City of Chicago Water Department snippets for March 8, 2010
The Department of Water Management had a visitor back at the Jardine Plant this morning. He was blocking the front entrance with his big black BMW. Rumor has it he smells a job opening at the Department of Water Management left open by a fired commissioner. I guess Mayor Daley might be pulling the race card in filling these openings instead of hiring a college educated licensed engineer. Mayor Daley has a habit of filling a position with someone of the same race which makes no sense. In a related story, Fran Spielman reported Alderman Austin does not want an Inspector General snooping around the Chicago City Council members. I think she might change her mind when she is done unloading more family and friends on the city payroll. The Department of Water Management has a mess in the payroll department with many city workers shortchanged on the paycheck week after week. Workers complained some payroll department employees are not trained or capable of handling the job. A large amount of complaints were unearthed in the files cabinets of a terminated water department employee. This is another version of the old "circular file". Bosses said they will get back to me soon, some employees leave at 3:00 p.m. and making less clouted workers stay until 3:30p.m. Thanks to the bosses in Central District for looking into this matter.
Chicago Sun-Times Readers respond to James Kendrick Story
December 26, 2009 Plumbers work hard, earn their pay
While I agree with critics who say the city plumbing inspector accused of violating codes should be fired, why bring his salary into it?
I am a union plumber and proud of my trade, though I’ve been laid off for 21 months.
What do critics think is a fair wage?
If I were working now my salary would be similar, though as a private-sector plumber I would not get paid holidays, sick days, vacation, etc.
I am tired of people commenting negatively on our pay and charges for work performed.
I and every other union plumber out there went through five years of apprenticeship, and we work very hard to earn that money, whether that’s rodding out sewer systems, plumbing single-family homes or 95-story high-rises. We do the work that you don’t want to or don’t know how to. It’s a skilled trade, and you pay for that skill.
Without qualified plumbers and the plumbing inspectors, everyone’s health could be put at risk through improper water connections or sewage disposal.
Instead of complaining how much a plumber makes, next time thank him for providing safe drinking water for you and your family and for getting that razor out of your sewer that you flushed down the toilet so your home isn’t backed up with raw sewage.
Michael Hanley, Canaryville
Doing the crime — but no time
Former Ald. Ed Vrdolyak gets caught trying to steal million-plus dollars. He gets a couple of football players to write the judge a letter. He walks.
Former Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Al Sanchez, convicted of fraud in a City Hall hiring scheme, waits around long enough and finds a judge to reverse his conviction.
City plumbing inspector James Kendrick, working without a permit and using city materials for free, gets his job back.
A reputed made man in the mob, now behind bars, finds a judge who grants him the OK to go to a top-notch restaurant on Christmas Eve.
My money says Blago walks.
Any takers? Gary Odom, South Shore
(Chicago Clout Responds)
I hope you enjoy this Chicago Sun-Times Reader’s response to the James Kendrick Story. The extent of the story goes far beyond what these comments write. I am sorry to report this Plumber really has no clue as to what is really going on regarding Plumbers and Plumbing positions in Chicago. The Chicago Plumber’s Union has one of the worst unemployment rates for a “profession” in Chicagoland. Local 130’s unemployment rate is about 85%. The dues and fees are in the thousands every year. James Sullivan a hack at best, rehired the same bunch of bust-outs to continue the corruption at the expense of the membership. In Chicago, there are no new Apprentices which might cause the termination of the do-nothing teaching staff. One of the guys writing into the Sun-Times assumes Plumbers in Chicago are trained to do the job; many of these licenses are bought like candy over the counter. Michael McGann, a famous Chicago Plumbing Inspector will walk us through the buying and selling of Plumbing Licenses in Chicago next week. There is a much greater problem with the Plumbing license law in Illinois than most people realize, so you might want to consider bottled water for your family in Illinois until the problem is resolved. The City of Chicago again should thank Fran Spielman for another story that goes deeper than meets the eye. Patrick McDonough
City of Chicago Truck Drivers and 726 Members return back to duty
Almost all the laid off workers from the City of Chicago Motor Truck Drivers are back on duty. Next Monday should put the last stragglers back on Mayor Daley's payroll. Ever have the feeling an election is on the way? A lawsuit filed by Attorney Russ Stewart on behalf of these hard workers is inching along in court. I am proud of all the work I did to help this happen. It took hundreds of phone calls and meetings. I am still waiting for my honorary Local 726 hat. More lawsuits and grievances slated for Daley. Time to clean up the way Daley runs Chicago. This was kept quiet,eh? Patrick McDonough
Chicago Department of Water Management violate Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Tom Morris, Chicago Local 150 Engineer and Male Makeup Artist Assaulted
City of Chicago Department of Water Management Engineer and Male Makeup Artist was assaulted the third time October 24, 2009. The City of Chicago Department of Water Management does not seem to get the facts right on assault and battery, time after time. The dog and pony show of protecting workers has again been exposed as fraud. Commissioners do not listen to people that tell the truth unless they are on a petition drive or actively working a campaign. The Department of Water has management that was never educated in a college environment, many of these goons made their marks lying about co-workers, or being at the right place at the right time, for the right political campaign. It is no secret, uneducated managers put workers together that do not get along, a sure recipe for fights. After Hired Truck Scandal, Daley dumped some washed out coppers over to the department with no people skills, using the same abusive tactics they used on poor blacks and Hispanics. I am hoping Chicago News Stations do a story on Tom Morris, make-up artist for many famous judges and just a couple of weeks ago, made-up Dorothy Brown, Cook County Clerk. Tom was choked in the last assault incident, resulting in marks to his neck and back injuries. The Water Department suspended Tom instead of the actual perpetrator, despite medical proof! I do not blame Daley for selling the Chicago Department of Water Management; Daley destroyed a once great department with politics and corruption. Photo enhanced by Patrick McDonough