Bismarck, North Dakota News

" And before anyone says anything about me not having a job do to the sale. Like our President said, we'll see what happens! If we have better all around conditions( communication and safety issues, great! If we don't have a job later on, then i will find another one) it's as simple as that! My military retirement starts in 1/2 year, and I have seen just about enough chaos in my life, both on these non supporting comments and overseas. Bismarck is a wonderful community and i'm glad to be here with or without Bobcat. Is that a good enough choice for some of you! "

" I've read many comments over the last year and have never commented, but I do know that the strike wasn't about just the wages and health insurance provided to us. I love my job and I love my family more. The strike everyone keeps screaming at the union about, helped many of us like myself, get to be with my family more! The new contract agreement about how to rid mandatory overtime by spreading the work to other brothers and sisters who have previously held a position needed to work for that weekend has freed my time at work and lets me enjoy my 4 children more, in fact i have another child on the way. Money is the root of all evil, so it means nothing to me. That means less money for me and more family time! This was more than half of our workers complaints, that were never brought to your attention. oh yeah, and Dave the NPCC is not a union runned Bobcat Facility, it is known as Menlo, thought you should know that> "

" You are right. Unions have ZERO need in America with the pro-worker laws we have in place. They served their purpose but now provide zero value. Unless you call throwing nails under tires and pop in gas tanks value. That's why Hyundai workers make more than GM or Ford workers. "

" On your way home from work, take a look around yourself at people working temoporary construction/road repair/seasonal outside jobs, in 106deg F weather, with no fan, no radio, no shade, less pay than you, no benefits, cars wizzing past them faster than the forklifts in the isle, etc, etc, etc, all willing to take your place. Be thankful for what you have, smile, at get along. "

" Name calling, another tactic of the unions to avoid having a discussion about facts. "

" I don't believe that the sale as anything to do with the union. I agree that unions are outdated and no longer a benefit to employees. The social and political landscape has chanced immensely since their inception when the power was all in the hands of the factories and legislation did not dictate far wages/working conditions. Great concept at the time, but that time is gone. Now the major union driven businesses are getting crushed by the competition because them cannot compete, or they are no longer profitable. "

" And I will defend your right to be and sound like a fool. "

" Typical, I don't need to be part of a union to know that they have no relevance in the 21th Century. Union membership nationally is painting that picture for me. 6% union membership nationally of the workforce, 6%, but still they think they have the almighty power to demand, demand, demand. Unions in this country are partially to blame for our inability to compete in the world market, the same world market that will decide the fate of Bobcat. And not keeping my comments to myself is my first amendment right, the same right the union membership claim many, many times. "

" If you do not work for Bobcat and never have or have never been part of a union you do not know what it is all about and you should keep you comments to yourself. It is better to not speak up and be thought of as a fool that to speak up and be proven a fool. "

" Stick a fork in the NPCC. "

" Yah, I'd like a written commitment that I am gonna have supper on the table every night at 6:00 pm. However, I am not stupid enough to brodcast that, my "boss" would get rid of me....pronto! "

" Here is one good question: Is any company now days commited to staying in one place, and to keep operations going there endlessly? Answer: NO! There is no job security anymore, and thats just the facts of life in the United States. I work for Bobcat, and at this point I dont care if it stays or goes. Why worry about something you cant change? A company will do what they want, so accept what happens and move on. Although if Bobcat where to stay in ND then Doosan should really take a look at their statements about employees being their best asset, so why then leave things as they are? IR has made such a commitment to management to allow them to try to intimdate hourly employees, and make it an uncomfortable place to work. Some policies and tones need to be changed on both side Union, and Management!!! "

" All of you must enjoy the big shots walking all over you. Give the union a break your wages and benefits wouldn't be where they are if it wasn't for unions in your community fighting for a fair wage. "

" To Carl P. D.....why don't you look on their websites!!!! "

" The union president needs to get a brain in his head...he is NOT the boss. I could see if he is the one that signed his name to the 4.9 billion dollar check to cash that check...but, no he did not. If he keeps running his mouth he is going to ruin it for everyone...not just bobcat...but, the other companies that do work for bobcat also. "

" Clark Equipment was a great company to work for -- employee and family oriented. Ingersoll Rand was a terrible company to work for -- all about the bottom line with them. For example, they won't even fix the AC that went out in the weld shop recently. You try welding inside a building when it's 106 outside. Hopefully Doonsan will be more like Clark. "

" I have had it up to here with union bashing. This Bobcat sale has nothing to do with the union. This sort of thing happens in the corporate world all the time with our without union employees. Have all you anti-union people forgotten about all other unions in our country. Fireman, policeman, teachers etc. the list goes on and on. If any of these people wanted to strike would you also call them whiners and lazy and so on. If they all "had to find another job" who would teach your children or who would provide law enforcement, or who would come to your home and put out a fire or even who would provide you with the health care that you need. Stop bashing unions they are everywhere, it is time to face reality and realize this. This sale has been in the works well before a strike was even mentioned at Bobcat. The union seems to be a good scapegoat to blame but it just isn't so. A company that could possible move out of America is a blow to all of us. Stop fighting against each other and look at the bigger picture, America could lose yet another company and jobs to foreign lands. That in itself is plain wrong. Would it mean more to union bashers if Bobcat wasn't union at all and decided to move the company and shut down in North Dakota? Would you then have sympathy to the workers who could lose their jobs to a foreign country? "

" When are they ganna learn that you dont boss the boss around.. "I would like to see a written committment" What are you talking about..? you havent even met the new owner and you are already barking demands at them.. They own the company and you work for them... If you dont like your job you can go someplace else.. If they want to close down shop and move overseas with operations than they will. (frankly, after listening to you guys for the past year I wouldnt blame them) my lord... "

" What a great attitude by the President of the Union that represents those workers. No wonder the working relationship from "a very good friend of mine who is a union worker" is so "disconnected". Work together that's how successful teams are built not with mistrust statements before the ink is dry. Interesting. "

" There is no doubt you can't move a company this size over night, but, This is business man, just who does Tom Ricker think he is..."I'd like to see a written committment" Geesh! Ain't that just like the Union- From what I have read South Korea has pride and drive- could be a problem for you union boys and girls. "

" To Online Editor: Does the Tribune have the capability of doing research into Doosan to see if they have made other accquisitions in the past several years? And if they have made any accquisitions, have they moved or shut down the plants? Or have they just incorporated the new business into their corporate umbrella? "