Now we've got the EBA out of the way , it's about time to get back to what we do best . That's whinging !
Now we've got the EBA out of the way , it's about time to get back to what we do best . That's whinging !
Posted at 12:09 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
The other day four of us Millers carried a vitamin feeder from C mill to A mill roller floor . It was quite unpleasant and absolutely dangerous . One stumble and all four of us would be fucked .
I know I know , we're supposed to refuse to do dangerous jobs but we were in a hurry and we needed this feeder pronto so we just got on with it because we are Men in White .
Afterwards though , I had the shits big time as it sunk in how close I was to a serious injury . You can ask the other three who were involved , they will tell you the same .
Solution .....get another feeder . Problem solved .
Not only problem solved but it solves other problems too like the possibility of cross contamination whenever we have to change the product in the feeders . At least once a day , sometimes three times . Common sense would tell you that investment in a new feeder makes good economic sense .
I hope so because next time I'm going to think three times before I carry that bloody thing again !
Posted at 05:26 AM in Men in White, Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
You need to look at history to appreciate the sacrifices made in the past to give us the conditions we have now . The people who are members of a Union and then come out and say they will work if a dispute occurs are surely kidding themselves . On one hand they want the protection membership affords them , on the other hand they wimp out when the going gets tough . The Sydney Harbour Bridge claimed many lives in its construction . Not much OHS in those days . Things obviously are different nowadays but only because courage was shown in the past .
Posted at 12:48 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Everybody knows that sickies are part of the Australian cultural experience . There is nothing better than having an unscheduled day off while your workmates are slaving on . It's fantastic .
Posted at 09:20 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
In the interest of keeping categories on the blog viable it pays to keep updating that particular category
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Posted at 05:37 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Lucy is leaving us for a life as an army girlfriend . Good luck Lucy . She has done a great job in the bakery .
The position has been advertised and I have no doubt we will have an internal candidate go for the job . My colleague Chris Gue , who I believe has an irresisitible case for his employment as the new baker .
He has extensive experience as a baker after over a seventeen years in his family bakery . He has also filled in on occasions in our own bakery so he knows his way around the joint . He knows all the people already and they know him .
Furthermore his work ethic is excellent , I know because I have worked with him for years . He cares about his work and is the opposite of lazy .
He has had enough of shiftwork and is very keen for a day job . He has provided many years service as a shiftworker and deserves a chance to get out of the nightwork . He's paid his dues many times over .
In the past the Mill has been reluctant to let Millers go especially lead Millers but as far as I know , they were prepared to allow Chris to go for the screen making job in the workshop . We have many good candidates to replace him . I can think of four . Furthermore then Wilbur could go on shift permanently , something he really wants .
Finally I have heard the Mill has an outside candidate lined up . Surely this cannot be true ?
We are in a situation where we are trying to shed jobs . Here we can shed one painlessly , save money on the payroll as per the situation required by the owners . It defies logic that we would take an external candidate in these circumstances .
Posted at 12:51 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Never forget the silver lining !
Even in the depression in the 1930's , there were aspects of society that were improved because of the situation . People became more self reliant , old skills were re-learnt . Character was more important than wealth .
We won't experience these extremes but we will learn valuable lessons nontheless .
How to live within our means for a start . I'm not preaching , I'm a prime culprit . I'll be at the first lesson .
Not just individually but as a country , and as a global thing too . Surely in these days of virtual internet we can foster a greater awareness that is acted on not just talked about .
It is time for a new way that is not predicated on growth and greed . So short selling is banned , well so what , ban the bloody thing , it doesn't do any good whatsoever .
Really , are the financial community really listening to the community . We are sick of this shit , short selling involves borrowing money to buy shares that you sell hoping to buy back at a cheaper price . Short sellers gang up on a target and force their value down .
A bit like a gang of bikers deciding they are going to force someone out of business . Illegal you would have thought . No apparently not , just normal everyday crap for our revered financial community .
For Fuck's sake . Get a life and make something of consequence . Go and work instead of gambling . A good proportion of the financial community would be better off at the racetrack . A fair proportion of their work is betting against something or other .
The silver lining in this whole affair has been the spotlight put on , what some of these fuckwits are doing .
Posted at 03:03 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Look I'm fed up with eating my smoko sitting on the floor out the back of the control room . We deserve better and the photos indicate my preferred design .
It's pretty big looking but a good spot for it would be where C Mill is now . Once it is demolished we can start bringing in the Chesterfields and Royal portraits .
And remember I'm serious about that coffee machine !
I know what you're thinking , this is a humorous piece and I've put it in whingeblog .
Regular readers will know however that humour is scattered throughout the blog and so is the whinging . Sometimes it's just disguised .
Posted at 05:04 PM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Although some of you may be bored with the issue of the Xmas party , I for one have not given up . My view is that a Xmas party is a cultural event in the lives of Australians like Anzac day and nearly all workplaces celebrate that time of the year .
Bosses and workers intermingle in an atmosphere devoid of work pressures . Photocopies of bums are created and everyone manages to make a fool of themselves .
The next day at work is a beauty !
Now let us free ourselves of this legal liabilty bullshit once and for all . Our society is losing the ability to take responsibilty for our actions . Everything is always someone else's fault and litigation inevitably ensues .
It is absolutely pathetic and we are currently captured by this mindset to the detriment of our Xmas party . It sucks and does not reflect well on our fearless leaders .
I'll say here and now that I can do it . That's right I could do this Xmas party . If Management are not capable then I put my hand up . And what's more I will take full responsibility .
Here's how I would do it !
Firstly location .....Out of Manildra . Take everyone out of their normal zone .
My preference is the whole first floor of Hotel Canobolas in Orange . The large room plus also the smaller bar and the space in between . A classy enviroment that makes people feel special and their behaviour improves as a result .
I would approach it this way . The hotel provides normal security that it would for 200 people . But inside there is a team of employees who monitor potential flashpoints . Half a dozen of our finest men monitor the different vibes among the various groups . Dickheads are given to Hotel security and in turn passed onto police for a night in the slammer . We take responsibility for our own party .
Closed door policy . Absolutely essential . Strict implementation of this . Nobody without invitation etc !
Only one party , everyone comes to one party . Skeleton crew at the Mill . Three Millers earning overtime and also possibly guys on Packer four earning overtime . Everyone else at the party .
Staff pay for own drinks . Manildra School Mums do food and service as they used to . But no sit down food . European style mingling with food brought round in trays . As long as that is all OK with potential venue .
I Repeat ...... drinks are bought by employees at the bar . Mill provides venue ,food , transport . Buses from Orange to Manildra at reasonable intervals .
There is also music and entertainment . Most importantly there is also dancing . Yes , celebration , boogie woogie and the waltz also .
I have put on a few parties in the past and would like nothing better than to help make our Xmas party a goer again after this last few fallow years . The drought as it were !
I would volunteer my time for this and so would the Super Doopers . At least I hope they would because I need them in the blueprint .
If all else fails then we'll call it my fortieth birthday party , I'll take the rap . Yeah fortieth sounds about right . Look jokes aside , I believe if we also take ownership of this event in tandem with management then it could be feasible .
Posted at 02:54 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Firstly in regards to the last random whinging , it appears Sunday is not such a big deal in the Lab as I suggested , it does kick up sometimes but the last one I worked was very quiet . Nerida questioned my previous whinge and good on her . She does need to relax though and have a beer with me .
Anyway onto the whinging .......the storemen feel three is the best number and that only two forklifts at work creates a backlog of trucks . And not fair on the understaffed crew .
Why are lead millers so passive in relation to their status at the Mill ? They have been overtaken by super doopers , left for dead by the fitters . They have an opportunity to have their voice heard with the EBA stuff going on but we haven't heard a peep from them .
I think the Millers should have a fully functioning smoko area in the control room , microwave , coffee machine ( that's for me ), sushi bar ( that's for me ) . The advantages to this are that the Millers would be having their smoko in front of their screens . Also the Orange people can enjoy some home comforts which the Manildra mob get when they go home for lunch .
Nobody seems to be saying much about a Xmas party . It would be good to know the exact reason it is not feasible so that perhaps we can collectively overcome the obstacles. Don't you think ?
Posted at 11:38 PM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
The Jackpot money will be paid this week , sorry about the delay . Unfortunately the number of tippers who did not honour their payments means it has taken this long to collect the money . In fact there are still monies outstanding and I hope the people concerned appreciate my restraint in not naming them publicly .
The attempted cheating was very disappointing and all I can say is that we did manage to catch the cheats but I do admit had our systems been tighter , the cheats would not have had an opportunity . Do remember that the rotating shift makes it hard to police the the comp properly . You are relying on the honesty of people . Less said about that the better .
Regards Scotty Wright
Posted at 01:11 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
The Packers complain about having to go down the yard to wrestle . They say this form of wrestling is outlawed and furthermore is dangerous what with the kicks to the head and the deadly sleeper holds . Even the tag team techniques don't protect the wrestler from the 13th Row .
The Lab technicians complain about being alone in the lab on the weekend confronted by all sorts of tasks that they have to face by themselves . They say there are a million lab rats during the week but only one solitary one on Sunday when all the trucks arrive . Sometimes there are mixes or hi tec or both and any number of full tests .
The Kangaroos and foxes and other more precious wildlife have complained about the speed at which some of the employees of the Mill travel to and from work . Fair Dinkum we are going to see carnage soon . Human carnage .......not animal roadkill .
The Millers complain about having to go to the wheat intake to do trains or trucks . Especially when it leaves the Mills shortstaffed . In the morning when the Dougos arrive , the millers live or die by what has happened during the night . Downtime , Mill settings , extraction all come to bear . Wheat Intake is an extra the Millers could do without .
Management are complaining about the amazing production and packing figures , they say the staff should start screwing up so that they have something to do . Unfortunately the staff are so good that the bosses are left twiddling their thumbs and they want this to stop right now !
Posted at 04:00 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
Imagine for a moment ....... we land on Mars and discover it's perfect for the human race to inhabit . There's water so we can wash our cars .Oxygen so we can smoke and there's even oil , plenty of it , we can screw up another planet . Hurrah .
Problem is , there are also some pesky natives or aliens , we'll find a derogatory name soon enough but for now we'll call them Martians . It doesn't matter they don't last long , nuclear weapons and alcohol soon put paid to most of them . They thought it was their planet , how wrong could they be ?
Guess what ? We have an opportunity to make amends . Our Management has managed to surpass themselves with a great act to provide an even break to five Aboriginal lads or so I hear . If true it is just fantastic and I for one will welcome them with open arms whatever their circumstance .
The persons out there who are unhappy with this development should reflect on their good fortune in life and should try and be a bit more open minded and anybody who would like to argue the point with me is more than welcome . Some of the reactions I have heard have not been promising to say the least .
Posted at 11:52 PM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
The railway bridge doesn't look as strong as the road bridge but perhaps it doesn't need to be . We get a few trains a day but hundreds of trucks . Something is wrong there . The system should encourage freight by rail instead of road . Not just for enviromental reasons but also road safety .
Anyway it gives me the excuse to show another angle of the area that could be regenerated and made to look great . Don't get me wrong the natural look is good but we're talking about right next to the mill and I think that some human intervention in the area I am talking about can counterpoint the human intervention evident just metres from this image . Imagine creating an amazing oasis where anyone can forget about the present for a few minutes and instead can relax in a picturesque scene . This would I suggest add many dollars to the bottom line . Or many more trips to the smoko table ....... !
Posted at 02:41 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Jingles is going to the mines . They snapped him up ,why not , he is a good worker and smart too . The kind of person a company would want to hang onto . He is ambitious though and you can't go very far at Manildra . Everyone is cemented into their job . Not many people leave , not many people are sacked either so you have this situation where opportunities are few and far between .
That's just how it is . I'm not saying it's bad . Just how it is . Every workplace is unique in it's own way and Manildra has it's own characteristics .
Posted at 02:08 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
To our crack team of bin cleaners . You are kidding right ? The cleaning of Silo six has gone to outside contractors because Manildra can't clean our own silo . What a joke !
I'm not going to get into the reasons why this happened but suffice to say there is plenty of equipment one can use to protect oneself and if that person was a bin cleaner , you would expect them to use that equipment . I have been in the silo myself and I made sure I wore the green mask . It works great and you can't even smell the rotten wheat . The others eschewed this vital piece of safety equipment because of heat . My view is that the mask is not that hot that you should put yourself at risk .
At the time the wheat was relatively easy to suck out and now I understand the situation is different with lots of shovelling required . This is a hard job but there are plenty of packers who can't get any overtime , Xmas is coming . I reckon quite a few boys would have had a go . We could have spread the work amongst ourselves instead of it going to a contractor . Oh that's right , one must have a " confined space certificate " . I forget . Still there are plenty of other blokes with " confined space " certificates who would have welcomed the overtime . The overtime would cost just as much as the contractors .
Did this debacle occur because of a dispute over who was getting the overtime ? If so , pull your heads in .
Posted at 09:27 PM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
I have recently seen Matt Dumbrell complete a seamless transition from the packers to the lab . I was pleased because I was also once a packer and have often wondered at the reluctance of the management to employ packers into vacancies that occur in the mill and the lab . Instead we employ new poeple who are not used to the shiftwork and culture .
Matt easily handles the weekend work because he is used to it , unlike recent additions to the lab who struggle with the concept of turning up on a Saturday night . He was thrown in the deep end and responded accordingly because he really wants it . You can't beat that !
There are many willing blokes in the packers who deserve a chance at a more challenging job . Sometimes they don't even know it themselves . They just need a gentle prod . Especially now export is diminished these guys should be relocated into better jobs particurlarly guys that have been at the mill for yonks . I think packers are discriminated against when going for in house jobs , simply because they are packers and are presumed to have no talent beyond that .
Well done to the persons who gave Matt a chance .
Posted at 02:59 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Let it not be said that we are sidetracked by peripheral issues , we like to focus on the important things like partying . A lot has been said about the Xmas party but none more sensible than Jo Braithwaite . She reminded us of the great benefit that the previous Xmas parties provided as in the substantial boost to local school excursions by virtue of the Mill's generosity and the mothers hard work on the night . It enhanced local community feelings of togetherness and as Jo pointed out , was an excellent example of big business interacting with the local community !
OK so let's focus on Manildra as the venue then . The Bowlo is either unable or unwilling to keep the function completely private . This has been proved over again . Any other venues we could use , who would be willing to close their doors ? Maybe we could do some research .
What about the Imperial , it's small but classy and I think it's sociable when people are squashed together . It will probably be two parties anyway so make it more cosy . Two big mothers on the door at the front and half a dozen at the back , all armed of course so management can feel safe .
This brings us to the wildcard , the option that JC favours . The dreaded family day at the oval , the ultimate cop out ! JC and Brutus111 are the driving forces behind this dastardly plan and they must be stopped . Brutus111 has been touched by recent fatherhood and is forgiven . He'll learn ! As for JC , he should know better he's got little blighters himself . It's not that I don't love my kids but I don't want them hijacking my Xmas party . They've already ruined any remnants of lifestyle that I once had and I don't want to be interrupted from the party to take one of my kids to hospital because Muldoon's daughter's has knocked them out .
Where are you Brutus111 ? Tell us what you think . JC you're the boss so ultimately the decision is yours . I think though everyone wants to have a party and I hope our various comments help in designing the right event .
Posted at 05:43 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Looks like we're not a workplace of whingers . How do I know ? Well the opportunity to vent spleen has been available for a few weeks now and the comments have been measured or funny instead of ugly and nasty . Sure there are heaps of things that rile us but we take them in our stride understanding that stuff happens in large workplaces , things can't always be perfect . It points to a largely happy workplace that copes with it's problems in a civilized way . We moan and bitch a bit and then get on with what we're supposed to do .
Of course it helps to highlight certain problems and I hope that The Chaff will assist in that area . To do that requires a bit of feedback . For example I wrote a piece about the temp bins . A few weeks after , a miller who was measuring the bins had what could have been nasty fall in the frosty morning . This unnamed miller reads the blog but didn't post a comment supporting my initial article . Had he done so the impact of the whinge would be doubled . If another miller also posted a comment than it would be triple and so on and so forth . The management would then sit up and take notice .
The Xmas party attracted some pertinent comment but I expected more . For example one of my proposals was for us to pay for our own drinks . I expected a storm of protest but only Bec challenged me . Fairplay to her , all you drinkers out there should doff your caps when she goes by . Brutus suggested a family type affair with kids and I happen to know that John Campbell also favours this option . So now is the time to make your presence felt on this important issue . Parties are important too mate !
A major issue is the Canola mill and I am waiting for help on this subject as I am not in a position to say too much because I'm not informed enough . However I will say that it is Dick Honan doing what he does best , being a businessman , taking action when he sees an opportunity , creating jobs and making deals . It seems that part of that deal was to have our maintenance people take care of the Canola Mill as well . Problem is , we are a mature ,unionised workplace and that is not the case with the Canola mill which I think has lower wages and conditions befitting a new workplace . In that respect I think the workshop are within their rights to resist . If they are injured over there , are they covered by our systems ? If yes than are we the same workplace ? Very complicated . Help !
Another topical issue is the Super Dooper supervisors or the Kerry Packer supervisors whatever you want to call them . First up I'll say I don't begrudge them their new priviliges but I can't see how they are more valuable than lead millers in monetary and workload terms .
This leads into my pet subject which is the millers sense of worth which I believe is not reflected in the current systems .The Special Plant and the lab have in recent years have had significant advances in their priviliges while the millers have stood still or have had their passage made more difficult . In my opinion this does not reflect the knock on effect that mistakes by millers have . You pay monkeys ....
Posted at 02:31 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (15) | TrackBack (0)
Well It's all gone well , everyone has been lulled into a false sense of security . The blog is friendly and The chaff is funny and non threatening . You all relaxed ? Well wake up ! Time to upset the management . Let's get serious now .
I'll go first .......The alarm/fire system is a mystery to me and I'm a Man in White . What that means is that while all of you are evacuating to the meeting point ,the millers and maintenance/electricians are making their way to the source of the alarm . Talk about being in the firing line ! I would like more training in the use of the fire/alarm system and also some dialogue as to our responsibilities in the response to a potential crisis . Obviously a lot of money has just been spent on updating the water part of the fire response system and it shows the Company is serious about combating a possible calamity . It would be good though if the staff were better prepared I think . I don't mean like a Swat team or anything but just able to make the right decisions because they've been trained for it .
I'll go second .......The term The Chaff relates to the expression " sorting the wheat from the chaff " and in terms of what we do at the Mill it gets to the heart of the matter . We get the chaff off the wheat and make it cleaner . There are certain machines that achieve this process but none more important than the separators in the pre-cleaning tower ..Problem is that they are never working and the pre cleaning tower is always bypassed , so we are not doing the chaff man ! It's not getting sorted . So we have mega problems in the mills when bins empty . Blockages , downtime , loss of production and the subsequent loss of profit .It can mean multiple stops in a short period of time in the mills . If it is all happening at the same time the figures next day don't look pretty . I don't need to mention the ingestion of wheat dust each time a problem is confronted . It's a dirty horrible area and realistically it would probably cost too much to make it brand spanking new but this is whingeblog and I'm whinging ...!
I didn't discover these problems , I've listened to what the Head and Lead Millers have to say over the years and put them in my own words . I'm no expert just the messenger .
Now who is going to be third or fourth ????? Leave a comment . My tip is the big brass appreciate a bit of comment and feedback , they are more open minded than you think .
Posted at 01:20 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)
For what it's worth here is my tuppenny ha'penny worth on the vexed situation of our non existent Xmas party . I know some people don't like the Xmas party but I bloody love it ! The three or four I have been to , have been thoroughly enjoyable . Admittedly my wife and I had already left when trouble broke out so my memories are all good and I can't really comment as I wasn't there . However I'd like to make a couple of points first of which is to say I think the " bowlo " is not the right venue because external influences not related to the Mill cause friction resulting in fights that ruin it for everybody . Furthermore I don't blame the Mill for not wanting to put one on , there are probably Insurance implications involved also . Liability if someone gets hurt , free alcohol being a contributor - all that sort of stuff .
I think it is time to redesign the Manildra Flour Mill Xmas party -------- have it in Orange somewhere nice , get away from the Mill -- the free alcohol thing is very generous but I reckon we should pay for our own drinks and make it a more civilized affair with music and dancing in a venue experienced in these sort of affairs . That's just my opinion and please feel free to leave your comments on this story and what you think .
Posted at 01:46 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
When I first measured the temp bins I remember being shit scared as I was so far up and there didn't seem to be much stopping you from falling or slipping off . A small railing is all there is . In time I got used to it and now it doesn't bother me . However when it rains and it is windy I still think it is dangerous and furthermore I believe a solution could be fairly cheap . Much cheaper than a fire escape for blending and packing bins which is also an issue . For those of you interested both these issues have been given to the safety commitee in years gone by .
Posted at 01:57 AM in Whingeblog | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)