I got this comment last night in response to “My 100th Blog Post – How MsSparky.com Evolved”. I get these responses all the time in emails and I normal just disregard them…but not today!
This is a comment from “DC”.
the testifying, I get. But the public speaking and anything remotely related to work or even specifically describing daily recreational activities was contractually prohibited….. did they change this? It used to be grounds for immediate termination. no “please remove this…” Just one question…. window or isle?
Ms Sparky’s Response:
First, I no longer work for KBR. I just read my contract AGAIN…just to make sure and it DOES NOT say anywhere that I can’t talk about mine and others experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are countless books, websites, blogs already published by former KBR employees about their experiences in Iraq. I understand operational security (OPSEC). I understand classified information. I also understand KBR’s MO of threats, intimidation and misinformation. You can’t talk about this…you can’t talk about that. This is in violation of your contract!!! Bullshit!! My contract wasn’t even with KBR, is was with SEII. People need to talk about it and remove that KBR imposed veil of secrecy and get the word out. How long has this BS been going on now?? 5 years of Human Trafficking, Waste Fraud & Abuse, Employee Abuse, Rapes, Assaults, Unsafe Workplaces, Lack of Tools and Material? THAT’S WHY I DO THE INTERVIEWS!! And will continue to do so until the damn laws are changed so that the term “window or aisle” used as a threat is illegal even in Iraq! That’s how KBR controls it’s employees, through fear, intimidation, isolation (no more cell phones) and misinformation!
I will not stop until every US citizen working for any US Government funded contractor including KBR/SEII, at ANY US facility world wide is afford the same legal protections as their Stateside co-workers…. For one, DON’T THREATEN TO FIRE ME IF I DON’T SHUT UP ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES!!!!!! (Hostile workplace) And some OSHA protection would be nice as well.
So…in answer to your question NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO I will not shut up. I WILL NOT shut this blog down. I will continue to publish peoples stories and comments. I will continue to publish information I feel is important to current and former KBR employees. It’s a free country, KBR can sue me if they want. That will just give me something more to blog about! If I’m not mistaken….my first amendment rights are still in effect here! Can you say ACLU?
The more qualified, licensed people KBR gets over there, the less they are going to be able to get away with crap!
So….DC…..comment on that! And just to clarify. I have no intentions at this time to write a book on my experiences in Iraq!
Ms Sparky
Telling this woman to shut up never ends well…
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Very wise man!
MsSparky is absolutely right!! If more of us would have (and still can – those that are still in Theatre working) spoken up about things and stuck together, KBR would have been forced at least temporarily, to make some changes. Also, since I am one, especially the electricians. Maybe some of our soldiers and workers might be alive today if we had pushed our complaints harder up the ladder and even – God forbid – to outside sources about the unsafe practices and wiring methods we all saw over there. We all were too afraid of our jobs and fell victim to KBR’s SOP of intimidation. I am guilty of it myself. Ms Sparky, you keep going and I think more of us will come out of the closet and discuss what we witnessed – Thank you for your courage. . .
Ms Sparky’s Resonse:
Thanks for your comments and encouragement. It’s going to take every ones help to get this done! “Get er done!”
please don’t shut up. i can already see a difference. we can’t tell congress what’s wrong but you can. be our voice.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thanks Soldier and THANKS FOR SERVING!!
Ms “Sparky”,
Can I just say that you are my hero because what you do is amazing… Thank you and God bless you…. I found yet another former KBR employee who tells me he has been shocked numerous times in iraq. It seems if these “shocks” were wayyyy too common and expected by most people. Im sure you have already known this but just thought Id tell ya. Also look me up on facebook and myspace so that I can help you network this information to all of my avid friends and their friends and their friends so that the whole nation is aware.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thank you. I will search for you on Myspace and Facebook…let’s get the word out!
Ms Sparky
I would like to know why you attack KBR all the time and not the people that work for the company.I am a licensed electrician working for KBR in Afghanistan for 15 months and I never had any problems,some people get over here and think it is a “HOLIDAY RESORT” and forgot it is actually a”WARZONE” and that we are 8500 miles away from civilization.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Yes, you are correct. But, it is still a WORKPLACE/JOBSITE!! I found that for the most part…the people in Iraq/Afghanistan were just trying to do their jobs. It was the company, in country upper management, corporate management, corporate mandates, not taking care of business, not taking care of their employees that was the problem.
Do you think I am being to hard on little ole KBR? I think for the billions they are making they can take it.
I would like to say I have seen some positive progress out of KBR in the last month or so and I’ve posted about the licensing requirements and better wages!! Definitely a step in the right direction.
Ms Sparky
Thanks for this positive comment,I think if all the people just have a positive outlook it will make live better for us all over here.THANKS FOR YOUR INPUTS.
This is for ‘Jones’ above, Ms Sparky is correct when stating the term “KBR”. It is the company’s responsibility to provide adequate tools and materials to complete a job safely. I know safety was preached at my sight, but when it came right down to it in the end, it was all about getting it done in the shortest time possible – with or without the proper tools, materials, or PPE (safety practices or equipment). You stated you’ve had no problems. . . I wish I had been at your site. Or at least Afghanistan, if you all had everything you needed – including good management/leadership. Where is this site(s) located so I can put in for a transfer???
Warzone or not, only in the extremist of circumstances (we’ve all had to do it) and even then it should only be a temporary ‘fix’; safe and legal wiring always shall be performed. For management: Either get the right tooling and materials to do it this way or don’t do it.
“comment on that”? Its unfortunate that you read this into my comment and its very much the opposite tone of the email you sent me. I was considering agreeing to your request of identifying myself by that single letter, but this… no, you are angered at something I have yet to approach.
I agree with you and have said nothing to the contrary.
I was threatened with the same clauses; many of the cases now are being dismissed because the plaintiffs signed the same contracts you and I did so long ago… relinquishing our rights. Had we known better then…. well, that is past. My fault was not reading far enough into your blog to see a realignment of employers.
Sorry D., that you thought I was threatening you. Also sorry that we could not pool resources.
and yes, you had it correct. it was W not S for the person in question in the email.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I asked several people to read it and give me their interpretations. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t being overly sensitive. It’s happens.
“please remove this…” I took this to mean Remove the site/blog. I have put too much energy and risk into it.
Just one question…. window or isle?” I took this as a veiled threat to terminate me.. much like we got every day. Must have just triggered some old shit.
The reference to the public speaking….I get accused all the time for exploiting this situation for my own personal gain. I don’t make a damn penny off this, not on advertising, no book deal nothing. It all about getting the laws changed.
I don’t check my yahoo…to often. I had published the post long before I had ever read your email in Yahoo.
If you know me like you say you do….then you know I can be hot headed at times. So if I read it wrong…I’m woman enough to apologize. I apologize. I actually was using your comment to send a message to KBR that I was in it for the long haul. Pro KBR employees comment here all the time. I suspected that’s what that was.
Ms Sparky
I just want to say that it must be nice to think of your “warzone” as a “resort”.
Maybe there are some large differences between Iraq and Afghanistan that I do not know about. Living in tents or sharing showers with 50+ people must NOT have been what went on there. Or dealing with sandstorms, backed up sewage, water that was untreated ETC!!!(That is just what I can think of off of the top of my head.) I am glad someone has the B@!!$ to talk about it. BTW the expression where I was, was ‘chicken or pasta’.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I took a shower everyday in Baghdad City water…NASTY!! I was there for weeks before anyone told me not to drink anything that came out of the tap…I WAS PISSED!!!!! Every time I hear Heather Brown give her blanket statement about KBR’s unwavering commitment to employee safety, I just want to scream BULLSHIT!!! It’s all BULLSHIT and there’s NO ONE looking out for the people that are there. Once you’re “wheels up” you are on your own! That whole water thing gets me all fired up!
Hi there!
This is a very fascinating site. I am so proud of you for taking the stand that you have. It’s not an easy stand for some, but it’s definitely the right one. I’m so glad that I stubbled across your page. I really think that the Lord sent me here for a reason.
God bless you,
Cynde L. Hammond
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thank you for you kind works.
ha sparky,
I was wondering about construction workers they say kbr base pay is $84,600 a year tax free but everything i read says they pay way less than all other companys over seas. Do you have any knowledge of this or do you have companys that are good to work for or recruiters name and numbers. I am a general contractor in the state of ca. have been for 8 years and thats all they want to pay me the same as a laborer..