The Blue Board

To keep it simple...

Loved:

Because when they work within their intended purposes it gives more power to workers through numbers, collective bargaining, etc.

Hated:

Because they cost businesses more money because of higher wage and benefit packages. The idea that larger unions have become bureaucratically corrupt which I don't doubt to whatever that level is.

Public sector?

I guess my question is, when a suit applies for a job, he is "bargaining" for his pay and benifits. Why shouldn't the workin guy be able to do the same? The way I see it, and JMO, a union does this for the worker. I mean, higher paying wages attract more applicants, therefore more likely to get better employees. I can tell you, without a doubt, in my area, labor union workers are out-numberd, but the quality of work, and employees in the unions is top notch.

huh? I haven't seen that at all with the union workers i've been around. They will tell you in a heartbeat the best worker is and who the smartest is in their crews. What made you form that opinion?

As said before unions are good when they serve the original purpose. A unionized company is held in check from making drastic decisions that aren't fair to the worker. On the other side it is almost impossible to terminate the employment of poor performers. The danger exist that a union can have a leadership that isn't really out for the best deal for the employees. A union worker can find themselves without a say in accepting a contract. A good partnership between the union and company is needed to be successful.

When a union signs a contract with a employer, the union can only hold the employer to what it agreed. "A unionized company is held in check from making drastic decisions that aren't fair to the worker." That to me, from what I see, is a great thing. I mean, how would you like to go to work one day getting paid a certain amount with certain benefits, and then going in the next with a totally different set-up with no warning?

That is how it is supposed to work. You are trusting the union leadership to accept or refuse a proposal on which you would vote. If the union doesn'y allow a decent proposal to reach the workers you can find yourself on a picket line. When or if you survive the strike the company nor its employees will ever be the same. The public won't trust the company so readily in the future. The poorer the company does the poorer the worker does. In essence the union can hold a company hostage by not allowing the employees to vote before they call a strike. Its a dangerous game.

I'm not saying don't join a union. If your company is already organized then by all meens join the union. You want a vote. Again its about the partnership.

Are you considering becoming a union (job) steward or a Business Agent?

Actually the group is holding him hostage. He could be doing great things and changing the world but he has to fall in line with the rest of the gang...

I am in a union, forced at that.

I'm a 48 state truck driver and have been to many union docks and 85% are worthless. They take their time to load or unload and piss on everybody else. They are getting paid so why do they care! I get paid by the mile I roll and they do nothing but cost me money and time on my logbook while they stand around and B.S.!!

At times a mind set can develope where the union worker gets confused about who he or she works for. You work for the company and they are in business to make money. The unions sole purpose is to make sure workers aren't treated unfairly.