Linux World Canada Planning meeting

[Robert Brockway]

On Wed, 6 Apr 2005, David J Patrick wrote:

> That's exactly what it is; IATSE, if I'm not mistaken. While we're going
> to chew up $6 worth of a/c, the CC is a union shop and to get two of the
> brothers to push the cable cart around, and connect the twist-lock,
> costs real dough. There's no getting around it.
> 
> djp
> 
> ps.
> How many teamsters does it take to screw in a light bulb ?

Some years ago back in Australia we had a bit of a problem with the poor 
steveadores not getting paid enough (at least that was their position).

Someone came out with this little beauty:

 SPONSOR A STEVEDORE
 We need to show them that we care.
  ---- ---- -- ------

It's just not right.  Thousands of stevedores in our very own country are
living at or just below the six figure salary line.  And if that wasn't
bad enough, many of them may go several weeks or months without a paycheck
if they are forced by the Maritime Union of Australia to strike.

But now you can help.  You can sponsor a needy stevedore. For less than
$60 an hour you can help keep a stevedore economically viable during their
time of need.

Sixty dollars an hour may not seem like a lot of money to you, but to a
stevedore it could mean the difference between a vacation skiing in
Switzerland or a Mediterranean cruise.

For you, sixty dollars is nothing more than half a week's rent or mortgage
payment.  But to a stevedore, sixty dollars an hour will replace a portion
of his or her salary.

During the strike action stevedores are facing the hardships of losing
their daily subsidised hot meals and access to their free gym, swimming
pool and recreational facilities. Many striking stevedores can no longer
take home crates of whiskey or the occasional 100 cm television or new car
that "accidentally" fell-off-the-back-of-a- container-ship and was written
off by the Shipping Line's insurance.

"HOW WILL I KNOW I"M HELPING?" Each month, you will receive a complete
financial report on the stevedore you sponsor.  Detailed information about
his or her stocks, shares, savings, and real-estate holdings will be
mailed to your home.  You will be able to watch your stevedore's net worth
grow.  You'll also get information on how they chose to invest their 2.4
million dollar lump sum they get upon their retirement.

"HOW WIILL THEY KNOW I'M HELPING?" Your stevedore will be told that he or
she has a SPECIAL FRIEND that just wants to help.  Although the stevedore
won't know your name, he or she will be able to make reverse-charges calls
to your home via a special operator in case they need more funds.

Please charge the account listed below $480 per day for the duration of
the strike.  Please send me a picture of the stevedore I have sponsored,
along with a "Die Scab Die" badge and my very own "Stevedore Ticket" which
enables me to claim a wage for up to 4 hours a day while sitting on my
arse doing nothing.

<> Mastercard
<> Visa
<> American Express
<> Diner's Club
<> Bankcard
<> Union Card

Account Number:________________________________   Expiration

Date:_________________________

Signature:______________________________________

Send Completed Forms to the:
MUA  Head Office, Sussex St, Sydney NSW 2000.

Note: Sponsors agree not to contact the stevedore sponsored or their
families in person or by other means including, but not limited to, phone
calls, letters, email, or third parties.  However, if you wish to watch
your stevedore working you can visit your local wharf during normal
working hours (from 11:00AM to 11:15AM). Contributions made are not tax
deductible.  In the event of end of the strike action sponsors agree to a
one time administration charge of $500.00 to cover administration costs of
this program.
--
The Toronto Linux Users Group.      Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org
TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns
How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml