ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, September 29, 1996 TAG: 9609300009
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
TYPE: LETTERS
In the Current's Sept. 19 article "Celco, workers argue seniority," management's point of view at Hoechst Celanese is that each department, be it coning, beaming or twisting, is not always necessary. The company has used this as an intimidation ploy. All three departments are necessary and uncompromisable.
The article quoted the plant manager as saying there were only about 30 employees involved in both areas involved in the first step toward change." [Plant Manger Winston] Faust is mistaken on the number of people and the number of departments involved. There are three departments with an approximate number of 200 people, plus five other departments that would be directly affected.
According to the article, "Though changes were first proposed early this year, employee training did not begin until July, Faust said." In actuality, training began in June in the coning department, which caused furloughs in beaming and twisting.
Who is trying to accomplish what? The reporter or an old manager?
The article further stated: "Faust emphasized the need for change in the future, but said that many employees do not recognize the nature of the changing world. Many of them are 'looking through a rear-view mirror' without acknowledging the challenges of what lies ahead."
These people do not "look in a rear-view mirror." We look to a fair future. That is all we ask and we will accept nothing less.
To quote the article again, "In spite of the serious concerns expressed publicly by employees, Faust said the door to change has been left open to employees.' A grievance plan is being pursued,' he said."
The company has: held meetings, changed meeting venues without notice, and closed the door on any and all negotiations. [The company] has not: shown up, not negotiated and not informed all parties involved.
The company is changing its implementation of the process to suit the company, knowing that it breaks the terms of agreement in the contract.
Anita J. Peters
Rich Creek
Humane Society details policy
The Humane Society of Montgomery County would like to confirm how it handles animals at our shelter.
For animals coming into the shelter, we operate from a waiting list since our shelter is always full. Once a space becomes available, our staff contacts the person whose animal is to come into the shelter. No one from the shelter will ever ask for an animal to be brought to their home or other location. If someone representing themselves as an Humane Society agent requests an animal be brought to a location other than the shelter, please get the individual's name and number and then call us at 382-1166 so we can take appropriate action.
All adoptions are handled at our shelter. To comply with state law, we require documentation ensuring that the animal will be spayed/neutered. These procedures apply to all animals whether in the shelter or in foster care.
Due to our limited capacity, we do maintain a list of individuals who have animals they want to give up and we do refer people seeking a certain type of animal to the appropriate individual. However, these are not Humane Society animals and people who adopt them must realize they are adopting from a private individual not the society.
We do not adopt or sell animals in front of stores. We adopt only to adults who come to our facility. This avoids impulse adoptions that frequently result in an animal being unwanted. Such adoptions are bad for both the animal and the new owners since the responsibility was not thought through.
We wish we could help every abandoned, abused, or unwanted animal in Montgomery County, but we do not have the resources. The best support we can get is for people to have their cats and dogs spayed or neutered.
Ron Brown
President, Humane Society of Montgomery County
LENGTH: Medium: 74 linesby CNB