dudes vs. one toilet? Most, if not all of the claims from the field crew were Matts responsibility. If he wanted to change things, he could have! It was his crew! So he did a shitty job, blamed IFC and went on strike. What a bunch of lemmings. Every striker was offered their job back, no response. If you don't want to work at IFC - and you're already on the unions payroll sounds like you solved your own problem! Stop wasting everybody's time with all your lies and go work where you're happy! That's what the rest of us do - right here at good ole' IFC.

Good Morning Laramie-

I was hoping to see the list of small, successful, multi-union, non-minority fabrication and installation companies in the Portland area that you promised me. Can you please send that to me this morning, or do you need to deliver the list in person so you can yell it out to me?

Shouldn't be a problem. According to you, there are lots of them out there!

Bruce

Laramie-

While I was waiting for the list, I started thinking about your repeated claims of how you are making Instafab a better company, and how now you deserve to work here, and - oh yeah- throw a comfortable retirement in there while you're at it. The only reason I was thinking about it is that you keep bringing it up.

Here's what I came up with-

Wages- Wages started being pushed up long before the strike. If you haven't read the papers, there is a shortage of skilled workers, and the economy continues to improve. Wages continue to go up, whether you're on strike or not. So "no", you can't take credit for that.

Hours- No change here. We will work when we have to, and continue to follow all state guidelines. Try to make sure that guys get their 40. So that would be a "no"

Safety- We have always tried to work safely and use the correct procedures and equipment, but our paperwork was behind and our cert cards were a mess. So "yes", your strike did help us in this area.

Morale- I think that this is the one area that was affected the most. 14 unhappy workers that thought that it would be a good idea to bring in a union to teach your employer and co-workers a lesson instead of doing what most people would do- speak up in your company and work for change- left. That meant the folks that DO want to be here are still here. I'm not saying it's all peaches and cream, but the seriously disgruntled workers (and followers) are not here. It made a lot of folks here think about what they wanted from their job, and think about what they have. We've really had a reason to talk about our workplace, good and bad. They have the option to stay or go, and they stayed. I'm not saying that we won't still lose folks once in a while. You guys are really working hard at it, even going house-to-house at night. I know Laramie, you'll take your "full court press" wherever you damn well please! I get that. So thank you for leaving, and allowing the rest of us to stay and make the most out of our jobs. So that is a solid "yes"

As for the rest of the list-

YES! Company provided drinking water, no change

NO! Retirement, no change (yet, we're working on it, planned well before the strike))

YES! Clean Bathrooms, no change

YES! Good Lunchroom, no change

YES! Proper and legal Prevailing wage, no change

NO! Uniform pay, no change. Pay is based on worker performance and contribution.

YES! Paid sick days, no change

YES! Safety training, some change

YES! Health insurance, no change

NO! Free health insurance for dependents, no change

YES! Company provided PPE, no change

YES! Accurate payment (no wage theft!) no change

YES! No Mistreatment/retaliation/no change

YES! Proper and legal Meal and rest breaks, no change

YES! Proper and legal Injury reporting, no change

So yes Laramie, you did help us out. Thank you!

As far as the whole internet troll thing, you don't have to read it if you don't want to. If you're saying that I'm not speaking the truth, that's black and white.

Maybe it's just easier to call me a troll and a coward than to look at the facts?

Laramie, where is the list of shops you were telling me you knew about?

We're you just FEIGNING knowledge about those shops that you were describing?

Laramie.....?

Bruce,
Being an employee of yours for a long tine. Why are you assuming you would have to deal with three separate unions?

Has it ever occurred to you that maybe the " Workers" do have more say than you assume, and are the ones who will decide who represent us, not the unions?

Bruce, according to your posts, you claim to be providing a lot of the things that we're asking for, and we're wondering if that's the case today, than why won't you agree to sit down with us to negotiate some of the other benefits and conditions we want?

Is there any chance that maybe your being fooled or manipulated by guys like Will and Todd who are extremely insecure individuals, and are poisoning you because they feel their weak leadership skills will be exposed if we're actually allowed to be ourselves at work? Didn't Will get ran off from another shop for ruining it? Didn't Todd almost kill a guy in his previous job?

Tell us what job site right now has water that is supplied by instafab?

Ask your employees in the field how many breaks they took this week? Not lunches, but breaks.

Ask everyone welding to show you their weld certs and safety training credentials.

Do you know what the rest meal period law is in Oregon and Washington?

You seem to know so much then tell us these things.

Tell us when is the last time you actually visited a job site to verify what you think is happening truly is happening? Don't most responsible owners do visit their jobs? How can you say these things don't happen if you never step foot on to these jobs?

Bruce,
Do you honestly believe that giving your guys only one meal break per 10+ hours of work is adequate? Do you realize how hot its been outside of your air conditioned office? These men are performing hard labor for you. Treat them with respect and dignity.

I can see where this is going. More fake names and union double speak. You folks getting a little desperate?

I don't care who pretends to represent you. Maybe your mom will do it. Why would I care? If you were a current shop employee, you would be working. The shift is not over until 2:30.

Engaging with you folks was kind of fun for a while, but your tactics are getting old.

Have a nice strike!

Current shop employee? How would you know what's going on at the job sites yourself if you're in the shop? Are you posting from the bathroom? If you're a current shop employee you'd be working right now. I'm confused.

Ha ha!

I think he meant to say " current union liar"!

Hi Laramie-

How is that list of shops that you know of coming along.

If it's good for them, it should be good for Instafab, right?

Laramie, do you have the slightest idea what you're talking about?

I didn't think so.

Bruce, you handled yourself well throughout this.

frankieb-

While I do appreciate your comment, I have said some things and reacted in ways that I'm not proud of. This situation is stressful, and not something that we deserve.

The thing that frustrates me is this- people that know me and know Instafab will tell you that we try to treat our relationships with our workers and our customers with respect. While far from perfect, we try to do the right thing.

It hurts me deeply to see people attack who we are, both professionally and personally, just to try to get Instafab to join the union. They don't care what it does to people who are involved- it doesn't matter to them.

There are a lot of people who are in favor of the unions. I believe they can serve a purpose. What's sad is that a lot of the pro union folks are comfortable with the tactics that groups like Local 29 use to build their business. Maybe that's covered by some "greater good" philosophy. Maybe it's easier to go along with that kind of destructive behaviorwhen it's not their life's work that is being threatened. Maybe they are too blinded by ideology to put themselves in our place.

We're not going to give up. Too many good people have worked way too hard to give up what we believe in just because Local 29 doesn't want us around.

The union and their followers are behaving shamefully. It baffles me how the union thinks that attacking people is the way to get them to sign up. If that's their world, it's no wondering that the unions are dying.

Bruce

I love how business owners interpret the word "Freedom" as a right to exploit workers. Take away the checks and balances that are in place and see what happens to freedom. Just ask a Chinese factory worker. A corporation or business owner has no moral obligation to anything other than itself or shareholders. If only we would stop doing business with Chinese factories that do not respect people or the environment.

Did you even read the article?

Bruce why do you think you would have to deal with all of these different unions? It's up to the workers to decide who they want to represent them not the employer or Union.
The contract that would be in place can encompass all employees just by placing job titles on them. Drivers, painters, welders, everyone. That's all part of a negotiation.
The more I read your posts the more I start to believe that you just honestly have no idea how a Union works.
Have you actually looked into what the Union does gr the employer? The resources at your disposal would be enormous. Your operating costs and shop insurance would go down, your shop production and efficiency would go up and your turnover would fall dramatically. I have seen your osha reports too, and I know that Union shops have far less injuries than you. This would also help your shop pick up jobs by lowering your mod rate.
Would you consider a Q&A session just to clarify some points that I just don't think you are aware of?

Laramie-

If you could just step back and listen to yourself for a minute, you may have a better understanding of my position and why I want nothing to do with you.

One minute, you talk about being treated "like an animal"- you want the union to come in so they can deal with "scummy employers" like me- "guess what Bruce , repercussions are coming for you!". You guys lie about who you are, claiming to be 'concerned citizens' or 'current shop employees'. I don't think that charade would even work on your kids. You lie about the conditions at Instafab. You pretend I'm some fat cat sitting in my air conditioned office taking advantage of the people I work with. You lie about how the company is run, and how the workers are treated. You lied on KBOO, you lied about me cancelling the meeting on July 8th. You lied to the NW Labor Press, you lied to the Portland Mercury, you had Jobs with Justice lie on your behalf in front of the Portland City Council, you lie to our customers and suppliers, and you lie to the public. Your whole campaign has been built on dishonesty, misrepresentation and manipulation.

If you want a union, fine- you have the freedom to pursue that goal.

The thing is, you can't undo all of the crappy, deceitful and dishonest things you've said and done trying to get the union into Instafab. You're like hungry foxes circling the henhouse, looking for a way in. All of the personal attacks, all of the people you've screwed over, all of the people you've misled, all of the groups that you've lied to and manipulated to further your "cause". How's that all working for you?

You've lied to OSHA, BOLI, Labor and Industries, and the National Labor Relations Board, just to name a few. You owe these folks an apology, and probably some travel time and expenses too. You're lucky they don't go after people that file false claims.

And now you want to talk about my efficiencies, resources, my operating costs, and my EMR at Instafab! 'Trust me Bruce, this is good for your business!' Really Laramie? Please don't ever think that I will be the least bit interested in anything you have to say- and I don't care HOW WELL Camarillo has coached you. Your group and your cause have zero credibility with me, and anyone else that is paying attention.

Any organization the behaves the way that you and the unions have so far is not the kind of people that I would EVER want to do business with at Instafab. You tell the world how bad it is at Instafab- you attack our character- anything and everything is fair game with you. And Camarillo calls me unscrupulous?? Give me a break. You guys are poison, and you have no one to blame but yourselves.

So now you can quit acting like a group of well meaning people that want to partner up with Instafab and create something wonderful. I am not interested. You can go back to your picketing, you phony press conferences, your sneak attacks, your fake names and BS claims. You can start rumors and insult our families. You can continue to (illegally) block our jobsites, call OSHA repeatedly, and march up and down the street waving signs. Everyone knows who and what you are, so you might as well own it and move on. Your horrible reputation is well earned and well deserved. And you're doing nothing to improve it.

It may come as a shock to many Portland workers, but being part of a Union ain't the end-all beat-all solution.
There are many problems with unions....
Unless, of course, you are lucky enough to be part of a Government Job Union.

Bruce,
I have read the article and all of the comments and I am still unsure why you wouldn't meet with the strikers?
I would think that a lot, or all, of this could have been resolved if you would have agreed and communicated with the people that were chosed to work for your company.
You are very condescending and argumentative and it seems you have not spent much time with any of the employees outside of your leadership crew. Have you even met or talked to all of your workforce?
One comment you called someone out for not using their real name. That is a threatening tactic and I can only assume you wanted to know who it was so you could berate them and if it is a current employee, you would now who to watch.
As an outsider looking in, you don't appear to have any respect for the men who work hard to continue to keep your shop going. Respect always starts from the top and trickles down. Your workforce is a product of what you have created.
I wish you luck and hope the best for a local business to thrive and prosper.
And I wish the strikers luck and fortune to work for a company that treats them with respect and one they are proud of.

Dear "I'm not Matt" or "I'm not Camarillo" or "I'm not Laramie" or "I'm not a striker" or "Outsider looking in" "Current shop employee" or "Concerned citizen" or "Local worker" or whomever it is that you strikers are pretending to be today-

You seem to be worried about someone knowing who you guys are. Apparently the way you folks operate and the things you do requires a lack of identity, therefore a lack of accountability. You probably still consider yourselves "whistleblowers", which I always found comical. Undercover for justice!

We don't call striker's families at home and harass them, we don't go to strikers homes at night and talk to them about why we think what they're doing is not right and why they shouldn't be striking, we don't attack strikers character and make up BS rumors about their past to try to damage their credibility.

That is what you strikers and the union likes to do.

So if you want to judge every situation based on how YOU would handle it, then your fears are probably valid. Fortunately most of the rest of the world doesn't depend on secrecy and fear mongering to move their cause along. So if you assume that I want to know who someone is so I can berate them and watch them, then that's your 'black hole' of a world, not mine.

I just think that if you want to have a real conversation, you need to have a real name.

Local Striker-

I just re-read your post and I AGREE WITH YOU 100%. A lot, or all of this entire thing could have been avoided if the strikers communicated with the people that you chose to work for before you decided to bail out.

Or was working at Instafab ever really the point??

Your post is a joke.

Unlike you Bruce. I have never lied about any of the things I have been talking about. I put myself out into the publics eye 100% because I am not lying.
I have had no coaching as to what to say to you. I'm not some big dumb idiot. I have access to a smart phone and can get any information I want at instant speed. Maybe you should try it instead of acting so arrogant. Your shop is run poorly and the longer this goes the more changes you make to your it. I still talk to guys inside so I know that you have instituted changes that are directly related to the things we have been campaigning about.

I ask you again since your ignorance is abounding would it help you to sit down for just a Q&A?
I know you have been making phone calls to signatory shop owners and it can't be coincidence.

Instafabworkers2015@yahoo

Bruce,

I posted my comment under "Local worker", I didn't say I was one of yours or a striker. In fact, I am neither. I work for a non-union company and that is largely due to my lead, supervisor, manager AND the owner treat me with respect and dignity. Something your workers don't seem to get.
I do not have firsthand knowledge of what is going on in your shop and can only judge by what I have read here. Your obvious anger at every comment is putting you in a delusional state of rage.
As I said in my previous comment, good luck to both sides of this dilemma to start acting like grownups so everyone can help the local economy and themselves.

Hi Laramie-

Thanks for using your name. It's nice to know who I'm talking to.

Yes, we have made changes. We'll probably make some changes today in fact! Some of the changes are as a result of the striker's complaints, and some are market driven. But you know that. ALL of the changes could have occurred without the strike. A CONVERSATION IS ALL THAT IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN, but you guys didn't try that. I know that your strike participation was a complete afterthought, and I hope later on that you still believe that it was a good decision. Time will tell. Maybe you'll end up at a shop where they don't care if you spend the entire day in the bathroom.

When I say you lie, I am speaking more in general terms. You claim to know that I have been making phone calls to signatory shops. That is absolutely not true. Is that a lie? Sounds like it to me. Are you saying that try to make me look bad, or do you truly just not know what you're talking about? You're the person that even brought it up the whole "thriving signatory shop" thing. I asked you to show me one, and you gave me nothing. I don't need to call anybody- you do.

Do you want to tell me that all of the crap that you were saying on KBOO was true? It was nonsense and you know it. You know that most of the claims that the "superintendent" and his lackeys are making is false, but I don't hear you setting the record straight.

So don't involve yourself in some tangled mess of lies and misperceptions with dishonest people with a completely different agenda than they claim, and think you can take some moral high road and not be lumped in with the rest. By your very participation, you're just as dishonest and deceitful as they are.

Don't worry about my arrogance. I will fight you every step of the way because I have that right, and I believe what your doing and how you're going about it is wrong. Arrogance is not a crime. And I apologize for improving our "poorly run" shop. I know that it would help your cause if I treated our workers like shit. I'll take that under advisement. In the meantime, we'll just keep making things at Instafab better.

Local Worker-

If that is truly the case as you have described, I apologize.

Yes, I have been a little testy lately.

You say that this could have been resolved with a conversation. We have tried to meet and talk with you but you have refused. What can be done about your not showing up? You are happy to chat here but not face to face with us, the strikers, we aren't liars and you wouldn't be making all of these changes that are directly related to what we have been preaching about if there wasn't a problem. Keep putting your foot in your mouth.
Oh and I talked to the owner of a Local 16 signatory shop that you called. I know, you know. That shop is far smaller than yours and is doing just fine.

Sounds to me like Laramie, et al. might be best off to go out and start their own company...you know, since it is so easy to do and manage to everyone's 100% satisfaction 100% of the time. If Bruce is such an asshole, walk away from him, watch his company crumble, and show him how to run a fab shop with 100% worker satisfaction, low turnover, above-market number of breaks, no injuries, spa-like break rooms, etc. I am sure it can't be that hard, right?

Or, it could be that he is doing a pretty good job of managing a growing company and is trying to fix things in the areas that got away from him and have been brought to his attention (no matter if they were brought in the most low class and unproductive of ways)? Ever think of that, or were you too busy beating your chest, being brainwashed by union propaganda, and playing into the "we want more, more, more..company be damned" philosophy that unions often take at their own peril (look at the Port of Portland situation for a good recent, local example).

I have no dog in this fight and don't know anyone from either side....just my two cents after having followed all of this.

Also Bruce, thank you for validation on what we are doing. You said in that last post to me that changes are being made based on striker complaints.
I'm a little confused as to how we are liars if you are, in your own words mind you, making changes based on our complaints.

Thanks for the words of support JTR. I don't get much of that!

Laramie, you know I was talking about communication BEFORE the strike, not after. You're smarter than that.

Give me the specifics of this Local 16 shop you called, and how that would work on the field erect side. If you have a truly comparable example, I would like to see it.

I have no interest in being a union shop, but I want to see if you can make good on your claim. Keep working those phones!

Come on Laramie, do you want to play word games?

I did not say that ALL of your complaints were valid.

I did not say to WHAT DEGREE they were valid.

The changes could have come WITHOUT STRIKING.

The reason the strike occurred had LITTLE TO DO WITH THE CONDITIONS, more to do with wanting to be in the union.

There is always room for improvement, and there always has been improvement, for almost 30 years. Don't give yourself so much credit.

Bruce I will provide you with every bit of information you want when you agree to meet with us.

Instafabworkers2015@yahoo

You can't honestly tell me that this could have all been resolved without a strike because FOURTEEN people don't just strike if they have open channels of communication.

Unfortunately for you its not your choice whether or not you want to be a Union shop. It's up to us, the workers. This shows more about how little you know of Unions and Union shops. The offer for a Q&A is still available.

Instafabworkers2015@yahoo

Laramie-

You can keep the information that you're "holding hostage". I don't really care. I thought you already understood that.

This strike started with one person- a butt-hurt superintendent that didn't like hearing that he needed to do a better job. Do you think he was doing a good job Laramie? Whose responsibility was it to make sure the jobs had water Laramie? Did the jobs have water Laramie? Did you have water Laramie?

So the first wave of strikers was 5 from the field, then 2 more from the field a week or so later. Then you 4 from the shop. I don't really count the 2 short-timers that walked, because I believe they were sent here to quit. And one of the field strikers had been let go a month before, so I'm not sure how he even gets counted. He didn't even work for Instafab. I don't know how the recruiting has been going, but I know it's not for lack of trying on your part.

You're right, I don't know a whole lot about unions. I don't know a lot about prison either, but I have no desire to try it just to find out.

If you think you're going to get Instafab to go union without the fight of your life, that shows how little you know about me. I have no intention of giving up. If it's up to you as you say Laramie, why isn't Instafab union right now? You going to hang around picking off strays until you have enough votes? Throw in a few salts? Keep going door to door? Picket on the nicer days? That is a bizarre way to operate! Oh well, I guess you have the time. In the meantime, you want folks to not use Instafab to try to hurt our business. Maybe you'll hurt us so bad with your smear campaign, we'll fold. That works for you and Camarillo too. Something for everyone!

I love that sense of control you project when you tell me that it's not up to me whether or not Instafab is a union shop. It's up to you Laramie- all of that power! I wish you could apply that to something you do- how you raise your kids and where they go to school, where you live, how you live. I'll bet you wouldn't be too happy about that. But what the hell, it's just a business, right?


Do what JTR suggested- go start your own shop. 14 good strong smart men with the backing of the best union money can buy. How could you fail?

I'm not sure why you're so against Unions. Can you explain how an organized group of workers committed to continuing education, high work standards and safety is going to negatively affect you?

It helps shops like yours get better paying jobs more frequently because contractors know what they are going to get. It helps with your retention of employees and drops your mod.

I'm not trying to hold info hostage. I just want to meet and talk. You say that's what could have prevented this whole thing so why aren't you working towards making it happen?

Instafabworkers2015@yahoo

Not to mention 4 hour bathroom breaks and a comfortable retirement! :)

Lexow - you act like this is industrial age America where people are working in deplorable conditions for pennies, losing their lives left and right, etc.. At that time, Unions were necessary and a positive. In modern times, they have become out of control political machines. In my opinion, it sounds like many of the accusations related to bathrooms, water, etc. were overblown here, and nobody has refuted Bruce's answers to these questions.

If things are so bad at Instafab, why not go work in a union shop...or even a non union shop that isn't run by an "evil" owner. Sounds to me like things aren't that bad afterall...and are improving where they needed to...and you all have just been roused by the union representative whispering in your ear that "all you need to do is raise some hell and unionize (and pay out monthly dues) and things could be much better."

First, how is it that you automatically trust the union to better represent your voice in this situation? It sounds to me like they have thus far taken the stereotypical "thug" route on dealing with this, creating a hostile relationship with Instafab which will continue on post union (if, that is, Bruce doesn't decide to throw in the keys).

You like paying dues? Sounds like you do. Have you done the research on the status of the union pension funds that you (I am assuming) are being offered? Many of these are terribly managed, so do your research. If Bruce is working on a 401k with a match, that just might be the better option.

Do you want the ability to work your way up through your own merit, or be stuck under union seniority rules? (guess this depends on if you are a go getter or want to take the handout route). An effective and growing business needs the flexibility to be able to let the rising stars shine, and get rid of the non-stars.

You like in-fighting and politics? (seems like this one might be a yes?). Just wait until you get involved with a union. It is 10x worse for the employer dealing with them.

Have you studied up on the union work rules? Do you think they are a good fit with Instafab's business model? (I have no idea on this one, but I am sure there would be areas of inapplicability that would still have to be implemented).

In what is a very cyclical industry, companies like Instafab need to retain the ability to lay off workers when times get tough and hire new workers when times are booming (this part of working in / owning a business in construction-related industries). The union would hamper this and dictate who is able to be laid off and when (based on seniority typically, not on merit or the strategic decisions of the business owner).

JTR, these guys don't listen to anything. If they hear something they don't like, you get the silent treatment.

Very mature!

Laramie,

Do we live in a communist country? A dictatorship perhaps? What in the hell are you saying?? "Unfortunately for you its not your choice whether or not you want to be a Union shop." Are you effing kidding me? Since when do "we the PEOPLE" not have a choice? For crying out loud. THE HORSE IS DEAD. Why do you insist on beating it? This has gotten far beyond out of hand. Let the man run his business. You've taken up enough peoples time and wasted a ton of your own energy. What are you actually gaining from this? Are your tirades satisfying? What does the end game look like to you? You are trying to force an issue, I'm afraid, that you just don't have all the control of. You aren't going to be a hero. Tell me, what would you do while being backed into a corner? What more do you want? I'm utterly confused. Are you saying that every profession should be under "union rule"? Do you enjoy some of the freedoms you have here in the U.S.? How would you like the freedom to choose to be taken from you? This is not a one way street, no matter how much you want it to be or insist that it is. I don't think that you would be very happy if you couldn't feel free to make your own choices. So please, for goodness sake, let it rest.

Being an American means you fight for something better. The Unions are voted in by the workers and then a negotiation begins between the employer and the representative of the workers.
It's not Bruce's choice its the workers. Simple as that.
Whether or not Bruce wants to believe it, it will benefit his shop as well.

Debby, what is more American than a group of people voting in representatives to help them fight for better? That's what Unions are. A group of workers that fight together for better. If it weren't for Unions a lot of the liberties I'm sure you take for granted wouldn't be given to you.
Why can't the men and women on that shop vite for representation? That's how it's not his choice. He doesn't get to choose whether or not his workers want that.
Read up.

If it were up to the employer there wouldn't be ANY Union shops and most workers would be making third world country wages. Of course an arrogant cheap employer doesn't want the workers to fight back.

Ignorance.

Laramie - seriously, man, you need to do your research on the effect that a union could have in a small company, cyclical industry situation like this. You are completely head in the sand about overall costs to workers, limitations on your flexibility, retirement fund security, the BS that comes along with dealing with politics etc, not to mention the effects it would have on the owner's decision to further invest in and grow the business. You are likely better off to push for some calm, frank conversations about the few real issues you have here with the owner (once tempers settle down, that is). There are two sides to every story...don't believe all of the stuff that is being sold to you by the union representatives.

JTR I have done my research. I am very adept at gathering information.
As far as resolving the current issues, it becomes hard when the only way I can get interaction with Bruce is through this comment section.
Let's talk Bruce.
Instafabworkers2015@yahoo

JTR-

It's not Laramie that's driving this thing, it's Local 29 and Robert Camarillo. They're really pissed off because we have work all over town. They will try to tell you that's not the case, but it's obvious.

Laramie is just being used. Obviously he really enjoys, or needs, the attention.

The fact that they don't address any questions or criticisms is because they can't. The facts don't support them.

Talking to Laramie is a waste of time because his cause is a sham, and he won't give you an honest response. He is not at all the man he claims to be. He is a big-talking fraud.

I've learned a lot about the abusive tactics of the union, and the one sided positions taken by the NLRB. At this point, we will let this thing play out. Guys like Laramie and Camarillo hope that our workers will buy their BS, but I think our workers are smarter than that.

We'll see how it goes. I know that employers are treated by unions and the NLRB as "guilty as charged" right from the start. The shit that the Mercury and NW Labor Press puts out doesn't help. Laramie thinks the press and the public is behind him, but the press is pretty badly slanted, and I don't think that the rest of the world really cares much one way or another.

And you're right. I'm too old for this kind of crap, and I can see myself going and doing something that doesn't require dealing with thugs like Camarillo and his lackeys.

Thanks for following this.

Bruce

We have addressed the issues Bruce. You in this very comments section say that you have instituted changes based on striker claims.
That alone gives us credibility because of your admittance to having to change.
I am every bit the person I claim to be and have proven to by repeatedly putting myself out there and asking for meetings.

You said this could have been resolved with a conversation but you avoid it at all costs unless it's internet based.

Let's talk

Instafabworkers2015@yahoo

Piss off Laramie.

OK, telling Laramie to piss off was unnecessary. Sorry.

I became frustrated yesterday when a commenter not connected to this labor dispute pointed out that the spokes-striker has continually ignored my questions about conditions that the workers face and just kept pushing for a meeting to talk about the union. The reason that the questions and the answers are important is because it is these claims that the strikers have made that are the basis for their strike.

I KNOW the job sites have water. I KNOW that we pay overtime and prevailing wage. I KNOW that we pay for safety gear including harnesses. I KNOW that we have a good lunchroom and bathroom. I KNOW that our safety record is good (better than most). And I am POSITIVE that we don't treat our workers like animals.

I was asking the questions thinking that the strikers may decide to come clean, trade honesty for access, but I guess that was wishful thinking on my part.

The spokes-striker made a big deal yesterday about how this is America, and how people are able to band together and fight for what they want. I agree with that 100%, and long as you are not misleading people and harming people and attacking people, and turning peoples lives upside down in order to do it. You can't tell me that's how it's supposed to be done? Does the end justify your means? Are we talking about the same America? What else are you willing to do to get Instafab to become a union shop?

Having Local 29 pretend that they don't have something to gain by all of this is ridiculous. They don't want more workers- they have more than they can employ right now. If they wanted the strikers, I'm sure all of the strikers would go join their union right now. Many of the strikers started working for the union the first Monday after they went on strike. No, they want our install work, and they have admitted it. When I pointed this out to the author of this article, Garrett Andrews, his response was "Camarillo and the workers I talked to said it's not true. And you say no one is investigating this. Isn't the NLRB? Am I missing something?"

Yes Garrett, you're missing a lot! What did you expect the union and the strikers to say? "Yes", they're saying one thing and doing another? And do you know anything about the NLRB? What do you think they would do? The NLRB was created in part by the unions to protect the unions and help them grow. The NLRB is not interested in complaints against union tactics and practices by business folks like me. The union connection is easy to see and understand. I'm sure that a little digging on your part would have been fruitful and time well spent.

A well-known Portland Labor attorney close to this dispute said "As to Local 29's motivation, I think pure and simple they want to put you (Instafab) out of business so union-signatory contractors can take over your market share" Pure and simple.

The spokes-striker said he addressed the issues- I heard him address nothing. He just wants his shot at this "arrogant cheap employer". But the union would be great for our business! It's like a split personality. Who are you today?

Striker- spokesman, instead of taking credit for all of the changes that have been made, how about giving credit where credit is due- communication. We fix what we know about. You don't have to strike to communicate and make positive changes. If making positive changes was ever the goal.

I work in a union shop that is a sister company to a union erector. The input of the union is very minimal, when youre tresting you employees fairly. Not sure why Bruce is fighting so hard to stay anti union and neither does he. It's just stubbornness at this point, and his perpetual victim syndrome. "It can't be all of the issues these guys wrote down and handed to me, it must be the union wants me out of business!"

What both sides need to realize is this: feelings are reality to those who hold them. If 14 people are telling you they feel they aren't being treated fairly, then to those 14 people you aren't treating them fairly. If Bruce feels he's treating those 14 people fairly, then to him, it's gotta be an ulterior motive.

I worked at InstaFab as a PM and quit when my wife had my daughter, and my schedule got mixed up (I was coming in at 7am instead of 6am since my wife had a c section and couldn't lift my son out of his crib) I was told my "personal life was beginning to try Bruces patience" (over email as this man is SPINELESS face to face). This was after logging in remotely, while my daughter was being born, (well not right during, he could've gone hell if he expected that) and answering phone calls in the hospital regarding information Bruce agreed was his responsibility to provide for a project we had no business bidding.

When I quit, I gave Bruce no notice as he told me when I came on that I should give my former employer as much notice as I felt they deserved based on their treatment of me. After he texted me that he wasn't going to pay me for my final week, I had to take him to L&I to get my final check. I informed him it was illegal, and told him I would be taking him to L&I, to which he replied, "that's what they're there for!" (Over text, again, spineless) To do that to a young family with a new child, regardless of your political viewpoints on unions vs non union, This guy is the worst kind of scum. I wasn't the first employee he did this to, but I won't tell their story, since it's not mine.

My two cents:

While I seem to be anti Bruce, I'm not anti truth... There was a bathroom in the office (that the men in the office, besides Bruce, couldn't use. I assume it's cause he sits to pee as well) there was a bathroom in the shop, and there was a porta potty. While 60 people in line may be an overstated figure, when you gotta pee, it might as well be 200. When I was there a guy cleaned the shop bathroom every morning, but there was a permanent stink in there that made it so I'd prefer to use the Porta potty out back (that's how bad the smell was). He did have a lunch room in the shop, but being that this is a list of demands by the shop AND field, and having a logical brain, I'd reason that the field would also like a comfortable place to eat lunch out of the sun. I know the pay varied, and wasn't adjusted as often as anyone liked, but I knew one of the field guys made more than me (I saw a stub one time, don't know how much OT was on it) and I was making 30+ an hour... but I knew other guys made A LOT less. I know he paid OT when I was there, but this guy's mood changed like the tide, and it wouldn't shock me to find he stopped paying OT to those he deemed "weren't worthy"

Bruce didn't provide hard hats for guys in the shop, despite using overhead cranes (real dedication to safety, huh?)
It would not surprise me in the least to learn he made guys buy their own safety harnesses and he would've continued until he was found out.
Water on job sites was Matt's responsibility? Was he supposed to buy it? With his own money? When (he was always running ragged)? You couldn't have picked up a couple cases on your weekly trips to Winco? Did Matt have a company card? Did he know he wouldn't have gotten chewed out if he bought waters with it? I would have put money on the fact that Bruce would have had a high speed come apart if Matt turned in a receipt with water on it.

Will was described as insecure, and this is beyond the truth. I like Will, he treated me fairly in personal dealings, but he makes up issues that only he is the solution to, since he misses a lot of time. He has to come back and "save the day" so Bruce didn't realize that Ron had everything functioning ok without him, and realize the guy was a non contributor.

Bruce sits in the office and ignores issues until they explode in his face. Obviously since he is watching this so closely, this has exploded in his face, so keep it up guys. His Craigslist ad a month ago didn't mention anything about the positions being offered as temporary, so obviously he had no intention of bringing these guys back on... hope the NLRB notices this... I saved the page as a pdf if anyone needs it

As for the list of shops.... Everybody is hiring right now, so name a shop.

Hi Joel-

You sound really mad, based on the fact that many of the things you say are meant to be intentionally hurtful. If that name calling makes you feel better, then OK.

And yes, I can be stubborn- but when the guys hand me a list of demands, many of which are already in place, I can only assume the strikers didn't write the list, and probably aren't driving the strike. How would you read that Joel?

Your "feelings" comments are not making sense to me. I'm trying to figure out where you're going with this. So, if 14 people tell me they feel that I'm not treating the fairly, then to them I'm not treating the fairly. They have the right to feel how they feel. I get that. If I feel like they are not being honest with me about why they're on strike, and they try to make me look like an asshole just so they can get people to sympathize with them and support them, and if they have issues and didn't even TRY talking to me, then....what? I'm disappointed and sorry that it went the way it did. OH, right. I'm not allowed to have feelings.

Yes, I told you to "get your head in the game", but I did it with you FACE-TO-FACE, in my office. You were here 3 months, and missed at least 17 days, plus a lot of 'lates' and 'leave earlies'. Your "log in" from home was a joke. We paid you for every day you missed, even though we didn't have to. Pretty scummy! You did go to Labor and Industries, and they reduced your last check. We were getting a lot of complaints from customers that you weren't managing your projects. Fortunately, our team stepped up to cover your work as much as they could.

After you did not show up one morning, you texted and said you went to Fought. Classy. You called every worker at Instafab to try to get them to go to work there. You got zero.

I know the strikers say I don't listen to them and I am not accessible, but they sure had no problem coming into my office complaining about you not doing your job, or when they needed a personal favor. Imagine that.

Oh, and thank you Joel for your text that you sent me on March 10, saying;

"Bruce, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for how things went down. You gave me a fair shot and I was immature. The grass isn't greener and I still have to mow it."

Glad we gave you a fair shot. Thanks for the note!

I hope you work through your issues with me and Will and whatever hard feelings you're carrying around with you. As far as all of the other things that you chimed in on and speculated about, you seem amazingly well versed for someone who hasn't worked here for over a year.

Yeah, it didn't take me long to realize I didn't want to be there. Three months was all it took to realize you'd be here someday, and I didn't want to be around when that happened.

I am sorry for the way I left. Even someone I don't see eye to eye with deserves more respect than that. I sent that message cause I am over it, and thought closure would be good for me. Reading this and seeing you're the same slime ball from a year ago did spark some hostile feelings.

I wasn't and still am not sorry for the reasons I left, your caring attitude for my family and all. It also got tiresome/embarrassing calling GCs asking for joint checks so my vendors didn't stop servicing my projects, since even though it wasn't because of my past transgressions no one trusted IFC, it would've been me in the hot seat for a blown schedule.

I guess I did miss some more time when my father in law died of cancer (of which I made you well aware was coming), but I guess I should've planned for that better, huh? Then to add the birth of a child, I don't know what I was thinking, clearly I needed to "get my head in the game".

You never once said anything to my face. You'd send throat slitting emails and texts while I was logging on (or joking) from home. Then I'd walk into your office to talk face to face and you'd act like nothing happened. I specifically remember because it reminded me of this crazy girl I dated in high school. I'm not calling names, but seriously.

If you thought logging in remotely was such a joke, you could've said something when we talked about it. But since you're obviously such a great communicator, you didn't. I handled everything I could remotely including sending the information you said you'd provide (well you made it up, it seems you're being good at fabricating your own truth, but I sent it) and again, making phone calls in the hospital when I should have been bonding with my hours old daughter.

Paying me for time I worked from home and the hospital wasnt scummy, even though you may not have "deemed it worthy" (L&I did), but trying to not pay me for time I worked in your office is very scummy.

I did text one guy that my reputable shop was hiring, since we had a personal conversation while I was at IFC that he was dissatisfied with the pay, benefits and lack of retirement you offered (imagine that, its been over a year and you had the same problems back then. But obviously it's the union, not you). I only knew a total of 5 guys (two of which were Ron and Will) one wanted to leave you way back then, the other two had no idea who you were (they're now at my shop, but I didn't contact them), which answers a posters previous comment, no one in your shop knows whow you are.

Thats pretty far from everyone in your shop, but there you go making yourself the victim and making up your own truth again.

I don't have any issues with Wiil, and I don't have any issues with you anymore (since I cashed my final paycheck that I picked up from L&I) or you'd know about it. (I don't have any problems with face to face confrontation)

I just wanted to stop by and say hi, and good luck with NRLB Bruce.

Hi Joel-

Nice to know there are no hard feelings! :)

I could spend hours digging through your emails, customer complaints, checking your "Log Me In" activity (or LACK of it), blah blah blah- but why do it? I am not out to win an argument with you or discredit you. You seem to do a pretty good job of discrediting yourself. That's in the past, and it really doesn't sound like you're willing to get out of your comfortable "Joel's World" bubble and be an adult. I don't like the name-calling, but you have the right to do that.

I guess I do wonder though why you as a Project Manager at Instafab with full communication and cooperation with the Superintendent and the Foremen that you started your day with every morning (when you were here) never brought up that we had a water issue? The Superintendent's desk was right in the middle of the (air conditioned) PM's area. If I had sent a memo or message to not allow water on the jobsites, I sure don't remember doing it (remember, it was always email?). And that means the PMs would have been aware of it also. You know as a former PM, you had the spending authority to get what the jobs needed. Even being the spineless slimeball that I am, are the PMs spineless slimeballs also that they would not care about a water issue for their field workers, but freely spend money on anything else the job needed?

As far as comparing Instafab to Fought /REFA in regards to the union, I don't get the comparison at all. What point are you trying to make?