Pride industries

What do you think about a company winning a fort polk contract,based on hiring diasbled people.They promised Aecom employees they would not lose there job,but disabled people would be added in to the group.Then they took over the contract and over 30 or more men lost there jobs,to people that are already drawing a check monthly for there disabilty.And most can't even do the job,and they have there own terms to what they consider disabled.Like some not holding gainful employment,thats disabled,if you are disabled and you have held gainful emplyment then your not qualifyed to work.Don't take this wrong,but its not right losing your job to someone that the state is alreading paying every month and getting medical care.putting a man on the street that was paying his on medical and that can't get a monthly check.These people are getting check to begin with because there not suppose to be able to work to begin with.You will see more of these contracts coming up and more hard working men and women lossing there jobs,and no where to turn,and no means of taking care of there family.

Kickedout, you have a valid point it's not right! I believe in helping disabled people and most of all vets and there are places where this kind of contract/program would work. But Department of Water and Power (DPW) is NOT the place, Productivity has fallen emergency work orders are farthur behind then I have ever seen and most of the new employees I have seen doing the work are the quote unquote helper/attendent and the disabled person sits in the truck or sits on the ground while the other performs the work. I had one worker respond with a laugh when asked why the other guy was sitting in the truck while he was working, followed by the commet "I can get more done with him out of the way, he's worth as tits on a bull". So less work getting done, 50% of the employees doing 100% of the work for double the money, GREAT PLAN FORT POLK! and most of the quality employees that did stay on got there salary cut! Just makes you wonder which officer running the post got his pockets greased?

Some of these disabled people I've seen get around pretty good and can do quite a lot of work. Now people like myself, that's a different story. I can hardly walk 300 feet unaided and have severe nerve damage due to diabetes and spinal meningitis and can no longer work. For me my disability check is my only source of income and it isn't much. I do what odd jobs I can to supplement what I get. As far as a full time job? Forget it. Every time I go back to work wounds I have from my diabetes get infected and I land in the hospital therefore losing the job I had. Not all disabled folks are out to grab your jobs for the sake of taking them from you. Many of them are just trying to survive any way they can while they can still do some kind of work. I wouldn't wish my problems on my worst enemy but I wouldn't mind seeing an able-bodied person who can't even imagine what such problems could be like walk in my shoes for a month or two. Maybe then they'd have an understanding of what those truly disabled folks are going through. So you lost a job. You're able-bodied and healthy. Find another one.

Also Aecom is obligated to hire those who have preference. This includes the disabled an ddisabled veterans who are eligible for employment.

So Running Bear, You are disabled and can't work? But yet you can put on one of those mask breathing things and go inside of a house on fire and save my life? But your to sick to get up and go to work on a regular basis because you get hurt and end up in the hospital. Your entire blog is completly talking out of both sides of your mouth! Since I heard some where that a fireman is in the top ten most stressful and dangerous jobs and you seem to be able to do that, maybe you could get a paying job as a fireman some where AND NOT HAVE TO SPONGE OFF THE STATE or GOVERMENT!!!! I wonder if the poeple responsable for paying out your disablity would still consider you disabled if they saw you at a big house fire!

VP Resident, I can see your resentment but there's no reason to resent all disabled folks for it. Yes I work as a volunteer on a fire dept, but I DON'T GO INTO FIRES! I run a pump most of the time because it's something I can do while sitting down. Many people have seen me at large fires and take it as an inspiration. If somebody as badly off as I am can contribute in some small way then it's a help for the rest. If I can run a pump that frees up an able-bodied fire fighter to go save someone if that need should arise. I don't go into fires and am often up to 100 feet away from any fire. Don't go assuming that just because I help out in a high stress job that I can do all that that job requires. I can't. I have trouble walking, I can't run at all, I can't carry any kind of a load and doing just common housework is agonizing. If you doubt what I say come and see for yourself. I live near Vernon Lake on Cable Loop off of Vernon Park Road. Maybe then you won't paint all disabled folks with the same brush as the lazy people who are healthy and refuse to work. I am not healthy and I am not able to work. Both of these are medically verifiable. If you can't take the time to see that all of us aren't the same then I just have to consider you as someone who can't see past the end of his nose.

Well the disabled working for Pride are not doing the job,they want to just collect the paycheck,working the non disabled person to death,and the company its self just keeps riding the non disabled to do more and more,and as far as the guy working for the fire dept,if you can do that then you can hold a job,but don't take a job climbing ladders if you can't,don't take a job going up in ceilings if you can't,and don't take a job requireing to do a lot of walking if you can't,leaving the nondisabled doing your job because you can;t but getting paid for it.Thats whats going on in Pride and i am sure many other companys.Don't get me wrong i have a sister that is disabled and can not do any kind of work,i know she dosent get much,but getting some is better than a man getting nothing because he is not disabled.

Let me get one thing straight with you right now! I'm a volunteer. I don't get paid for my work on the dept. Now you tell me why two able-bodied fire fighters should waste their time running the pump station when I can more than cover it myself. Those guys are far more valuable fighting the fire instead of worrying about their water supply. Also I can see the entire fire area from the trucks and can issue the proper warnings as they're needed. Now I hear you screaming and yelling about losing your job. If the job is so easy that a lazy no-account bum (which I'm not) can hold down the position then you must have been doing a really bad job! Get yourself certified in something else and get another job.

Running Bear correct me if I am wrong. But if you have all those problems and they are legit. Wouldn't the smoke and heat from the fires cause problems for you? Or does the V.F.D. makes sure they use extra hose to accomidate you into getting the pump trucks futher away from the fire?
Don't get upset Just asking.

Exactly right. Our trucks are set back far enough from the fire that we'll have time to move them if need be. The additional distance also allows the pump operator to see the entire scene. The smoke and heat don't cause me much of a problem. I was an active fire eater for quite a few years before I became disabled. They just don't allow me to go into the fires anymore. I didn't listen to them much at first so they took my boots and pants away. The only fire fighter pants I have are for woods fires and are totally unsuitable for structure or flammable liquids fires. So now I have to enjoy the view from outside. I was also taken off the drivers list for the trucks but I can still drive them in an emergency.

By the way, I agree totally with your screen name. I'm a democrat but I didn't vote for him.