Archive for August – 2008

Archive for August, 2008

KBR’s Big Secret….Shhhh Don’t Tell Anyone In Iraq or Afghanistan!

By Ms Sparky | Filed in KBR, Rants, Senate & House Committee Hearings, Working Overseas

As you know I have been blogging about the changes in KBR’s hiring policies with regards to Electricians. They must be licensed and the salaries range from about 122-144K/year. That’s about 35-57K/yr higher than the old salaries. I am now told these changes in policy also include Licensed Plumbers and Licensed HVAC and who knows who else.

For those of us that have testified before The Senate and have been fighting for these changes this is a huge step in the right direction. But I didn’t know we were supposed to keep it a secret. Shhhh

I recently received this comment from a reader: Read the remainder of this entry »

Tags: Iraq, KBR, Women in Construction, Working Overseas

Your Tax Dollars Are Supporting Human Trafficking In Iraq

By Ms Sparky | Filed in Iraq Human Trafficking, Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Violations

Whether it be labor contractors D&P, PPI, UPI, ESS or others, they are all contracted to provide Third Country National (workers from outside of Iraq) and Host Country National (Iraqi’s) labor to KBR and the other US contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every dollar paid to these labor contractors comes from US tax dollars. Your tax dollars.

Human trafficking issues are not new in Iraq. Substandard living conditions for these people are prevalent. Kidnapping and deceptive hiring techniques are a common business practice. To allow these things to happen is unconscionable.

For KBR to claim they were unaware of these practices and conditions is absurd. Read the remainder of this entry »

Tags: Human Trafficking, Iraq, KBR

KBR, Partner in Iraq Contract Sued in Human Trafficking Case

By Ms Sparky | Filed in GOV. CONTRACTORS, Iraq Human Trafficking, KBR, LAWSUITS, LOGCAP III - KBR, Media Coverage, Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Violations

The things I saw in Iraq with regards to labor contractors such as PPI and the treatment of the Third Country Nationals was horrific. KBR’s contract administrators were notified. KBR WAS notified that their labor contractors were mistreating these people horribly. The living conditions were deplorable. I and others were repeatedly told there was nothing they could do. I personally took water and bought food for Filipino workers brought to Iraq Illegally by Walid Al-Omar and the Iraqi American Development Company (IADCO) to work on the Palace Rewire Project in the Green Zone. Many of us also took food from the Dining Facilities to feed these people risking our own termination. When IADCO stopped working on the multi million dollar rewire Project for whatever reason, the Filipinos were left stranded in the Green Zone without their passports, food, clean water or money. The Philippine Embassy was finally contacted and they helped these people get back home.

The Palace Rewire Project was a State Department project. And PPI supported State Department and Defense Department contracts. A clear case of ineffective if not non-existent oversight.

I ask this question…Does knowing that atrocities are being committed against fellow human beings and not doing anything to stop it and actually profiting from it make you complicit?

So, as you read this article below, do not think it is an isolated incident. Read the remainder of this entry »

Tags: Human Trafficking, IADCO*, Iraq, Iraqi American Development Company*, KBR

IBEW Member And Mother of Soldiers Shares Concerns

By Ms Sparky | Filed in Electrocutions/Shocks, Media Coverage, Politics, Women in Construction, Working Overseas

The “Electrical Worker” a monthly publication of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) recently published an article spotlighting IBEW member Marijane Green, mother if two active duty Marines. This mother is seriously concerned about the safety of her sons. You can read this article entitled “Troops Endangered By Shoddy Electrical Work” by clicking HERE page 2.

Another noteworthy article in this publication is the one entitled “A National Disgrace” by IBEW International Secretary-Treasurer Lindell K. Lee. Click HERE to read it page 14.

Although the unions do not have jurisdiction outside the US and Canada we have a moral and ethical obligation to put a stop to the unsafe work practices that are putting our American Soldiers and workers at risk. To put a stop to the harassment, the threats, the intimidation tactics. Not just in Iraq and Afghanistan, but ANY project funded by US tax dollars.

I have said it before and I will say it until it’s a law….”US Citizens working on US Government funded projects overseas should be afforded the same protections (OSHA and labor laws) as their co-workers in the US.” For example..New Embassy projects, new Consulates and military facilities…just to name a few. If it’s important enough to employ an American and in many cases an American with a clearance, then it’s important enough to give them OHSA and labor law protection.

Ms Sparky

Tags: Complete, Electrocutions/Shocks, IBEW, Iraq, Politics, Working Overseas

A Whole New Level Of Pain

By Ms Sparky | Filed in ZXY

For those of who have been reading, you know I have been having some problems with my back. I’ve never had any chronic back problems. Just occasional crap from working construction. Nothing major.

I woke up last week with some lower back tightness and have been going to my chiropractor and under going physical therapy. I had been doing great. Yesterday my chiropractor told me my back was looking good but he wanted me to do another day of physical therapy. No big deal. Some back strengthening exercises, some stetching, some shock therapy and some heat.

I was lying on my stomach, my physical therapy was over and I felt great. I put my hands under my chest to push myself up off the table…like a “push up”, and all of a sudden my lower back started to spasm and the worst day of my life began.

I was half on the table and half off and couldn’t move either way. With natural child birth being my worst pain ever, I’ve always compared my pain to that. This was much worse. I was ready to pass out, throw up, I broke out in a hot sweat, I was shaking uncontrollably all over. The muscle spasms, 10 times as bad as the worst charlie horse I’ve ever had, were coming about every 3 minutes and lasting about 1 minute. This went on for at least an hour before the spasms started to ease. I told my doctor it reminded me of labor and if I ended up with a baby at the end of all this I was going to be pissed!

I was there six hours before I could even walk. And I only attempted that because I had to pee so bad! My girlfriend Laurie came and got Keelen. My neighbor Mike came and got me and I called Cal and he flew right home from Ohio.

I walked in under my own power and feeling good and I left in excruciating pain and using a walker. Anyone who knows me knows how much I hate having to have my husband dress me!!! It takes 15 minutes for me to get to the bathroom, so there’s no waiting till the last minute. I went to my Primary Care Physician today and got some good drugs!!!

I really like my chiropractor and I don’t think it was his fault or that of my physical therapist. It was just one of those things.

I am now convinced I HAVE to get this extra weight, I put on after Iraq, back off. That has to be playing some huge part in all this!

On a positive note….I have learned that my maximum pain tolerance is much higher than I thought!

It’s time for my muscle relaxers!! Woo Hoo.

Ms Sparky

Tags: Personal