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Old 04-09-2004, 06:04 PM
Bobby L.
 
Posts: n/a
Re: caught in the middle


"bruce" <bruce002@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:rdEdc.14570$BF2.1239189@news20.bellglobal.com ...
> Thanks Julie, I did take him outside and talk with him. I explained to him
> that I had been sober for a while.Reiterated the importance of meetings
> getting a homegroup and a sponsor. I also told our union executive that I
> was an alcoholic and that any other such cases such as this one I would

like
> to be involved.
> "Julie" <Julie919@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:BtAdc.2270$zj3.49@newsread3.news.atl.earthlin k.net...
> >
> > "bruce" <bruce002@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> > news8zdc.11602$BF2.1180740@news20.bellglobal.com ...
> > > I am the chief steward with our local union. Yesterday I was in the

> > position
> > > of trying to help get an alcoholic his job back. He just completed a

28
> > day
> > > program a couple weeks ago. His history with the company is not very

> good
> > 4
> > > or 5 DWIs poor attendance and so on. My trouble was that he showed up

to
> > his
> > > meeting yesterday drunk. I wasn't handling his case personally but the
> > > letter he was to sign had stipulations in it that he remains sober,

> > provide
> > > a urine sample at the employers request. The union officer and this

guy
> > went
> > > upstairs to meet with the HR representative and next thing I know is

the
> > > company is going to terminate him and give him 18 months salary! As a

> > union
> > > officer this is good for the employee as a recovering alcoholic this

is
> > the
> > > worst thing for him!!!
> > >
> > >

> > Shortly after I started going to AA my company found out that I was in a
> > outpatient recovery program and fired me. I thought it was so unfair

> until
> > I realized that I could draw my unemployment and go to three meetings a

> day
> > if I wanted to (went to 346 meetings my first year). This was the best
> > thing that could have happened to me at the time.
> > Could it be that he went to the 28 day program only to save his job and

> not
> > to quit drinking? I hope not.
> > If this person is NOT trying to get sober then allowing then to sit at

> home
> > and do nothing but drink just might help them to hit their bottom and

seek
> > the help they have been told about.
> > Either way its a good thing as far as I'm concerned.
> > Julie
> > PS
> > I was a UAW union Stewart for four years. Doing the right thing was

often
> > difficult. God bless you.
> > >
> > >

> >
> >

>
>


Bruce,

I would recommend you keep in mind that we are not responsible for and have
no control over the "outcome." We can only carry the message -- not the
drunk.

Bobby L