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REpost...Just got fired from Wells Fargo. RE: the following email

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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 01:10 AM
Original message
REpost...Just got fired from Wells Fargo. RE: the following email
sans "suspect" linkage

So...here's what I wrote. It's missing a handy chart where it depicts the average Wells employee's hourly salary vs. the CEO's salary, but you get the gist.

Full disclosure, I had been working here for a few months and this was to be my last week. I wouldn't recommend anyone else do this, but I gotta admit, it felt damn good and maybe someone will step up and do something about it.

Good Morning All,

Last week a friend of mine was fired for sending an inappropriate email to pretty much the whole building. Despite the fact that it was harmless, accidental, and largely ignored message, she will now join the ranks of the unemployed. If she is your average unemployed Oregonian she will remain unemployed for at least 18 months and when/if she gets rehired somewhere it will be for less money than she was making here.

Now my friend was definitely in the wrong, and I’m not writing this email to argue her situation. However, in an attempt to hold our company to a similar standard consider the following:

We work for one of the largest financial institutions in the world, we are essential to its operations, yet economic security is completely at the mercy of its senior executives. They are squeezing our salaries, reducing our benefits, and lobbying our politicians to make it harder for us to improve our financial positions despite our contributions to Wells Fargo’s successes. It means more profits for them, but less choice, less freedom and more importantly, less money for us.

In 2010, our CEO, John G. Stumpf received $18,973,722 in total compensation. By comparison, the median worker made $33,190 in 2010. John G. Stumpf made 571 times the median worker's pay.



Last year Wells Fargo made $45,415 of pure profit for every employee?
Each and every employee could’ve gotten a $10,000 bonus last year and Wells Fargo still would’ve made almost $10 billion.
How much was your last raise?

We work for one of the most profitable Corporations in the world, why aren’t we some of the best paid workers? Why is it acceptable to have mandatory overtime for months at a stretch? Why must our co-workers who are sick rush back to work before they are healthy? Why can’t our new mothers spend more time with their children? And why are our senior executives making 571 times more than us?

We cannot continue to let ourselves be taken advantage of. We have a choice. We can demand more. Individually we are weak, but together we are strong. It’s only right that we are entitled to a bigger piece of the $45,415 in profit that each of us helped make last year.

We work hard, we deserve more, we need to unionize and demand it.
Contact your local unions. Ask how you can form one. Here are some helpful links.

www.seiu.org
http://www.seiu.org/a/profilewells.php
http://www.laborunionresources.org/HOWT ... UNION.html
http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2009/ ... m-a-union/
http://www.aflcio.org/corporatewatch

I was escorted out of the building within 5 minutes.



Steven Gilliam
VP, Young Oregon Democrats of America
Treasurer, Multnomah County Young Democrats
Treasurer, North East Coalition of Neighborhoods
Democratic Party of Oregon State Central Committee member
Organizer, US Uncut PDX
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truedelphi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 01:15 AM
Response to Original message
1. Email me when You have burned enough posts that you
Edited on Thu May-26-11 01:16 AM by truedelphi
Have the email privileges.

We share something in common.

(I imagine it's perfectly acceptable to chalk up a hundred posts by saying "Great post"
"Thanks" "K &R" and besides, it will make whomever you do that for feel good for a moment.)
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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:05 AM
Response to Reply #1
7. will do
Thanks
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Macoy Donating Member (102 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:10 AM
Response to Reply #1
9. Great Post
Great Post :P

Macoy
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Marie Marie Donating Member (709 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 09:09 PM
Response to Reply #9
100. Weklcome to Du Msider and Macoy
Nice to have you with us:hi:
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proud patriot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 05:10 PM
Response to Reply #1
77. perfectly acceptable
IMHO
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grasswire Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 01:18 AM
Response to Original message
2. I suggest you contact WW
....they might be interested in the story.
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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:47 AM
Response to Reply #2
23. will do
anyone in particular over there?
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grasswire Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:37 AM
Response to Reply #23
40. maybe the Mercury, too
Edited on Thu May-26-11 11:44 AM by grasswire
the Trib is too conservative to bother with.

WW investigative reporter: Beth Slovic
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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:47 AM
Response to Reply #40
42. Thank you
doubly
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ChoppinBroccoli Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 01:24 AM
Response to Original message
3. May I Also Suggest...............
.............that you contact an employment law attorney in your area. There's a pretty decent chance that you live in an "employment at will" State (most of them are these days), but you might be able to sue Wells Fargo for wrongful discharge. An employment law attorney would be able to answer those questions for you. I'm not licensed in the State of Oregon, and I do little to no employment law, so I can't be of much help to you, other than to tell you that what happened doesn't smell right to me. It might be worth your time to seek out some answers from someone who would know more about this. Many attorneys are willing to sit down with you on an initial consultation for free. So call around and see if you can locate one. If you need help, try calling your local Bar Association.

If I were you, I would definitely look into this.
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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:07 AM
Response to Reply #3
8. screwed
I'm in a "right to work" state, which basically means that I have a right to get my ass fired for anything that they want.
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jayfish Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:19 AM
Response to Reply #8
14. I don't believe that is the case when it comes to union busting.
Edited on Thu May-26-11 10:20 AM by jayfish
The NLRB is the final arbiter of such issues not state law.

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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:27 AM
Response to Reply #14
17. cool
I have been in contact with some union people so hopefully I'll know more soon.
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blondeatlast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:35 AM
Response to Reply #14
21. Keep in mind that this administrations Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis, is VERY labor and union
friendly.

Courage--I hope you can pursue this!
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Brickbat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:30 AM
Response to Reply #8
18. "Right to work" means joining a union is not a requirement for the position.
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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:53 AM
Response to Reply #18
24. i see...
but aren't there also thing in there about being employed "at will" too?
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Brickbat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:12 AM
Response to Reply #24
30. "At-will employment" means the company can let you go for anything that isn't a protected situation
(race, religion, etc.). They are two separate provisions, but often conflated.
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spooky3 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 01:02 PM
Response to Reply #30
54. there are more categories of exceptions -- this legal article does a good job of summarizing
though it's long. Anyone can find it on the web.

Kim, P. T. (1997). Bargaining with imperfect information: A study of worker perceptions of legal protection in an at-will world. Cornell Law Review, 83(1), 105-160.
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ipfilter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:15 AM
Response to Reply #8
32. That's not what Right to Work means.
Right to Work laws prohibit unions from collecting compulsory union dues. In the absence of a Right to Work law, a union can demand the termination of an employee/union member who does not pay the dues in full. Collecting dues is not normally an issue and states that enact these laws do it in an attempt to weaken unions both financially and by allowing workers to enjoy union benefits without paying dues.
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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:24 AM
Response to Reply #32
35. Gotcha

I friend of mine has put me in contact with someone from AFL-CIO. We have serious labor issues here in Oregon due to a lot of over educated young people here. I know so many people with masters degrees and wonderful jobs as baristas. We also have the Koch's here fucking things up in the state leg.
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DeadEyeDyck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:05 PM
Response to Reply #32
104. but shouldn't it be my choice to join a union and pay dues.
I have just finished graduate school and doubt that I would be a union worker.
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ipfilter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-27-11 10:03 AM
Response to Reply #104
114. In a non Right to Work state you have a choice by not
working where there is a bargaining unit. In a Right to Work state you can work within a bargaining unit and not pay dues, but don't expect to be treated the same by those who do pay dues.
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spooky3 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 12:57 PM
Response to Reply #3
53. union statutes provide an exception to employment at will, e.g., Wagner Act of 1935
A question is why he was leaving "within a week." If he was planning to quit anyway, and the company simply stepped up the timing BECAUSE of his exercise of protected speech, they might be liable only for a week of pay, etc.

You do not have to be a member of a union to be protected. Talking with fellow employees about workplace issues is generally protected because it is acting in concert. Another question is whether he violated a company policy in using email or some other mechanism, such that his process was not protected.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Labor_Relations_Act

But given that the NLRB recently held that Facebook posts can be considered protected speech, maybe he has a case.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/24/facebook-posting-worker-fired_n_866353.html

Caveat: I am not an attorney, but these questions are related to the job I do have.

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Old and In the Way Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 01:49 AM
Response to Original message
4. Welcome on-board!
Now that's an impressive 'goodbye' e-mail. I assume the points made in the e-mail are factually correct. Certainly difficult to understand why they'd be anxious to have you vacate the premises. :-) Anyways, who knows? You could have sparked a movement there. I'll bet there were lots of conversations around the water coolers about it.

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Warren DeMontague Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 01:57 AM
Response to Original message
5. Welcome to DU!
Edited on Thu May-26-11 01:57 AM by Warren DeMontague
:hi:

Don't get me started on Wells Fargo.. Gah!
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RainDog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 02:02 AM
Response to Original message
6. Welcome!
I look forward to following this situation as it unfolds - hopefully the media will be interested in your story - is this on uncut on fb?

I haven't seen it, if so. do you have a link if it's there?
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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:10 AM
Response to Reply #6
10. it is.
I had the link posted, but some browsers/os'/antivirus programs said it was a possible phishing scam and my original post got taken down, so i am hesitant to put it up again. it is on usuncu'ts facebook feed from yesterday though.
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dixiegrrrrl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:03 AM
Response to Reply #10
27. You can post a "link" by using blahlah dot com form, instead of actual hyperlink
I do believe, so anyone curious can type in the link in the browser.

I think, at least, that will work.?
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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:14 AM
Response to Reply #27
31. in that case..
citizenradio.freeforums.org/just-got-fired-from-wells-fargo-re-the-following-email-t2638 (dot) html

fyi: some versions of avg will get a antivirus message or something. but i mean, it's a messageboard..it's fine.
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bananas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-27-11 12:29 AM
Response to Reply #31
112. Looks like an acquaintance of yours posted it
"A Norma Rae Moment In the Financial Sector"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1173270

And Welcome to DU!
:applause:


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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:11 AM
Response to Reply #6
11. here
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jayfish Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:16 AM
Response to Original message
12. Hmmm... I'm no lawyer but you might have a case...
Edited on Thu May-26-11 10:17 AM by jayfish
for wrongful termination based on union busting. It all depends on how far you want to go with it.

ON EDIT: That was a finely written e-mail and welcome to DU! :hi:
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spooky3 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:52 AM
Response to Reply #12
43. yes, also not a lawyer, but I believe that is protected speech under the Wagner Act of 1935
Of course, if they had another reason for firing you (which from what you said in your post about a week to go, it sounds as if they might) the protected speech issue may be moot.
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Tom Rinaldo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:18 AM
Response to Original message
13. I look forward to many fine posts from you in the future
It does my spirit good to see such finely honed accurate fighting words come from the keyboard (formerly pen, lol) of someone in from a youthful generation of Democratic leaders
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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:25 AM
Response to Reply #13
16. Thank you all
for the kind words. :)
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PassingFair Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:19 AM
Response to Original message
15. Proud of you!
:applause:

Might as well go down shooting!!!!
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Shagbark Hickory Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:31 AM
Response to Original message
19. Idea: Why can't someone just compile as many bank emails as they can and send similar emails?
Its not like you've really gotta work there. You can make it seem like you work there and send it look like it's being sent from the bank's domain. No getting fired or getting escorted by security.
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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:45 AM
Response to Reply #19
22. in my dept.
a lot, if not most of the outside emails coming in are filtered into junk mail. that being said...it's still not a bad idea
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TBF Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:33 AM
Response to Original message
20. K&R nt
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femrap Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:55 AM
Response to Original message
25. k and r
f*cking great post. I hate Banksters.
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Pisces Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:03 AM
Response to Original message
26. If you are paid on commission like most loan officers you can take back more of that 45k if you do
more loans. Someone doing 1 loan vs. someone doing 10 loans should not be paid equally. Sorry but this is not communist DU it is democratic underground. I don't have a lot of sympathy for someone who had a job for a few months and threw it away, when so many are looking for work and need work.

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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:06 AM
Response to Reply #26
28. well
#1 I wasn't a loan officer
#2 As a youngish, single, childless, able-bodied individual, I am in a good position to "throw a job away" in exchange for not supporting an unjust status quo and attempting to start a movement towards organizing a downtrodden labor force. If those who can afford to lead don't lead now, where are we going to be in 10 years?
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Pisces Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:25 AM
Response to Reply #28
36. I am glad you are in a position to move on, most are not. Good luck with your movement.
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PassingFair Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 03:41 PM
Response to Reply #36
70. And good luck with YOURS...
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Jackpine Radical Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 04:23 PM
Response to Reply #70
74. Cue up
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harmonicon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 03:35 PM
Response to Reply #28
67. +1 nt
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Pisces Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:42 PM
Response to Reply #28
93.  Another idea is to work your ass off and get in a position of power in the company where you could
effect change. Just a thought, since you are single with no children and have a lot of time on our hands.
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PassingFair Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:10 AM
Response to Reply #26
29. Yes, "at least you have a job".
Edited on Thu May-26-11 11:10 AM by PassingFair
:sarcasm:

PATHETIC!

I've heard that phrase too often recently.
Are we SO BEATEN DOWN that any injustice
and abuse is to be tolerated and excused
and we are supposed to be happy because
"at least you have a job"?

You need to be rehabilitated.

You are a victim of abuse.
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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:21 AM
Response to Reply #29
33. @PassingFair
ty
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Pisces Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:22 AM
Response to Reply #29
34. Were these employees abused??? Working overtime is not abuse, getting paid for overtime?
I am sure workers in China and India can describe what abuse looks like. Working in an air conditioned building, and getting paid for it with benefits doesn't qualify as abuse. Sorry this post is a fail.
Many on this board would love to have said job and ask for more overtime.

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PassingFair Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:25 AM
Response to Reply #34
37. Not if said overtime was unpaid.
And comparing us with workers in China and India is
just supporting the corporate race to the BOTTOM.

Really, you deserve to be a prole.

MOST on this board support worker's rights and see
the erosion of the middle and working classes that is
occurring in this country and bringing us to our KNEES.

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Pisces Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 05:35 PM
Response to Reply #37
80. The person was paid for the overtime, not paying would be illegal. I am for workers rights, just not
on board for faux outrage. When you are informed of the job expectations, paid for the hours you work you have no claim of abuse. I guess he might get carpal tunnel, but I hardly think this guy is getting injured in the line of work.( oops forgot paper cuts)

We need jobs, I can think of a lot of industries that need truly abuse their employees. This is one of those industries that pays you for your time and some of these employees were the ones who got us into the financial mess with false documentation.
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TrollBuster9090 Donating Member (569 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:06 PM
Response to Reply #37
89. I suspect fish-breath is not a prole..
..but a Cato Institute-funded sock puppet. Although, I guess it's sort of the same thing. Somebody who's being paid minimum wage to troll blog sites with trick-down economics propaganda under a false flag while feeling "grateful to have a job."
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Pisces Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:38 PM
Response to Reply #89
92. What garbage. I suspect if you look in the mirror you will find what you are looking for. Check
my history if you are interested with your 200 posts. There is plenty of real outrage about jobs and job conditions. This particular complaint is not one to get me going. White collar jobs with benefits.

Not all work abuse is equal nor should it be given the hair on fire treatment.
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TrollBuster9090 Donating Member (569 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 08:55 PM
Response to Reply #92
99. You're right, if you want to set flogging as the point at which
you set your hair on fire. Personally, I think the fact that the USA is the only country in the developed world where the average executive gets paid nearly 500 times what the average worker does, while having their bought and paid for politicians in a bidding war to see who can offer them the lowest tax rate is sufficient reason to get excited. Japanese companies are competitive because, among other things (like single-payer health care), they only pay their executives a piffling 10 times more than the average worker, and they use the cash they save to hire MORE workers to increase productivity and lower production costs. The same goes for Germany and France, where the CEOs are paid only 12 and 15 times more than their workers, respectively, who still enjoy the highest levels of social programs in the world. No other developed country comes close to the USA for executive compensation, despite many of those countries having corporations that undercut U.S. corporations while having higher salaries and benefits for their employees.

http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/executivepay06.html

You can also compare the GINI Indexes of the developed countries (the polarization between rich and poor), and you'll find that only Mexico and Brazil are more polarized than the U.S.

Meanwhile, despite the economic downturn, corporations are sitting on top of 1.3 trillion in cash, laying off millions of workers, and somehow managing to find enough wealth to give their CEOs pay INCREASES averaging 23% or so.

http://www.aflcio.org/corporatewatch/paywatch/

Why does this situation only exist in the U.S.A.? Sorry to say it, but it's because people like YOU are naively running interference for the plutocracy.
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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:27 AM
Response to Reply #34
38. Mandatory overtime
and due to the cost of childcare, making people work mandatory overtime for months at a time can actually cost them money. ever think of that? Of course they aren't getting abused like workers in the third world, but are we supposed to wait until things get that bad before we act?

oh and here's a fun fact, we have greater income inequality here than they do in Egypt or Tunisia
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Pisces Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 12:30 PM
Response to Reply #38
46. I don't think anyone should be taken advantage of, however, I am sure that mandatory overtime was
told to these employees in the interview process. They are compensated for the work they do. I think we need to find more jobs not knock down the ones we have that are not unreasonable. These arent
coal miners. These are employees that knew the job, work in air conditioning, getting paid for the overtime. I want to be outraged, but I can't summon it up for reasonable work.

Talk to me about mining conditions, or children building i-pads etc. This does not make me well up with tears.
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rfranklin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 01:43 PM
Response to Reply #46
56. I am happy whenever someone takes a stand for working people...
Most people have to knuckle under because they can't afford to do otherwise. But isn't that what the corporate bullies depend on? Do we all have to be beaten down to the level of Chinese factory workers before we can speak out?

I really wonder why some people are on this board.
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Pisces Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 05:28 PM
Response to Reply #56
79. I am a liberal democrat, that's why I am here. Does that mean I can't call bullshit when someone
passes on faux outrage. Wells Fargo pays overtime. This guy worked there for a few months, bottom of the totem pole. Should he be expected to work extra ( I say yes) Should he be compensated( of course. No one was bullying this person. They were asked to work overtime, this person didn't like it so he/she quit. I don't see the issue.

I am no defender of Wells Fargo, I left that bank to put my money with a local bank. I am only stating that every scenario is not one for outrage. We need jobs and people who have them want to complain and throw them away. THis person was compensated for their time, given benefits, worked in air conditioning behind a desk. I'm sure before taking the job this person was informed of the expectations.
Don't take the job from someone else if you don't like the hours.
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arikara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 02:16 PM
Response to Reply #46
65. That's a pile of crap
I worked for a place that had mandatory unpaid overtime. Free labour to a profitable company. People should bloody well get paid for the work they do. If there are enough fools who go along your attitude it will be back to sweatshop conditions in no time.
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Pisces Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:46 PM
Response to Reply #65
94. Unless you are salary ie. management, it is illegal to have mandatory overtime and not
pay for it. If you are in this situation I suggest you call an attorney.
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arikara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:56 PM
Response to Reply #94
108. Not where I live, in BC
they changed the laws several years ago for tech workers. The employers think a foos ball table and an occasional pizza makes up for a 10 hr day paid for 8. I am no longer in the field, the youngsters don't seem to mind being taken advantage of as much.
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Chan790 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:04 PM
Response to Reply #94
109. See...
Edited on Thu May-26-11 11:09 PM by Chan790
You mightn't have noticed but pretty much anybody above a teller in a bank is a skilled professional with multiple years of experience and training; most of the unemployed people in America aren't qualified to do those jobs.
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LanternWaste Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 03:39 PM
Response to Reply #34
68. I think the position is open now...
"Many on this board would love to have said job and ask for more overtime..."

I think the position is open now... apply if you want it, or pass it along. :shrug:
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Pisces Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 05:36 PM
Response to Reply #68
81. I'm sure in this market it's been filled by someone who appreciates the pay.
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TrollBuster9090 Donating Member (569 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 06:55 PM
Response to Reply #81
86. Forgive me for invoking Godwin's Law but...
...that's what they said when Philippe Pétain took over Albert Lebrun's job in Vichy France.

We're talking about taking our country back from a cabal of plutocrats, and we're going to need a lot more heroic acts like this to do it. The economy is not bad, per se. The country is awash with more wealth than it's ever been in history. It's just that it's now concentrated in a very few hands, like it was in the Gilded Age. Re-distributing it down wards, instead of up wards (where it's been re-distributed for the last 30 years)will stimulate the economy beyond our wildest dreams. That money will do more to stimulate the economy when it's in the hands of the middle class, who'll use it to buy shoes and cars and roof tiles than it does in the hands of a few bloated cronie capitalists who put it in tax havens in the Bahamas.
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PassingFair Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-27-11 10:08 AM
Response to Reply #81
115. Or someone who couldn't get anything else.
Because of our race to the bottom.
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TrollBuster9090 Donating Member (569 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:00 PM
Response to Reply #29
87. I'M SPARTACUS! nt
.
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TrollBuster9090 Donating Member (569 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 08:35 PM
Response to Reply #29
97. Now that I think of it, Stockholm Syndrome is probably more accurate. nt
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Lone_Star_Dem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:42 AM
Response to Reply #26
41. I believe the issue here is this person says they were fired for speaking out.
Edited on Thu May-26-11 12:04 PM by Lone_Star_Dem
Funny you should point out how this is Democratic Underground, the old meme of labor unions=Communism isn't exactly a plank of the Democratic Party platform. Unions are a means of negotiating better pay, benefits and working conditions for employees. If a company is not taking advantage of their workers they have no reason to fear unionization.
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wisteria Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 12:36 PM
Response to Reply #41
48. Good points. n/t
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Pisces Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:55 PM
Response to Reply #41
95. I think he was fired for violating company policy on e-mails. I have worked at companies that
prohibit mass e-mails to everyone in the company. You also mistake my argument. He should by all means pursue starting a union, my comment on communism had to do with his rationale that every
employee should get 45k. He is a white collar worker and I smell faux outrage in his post. I am not lighting my hair on fire screaming unfair treatment. Something doesn't ring true in this post.

These are not minimum wage employees, it also looks like he/she was mad their friend was fired and would be unable to find a job that compensated as well. From this statement it seems like the pay was not the issue and this friend was not complaining about the overtime, they are upset they lost the overtime.

Being a liberal democrat doesn't mean you are gullible to every faux outrage post on DU.
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Chan790 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:08 PM
Response to Reply #95
110. A question of consideration.
Have you ever considered that you and your crap attitude might be part of the problem?
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kenfrequed Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 01:57 PM
Response to Reply #26
61. I see
Exercising your rights to attempt to form a union amounts to "throwing your job away." How progressive of you! Also I love your equating forming a union or calling for some small measure of economic justice to be something that you would find on Communist 'DU.' Lovely touch.

One more thing. Is 'Communist DU' supposed to be Communist Underground or Communist Democratic Underground. I mean if you meant to suggest Communist underground, then shouldn't you have said 'CU'?
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Lucian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 03:45 PM
Response to Reply #26
71. So...
the OP brought up many valid points and he's not allowed to talk about them because "he had a job?"

That's messed up. I'm glad the OP brought up those points because they needed to be addressed. From what you're saying, we should all just keep our mouths shut and be good little robots in the workforce because, hey, we have a job. :eyes:
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Cal Carpenter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 05:05 PM
Response to Reply #26
76. Yes, be thankful for your crumbs, prole
Seeing people support the ruling class under current conditions cracks me up.
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EvolveOrConvolve Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:37 PM
Response to Reply #26
90. That's the dumbest thing I've read on DU in a long time
Congratulations, you get my "WTF, EoC is Slapping Self in Face" award for May.
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renate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:31 AM
Response to Original message
39. you are TOTALLY AWESOME
:loveya:

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myrna minx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:55 AM
Response to Original message
44. Welcome to DU!
:hi:
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avebury Donating Member (455 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 12:29 PM
Response to Original message
45. Great Post
Have you heard anything from your friends at Wells Fargo on how your email was received by the masses?
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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 12:46 PM
Response to Reply #45
49. yes
They liked it, some were apathetic though. It's sad that some people are resigned to living in a situation that they don't like.
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wisteria Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 12:35 PM
Response to Original message
47. I commend what you did, but now you are out of a job and labeled a trouble maker.
It is a shame that those with money put so much effort into squashing the hopes and dreams of the workers who are the backbone of the companies they work for. I have never worked for an organization that is unionized, "womens'" positions generally are low pay and without worker representation.

I wish you luck, maybe you should attempt a run for office.
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ItNerd4life Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 12:47 PM
Response to Original message
50. Why people on DU don't push for a law that maximizes executive pay to 100x avg. worker pay
I don't understand. I love your letter, it's time we push for this type of stuff to be law and 'promote the general welfare'.
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stevenleser Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 01:54 PM
Response to Reply #50
60. That law would be unconstitutional but I have an alternative that I am working into an article. n/t
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usrname Donating Member (134 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 03:25 PM
Response to Reply #60
66. Can you explain why it's unconstitutional?
The constitution generally tells us citizens how the government can operate (how to elect/remove officials, what the limits are of the government). Given that we now have laws that require doctors to show images of the fetuses to those seeking abortion, I think it's not a stretch to have a law that limit the total compensation of all employees of a corporation to be no more than 100x the lowest paid.

There are alternatives as well, such as more and steeper marginal tax rates so that there's less incentive to earn more money: the amount of work to do so is far more than the corresponding pay, so perhaps there will be an incentive to pay the money to employees instead of to the government, or to hire more.
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harmonicon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 03:41 PM
Response to Reply #50
69. I understand it.
They're all too much like poor people who vote Republican, but a little less so. Somehow they think one day they'll be lotto winners or multi-millionaires.... just maybe... somehow... and when that happens, whoa boy!! IT'S ALL MY MONEY!! HANDS OFF!! The poor Republican voter on the other hand is 100% convinced that this WILL happen to them.
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Blue_Tires Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 12:48 PM
Response to Original message
51. welcome to the site!
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Blue-Jay Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 12:49 PM
Response to Original message
52. Ballsy.
:thumbsup:
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bertman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 01:35 PM
Response to Original message
55. Absolutely MAGNIFICENT!! Thank you, Mr. Gilliam. REC. nt
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metalbot Donating Member (234 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 01:44 PM
Response to Original message
57. Your numbers are pretty misleading
You are asserting that they made $44k of raw profit per employee. That's sort of true, if you take a really simplistic look at earnings divided by number of employees for 2010. You can pull those numbers from the Income Statement. However, the Income Statement is purely an indication of how revenue is being booked. For example, I can perform a service for someone, and send them a bill for $10,000. I book that as revenue as soon as I send them the bill. That doesn't mean that I have $10,000. My cash flow so far has been $0 (or perhaps negative if I spent money on delivering the service).

Now go look at the cash flow statement for the same period 2010. There's a negative cash flow of $11 billion.

The Income Statement is positive - it bodes well for future cash flow, but it's silly to pretend that operations last year resulted in a pile of money for Wells Fargo, because it didn't.

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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 01:51 PM
Response to Reply #57
58. uuuhhhh
Wells Fargo doesn't have any issues with it's cash flow. I have a background in accounting, I'm well aware of how income is booked. I'm also know how Wells Fargo manipulates it's books to hide and defer income. It's sillier to pretend that Wells Fargo can't stop short changing employees and unjustly rewarding a few
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boppers Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:43 PM
Response to Reply #58
111. ^^^^ This.
Corporations don't make taxable "profit" if they can help it. It has nothing to do with their actual money situation.
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B Calm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 01:53 PM
Response to Original message
59. Employee like you scares the crap out of higher management.
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earcandle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 02:07 PM
Response to Original message
62. Awesome courage... wish the staff would walk out for you.
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buddysmellgood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 02:07 PM
Response to Original message
63. Amazing
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hfojvt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 02:15 PM
Response to Original message
64. interesting, but where does the median salary data come from?
Going from Wells Fargo's annual report, they had wage expense of $13.87 billion and bonuses of $8.69 billion and benefits of $4.65 billion.

Making the average employee compensation equal to $97,185 (based on approximately 280,000 "team members".)

Of course, that includes upper and middle management which brings the average up, but even $50,000,000 for the CEO only reduces the total wages from $13.87 billion to $13.82 billion.

My guess is that there are a fair number of good jobs already at Wells Fargo. You only suggest making those good jobs even better, which does not do all that much for the rest of the working class, unless you think every worker in this country is working for a company that makes $45,000 in profit per employee.

Although surprisingly, the water department, where I am on the board, makes about $23,000 in profit per employee, and we really should be a non-profit. I am going to suggest reducing our profits next year by holding the line on water rates (either that or by paying end of the year dividends). We will see how that goes over. One trouble is that a 20% dividend would only be about $1.2 per customer per month. Are most customers really gonna care about $1 per month?
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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 03:49 PM
Response to Reply #64
72. how about this..
If it was up to me, we would nationalize the banks.
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hfojvt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 05:51 PM
Response to Reply #72
82. well I notice you are a member of US Uncut
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1158434&mesg_id=1158434

However, nationalization is not on the radar, and I guess Federal workers are not unionized either.
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Capitalocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 03:54 PM
Response to Original message
73. You start talking about unionizing, and they fire you in five minutes.
I guess we as a nation are no longer too interested in free speech, free association...
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jillan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 04:43 PM
Response to Original message
75. This former Bank of America employee is SO Proud of you!!!
I didn't get fired, I quit.

We'll have to share stories sometime. :hi:
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Capitalocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:01 PM
Response to Reply #75
88. Bank of America screwed me so bad.
Not that I'm saying you have anything to do with that, of course... I've worked for some evil people in my day as well.
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Fritz67 Donating Member (127 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 05:26 PM
Response to Original message
78. This sums up the problem right here:
Last year Wells Fargo made $45,415 of pure profit for every employee?
Each and every employee could’ve gotten a $10,000 bonus last year and Wells Fargo still would’ve made almost $10 billion.


Except, of course, for the fact that every dollar paid to an employee is a dollar that the fucking CEO can't give himself in his fucking bonus.

It's not even corporate greed anymore; it's the individual greed of the sociopathic assholes running the corporations. They don't really care if their company craters--they still get their multi million dollar bonuses. Even if the company gets rid of them, they still get multi million dollar "severance packages". (I won't even ask if the average employee gets a "severance package" for fear of triggering a long, sustained bout of bitter laughter.)

There really is something diseased in the mind of someone who has millions of dollars, looks around, and goes "I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH!!! PAY ME MORE!!! I NEED A TAX CUT!!!"

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Reader Rabbit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 06:25 PM
Response to Original message
83. You may want to contact Carl & Paul over at KPOJ.
Carl Wolfson does the Morning Show, and Paul Pimentel is his producer. It's a local (Oregon) progressive radio talk show. They might be able to get you on the air to broadcast your story. I'll try emailing them a link to your OP.

http://www.620kpoj.com/pages/kpoj_mornings.html

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nashville_brook Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 06:40 PM
Response to Original message
84. f'n RIGHT ON! this is so powerful.
I've left a one or two horrible jobs in the midst of taking a stand (not nearly this spectacular), so I know how amazingly good it feels when you do this. Savor it. Write about it. Spread the word, and never let yourself forget it.

:fistbump:



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TNLib Donating Member (683 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 06:52 PM
Response to Original message
85. Were you fired because of this email if so I would think you could sue for wrongful termination
nt
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Bulletin Justin Donating Member (39 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:37 PM
Response to Original message
91. Bravo!!!
One by one we can all make a difference. Nice job.:applause:
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mackerel Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 08:11 PM
Response to Reply #91
96. Great email good fodder for the water cooler:)
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Twostones Donating Member (55 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 08:52 PM
Response to Original message
98. I would
I would rather have a sister in the whore house than a 3rd cousin banking at Wells Fargo
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AllyCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 09:23 PM
Response to Original message
101. Welcome to DU! This is a fabulous post. Thank you for what you did!
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unblock Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 09:33 PM
Response to Original message
102. i wish du let me recommend this post more than just once.
my hat's off to you.

well done indeed.
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Somawas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 09:49 PM
Response to Original message
103. Good for you.
Very good for you. Right now Democrats need organized labor, and organized labor needs Democrats to act like Democrats, more than ever.
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Firebrand Gary Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:20 PM
Response to Original message
105. Thank you, I have procrastinated long enough. I will close all of my Wachovia/Wells accounts Monday.
I have a decent amount of money with them, they will surely ask why I am closing them. I will hand them a copy of your email.
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msider Donating Member (51 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:28 PM
Response to Reply #105
107. that's awesome
wow.
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pengillian101 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:20 PM
Response to Original message
106. So sorry you were fired!
It seriously sucks, I know! I went into a serious depression for years. It consumed me.

Please go in a different direction. :-)

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lonestarnot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-27-11 12:48 AM
Response to Original message
113. Beautius! Now where's your bullhorn?
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