I do want to mention to all out there I have been in the business for quite a while. I have never paid off anyone.I am a prime contractor who takes alot of pride in our work as well as the companies that I work for. I would NEVER work for a company who asked or implied a payoff. Lets get to the bones of what a payoff is. I think dollar amounts are not the entire be all, end all factor on wether a payoff has taken place. Certainly me treating someone to lunch is a nobile and innocent enough gesture. But if I was to say I would be willing to pick up lunch for the contract, its not the same thing. In the same way, that new fishing boat could be considered a payoff or a gift. I am not talking about an excuse or cover up. I mean, what are your true intentions? Its like that fine line between art and pornography. The sad truth is that Mr Manager may only make 40K-100K per year and you are cleaning up. I don't see any "gift" no matter the amount, as a payoff if you have honest intentions. Any reputable contractor would not take a payoff anyway. The idea that someone would put there job on the line for a quick payoff sounds like a recipe for a failing company. I am not saying it doesn't happen. I remember being around as a sub berore i got my first prime contract and hearing the payoff buzz. I also remember the person being offered the bribe saying "that implies a loss of control over the situation or that he would feel obligated to a certain contractor." This was a one of the major players in the industry. Any company that would put there reputation on the line,could not make it too far like that without payingoff the MSO too.You can bet it will cost more than that new fishing boat and pick up truck. The companies I work for get my best.Occasionally they get a pizza delivered for helping me out or a doghnut breakfast. I do this because I Want to know and develop a relationship with everyone there. They know they can call on me at any time. when I loose this to a person with a check for the man I anwser to, I will let you all know.
Keep the faith
> With times getting bad in the industry alot of you are finaly starting to see it for what it is, One big sledge pool. When times were good there was so much work that the corruption was buried beneath the surface. All the payoffs, kickbacks were there, it's just nobody paid much mind to them because there was so much work and the prices were good. No with alot of companies delaying projects you get everyone fighting for the same bone. Well, if you haven't figured it out yet, the only way is to either get out of the industry or join them. You will have to become a lying, cheating, backstabbing son of a bitch to succeed. I know, everyone says that this stuff only happens with the people that have been around for awhile in cable. Well who do you think the next generation of Managers has been learning from all of these years. I doubt if they have been saying to themselves that once I'm in charge I'll change things. Naw, What they've been saying is I wish some of these old bastards would retire so i can get a bigger piece of the pie. I got 8 months until I retire and frankly I don't give a dam about this industry that has been my life for 35 yrs. I made a good living, struggled at times. Hell it would have been easier if I would have played the game. But I decided along time ago I didn't want to be like the rest of them. In fact I was trying to figure out the other night if I would have taken the kickbacks that were offered to me how much that would have come to, I came up with about half million just off the top of my head. I know I've forgot about half of them. Well enough of my rambling for one day. I got to get ready for my fishing trip I'm taking with my supervisor in his new boat he just got from a certain construction company for awarding them a $300,000.00 project. Evan though he knows they will totally f*** it up. But then maybe he can get a new truck out of them if he approves there invoices for there project.
>
> > > Let's get to the point!!! The industry is a mere shell of what it was just a few years ago. Political BS has taken the place of hard working management, guys are working for prices from the 80'S and fighting to get their money, the market is in the toilet
, then throw in a corrupt cable company (or two???) and what you have left is an industry in deep trouble. Good luck to all who ride out "this storm". > >
> > > it needs to change, Operating discipline with uniformity and adequate information on a timely basis combined to enforce company ethics. Restoring integrity and honesty is paramount to repairing confidence among workers and customers in the telecommunications industry.
> > >
> > > > I just heard the latest on the Adelphia situation. i just wanted to say that its a sorry thing to happen to all the good contractors out there. This kind of thing does not happen alot and we are all fortunate that it doesn't. Alot of you have families and employees with families. I hope you don't let this spoil you on working in CATV any more than it spoiled people on power and gas in the Enron situation. The industry still needs you and we all need you to help make the entire cable world a better place to live. I know alot of people who lost alot of money and cannot pay employees. Good people who have never done a crooked thing in their lives. They look like criminals. If you are reading this thinking I am supporting you in collecting money from a prime working under Adelphia, you are not wrong or right. Just remember, they lost too. some lost profit,some lost a month or two of labor, others lost a lifes work to become a prime contractor. The accuations are that one the company's top officials ran off with close to 4.5 billion.He and his family spent it all . If you want to know where the money went, look no further. If you wish to email me your personal story ,please feel free.
> > > >
> > > > Godspeed.
> > > >
> > > > (-REDACTED-)
