Dear Handlers,
I would like to take this opportunity to let you know that Tom Visconti has received his best friend back from MSA. The MSA management team has decided to do the right thing and we applaud them for this.
Thank You,
Bill Beaury
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Family Values Strike Again
The following is a Facebook post made today by the wife of a fellow handler. Click here for the original post. Please share it when you have time.
Today is a very difficult day. We had to give back our dog Augie to my husband’s employer. Augie was a bomb sniffing dog, my husband’s work partner, and his faithful companion for the last 2 years. Unfortunately my husband has been battling a 9/11 related cancer, and his failing health forced him to resign his position as a bomb-dog handler. And although we understand that Augie is legally the property of my husbands employer, we had hoped, considering his older age, that they would retire him a little early and allow him to stay with us. But Unfortunately that did not happen. To the company he is a piece of property that earns them money, but to us he was our family. We are so devastated and heart broken over this loss, and can only hope he doesn’t stay too long in the training facility, and is placed quickly with a new dog handler that will love him as much as we did.
Another handler treated like family by MSA.
Bill Beaury
Today is a very difficult day. We had to give back our dog Augie to my husband’s employer. Augie was a bomb sniffing dog, my husband’s work partner, and his faithful companion for the last 2 years. Unfortunately my husband has been battling a 9/11 related cancer, and his failing health forced him to resign his position as a bomb-dog handler. And although we understand that Augie is legally the property of my husbands employer, we had hoped, considering his older age, that they would retire him a little early and allow him to stay with us. But Unfortunately that did not happen. To the company he is a piece of property that earns them money, but to us he was our family. We are so devastated and heart broken over this loss, and can only hope he doesn’t stay too long in the training facility, and is placed quickly with a new dog handler that will love him as much as we did.
Another handler treated like family by MSA.
Bill Beaury
Sunday, November 11, 2018
Veterans Day
Every year on November 11th, we recognize Veterans Day as a time to honor our country's military veterans, past and present, who fought to protect our freedom and ensure our safety. Please join me in thanking our nation's heroic veterans, including our many MSA employees who currently serve or have served in the military.
Thank You
Bill Beaury
Thank You
Bill Beaury
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Notice
Everyone should be receiving a corrected version of the form HR sent out last Friday. New York State law requires that MSA notify you of ALL pay rates on the form. Please do not sign this document and continue to reply with the following message.
This is a mandatory subject of bargaining under the National Labor Relations Act. The implementation of this policy is a violation of federal law. Please contact my Union at (888) 864-6601 if you're ready to begin negotiations.
A few of you have asked if MSA can discipline you or terminate your employment for not signing this document. The New York State Department of Labor gives employers the following guidance if an employee refuses to sign...
12. What if a worker refuses to sign the notice?
The employer should still give the notice to the worker and note the worker’s refusal on its copy of the notice.
The sending of this message is considered protected union activity and you're afforded protection under the National Labor Relations Act. As long as you remain calm, courteous, and respectful you'll always be safe. When in doubt, document or record any interaction you feel violated your rights and contact us ASAP.
You can find the NYS DoL Wage Theft Prevention Act FAQ here.
We firmly believe MSA will be using these signed notices as evidence in the settlement conference on November 28th. We believe they will argue that a settlement payment should be at the $18.75 rate because the handlers have already agreed to the rate for at home training of our partners. We will be there to ensure the judge is aware the K-9 handlers of MSA DID NOT agree to this rate. They have stolen enough from us already. Do not let them take another cent. Stay strong, stay united.
This is a mandatory subject of bargaining under the National Labor Relations Act. The implementation of this policy is a violation of federal law. Please contact my Union at (888) 864-6601 if you're ready to begin negotiations.
A few of you have asked if MSA can discipline you or terminate your employment for not signing this document. The New York State Department of Labor gives employers the following guidance if an employee refuses to sign...
12. What if a worker refuses to sign the notice?
The employer should still give the notice to the worker and note the worker’s refusal on its copy of the notice.
The sending of this message is considered protected union activity and you're afforded protection under the National Labor Relations Act. As long as you remain calm, courteous, and respectful you'll always be safe. When in doubt, document or record any interaction you feel violated your rights and contact us ASAP.
You can find the NYS DoL Wage Theft Prevention Act FAQ here.
We firmly believe MSA will be using these signed notices as evidence in the settlement conference on November 28th. We believe they will argue that a settlement payment should be at the $18.75 rate because the handlers have already agreed to the rate for at home training of our partners. We will be there to ensure the judge is aware the K-9 handlers of MSA DID NOT agree to this rate. They have stolen enough from us already. Do not let them take another cent. Stay strong, stay united.
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Notice From HR
Many of you received an email yesterday from MSA HR regarding a new pay rate. We advise you not to sign and to reply with the message below. If you've already signed the document, send a follow up email explaining that you'd like to recant your signature and include the statement below. If MSA retaliates or threatens you for sending this message, call us ASAP at (888) 864-6601 and legal action will be taken.
This is a mandatory subject of bargaining under the National Labor Relations Act. The implementation of this policy is a violation of federal law. Please contact my Union at (888) 864-6601 if you're ready to begin negotiations.
Our lawsuits against MSA for unpaid wages are nearing judgment and the new canine home care policy is MSAs attempt at coming into compliance with the law. The policy is the perfect example of "robbing Peter to pay Paul." We first heard rumors of this policy in March when MSA management started visiting posts and making promises that they would change things for the better. I think we can all agree that based on this policy, they had no intention of ever making things better for us.
Many of you have asked us, why have Glen Kucera and MSA refused to negotiate? According to our sources, Glen believes we have neither the ability or the willpower to stop him from making these changes. Unfortunately for Glen, what he's done has violated several sections of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the NLRB is more than happy to force him into compliance. What Glen doesn't realize is his continuing violation of the NLRA may jeopardize MSA's ability to be involved with TSA's third party canine initiative and other Government contracts. Hopefully, he decides to do the right thing and come to the negotiation table before it's too late.
Without a union, we would have zero recourse against MSA and they could continue with business as usual. Now we have the means to fight for what we deserve and bring MSA to the negotiation table. Never again will our only option be to turn in our dogs if we don't agree with MSAs actions. Things will get better, but we all have to stay strong and stay united.
This is a mandatory subject of bargaining under the National Labor Relations Act. The implementation of this policy is a violation of federal law. Please contact my Union at (888) 864-6601 if you're ready to begin negotiations.
Our lawsuits against MSA for unpaid wages are nearing judgment and the new canine home care policy is MSAs attempt at coming into compliance with the law. The policy is the perfect example of "robbing Peter to pay Paul." We first heard rumors of this policy in March when MSA management started visiting posts and making promises that they would change things for the better. I think we can all agree that based on this policy, they had no intention of ever making things better for us.
Many of you have asked us, why have Glen Kucera and MSA refused to negotiate? According to our sources, Glen believes we have neither the ability or the willpower to stop him from making these changes. Unfortunately for Glen, what he's done has violated several sections of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the NLRB is more than happy to force him into compliance. What Glen doesn't realize is his continuing violation of the NLRA may jeopardize MSA's ability to be involved with TSA's third party canine initiative and other Government contracts. Hopefully, he decides to do the right thing and come to the negotiation table before it's too late.
Without a union, we would have zero recourse against MSA and they could continue with business as usual. Now we have the means to fight for what we deserve and bring MSA to the negotiation table. Never again will our only option be to turn in our dogs if we don't agree with MSAs actions. Things will get better, but we all have to stay strong and stay united.
Friday, November 2, 2018
Salary Pay Rate Change Acknowledgement
Earlier today, many of you received an email from HR asking you to sign a salary pay rate change acknowledgement.
This is a mandatory subject of bargaining under the National Labor Relations Act. The implementation of this policy is a violation of federal law. Please contact my Union at (888) 864-6601 if you're ready to begin negotiations.
If MSA retaliates or threatens you for sending this message, call us ASAP and legal action will be taken.
DO NOT SIGN THIS DOCUMENT!
Reply to the email with the following message.
If MSA retaliates or threatens you for sending this message, call us ASAP and legal action will be taken.
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