How many people are Union?

[cchhcc]

One job with the union, one without. I feel safer with my union job, can't lose it as easily and CAN'T be laid off... so yea unions are worth it

To YOU.

Can't be laid off...... That's like a kid telling their Dad who just lost his job "you can't stop paying me my full allowance!"

 

[ewurm]

It's interesting how union workers leverage their way to high wages that are (arguably) higher than what is fair and then wonder why jobs go overseas. Union workers try to make their lot better, management tries to make the shareholders' lot better, and on and on..... More power to anyone that can increase their personal income, but know that it does not occur in a vacuum!

And the head of the UAW has been complaining a lot about jobs going elsewhere lately, but is he also encouraging his union members to stop shopping at Walmart? Nooooooo! They want those cheap overseas generated prices for themselves, but they expect their employer (and now taxpayers) to pay top dollar. You can't apply the same logic to both situations.

Everything is connected.......sort of the "every action causes an equal and opposite reaction" law.

The UAW has been so successful that two of the three US auto makers are BANKRUPT. Maybe that is because their labor rates are $30 an hour higher on average than their japanese counterparts making cars in the US? Don't hear many complaints about the Japanese cars being low quality do we? Why is that? Because the American auto companies have to reduce quality in order to be competitive. I bought my last GM vehicle until the auto union makes their rates competitive and the US auto makers put out a quality product.

 

[Bderick67]

The UAW has been so successful that two of the three US auto makers are BANKRUPT. Maybe that is because their labor rates are $30 an hour higher on average than their japanese counterparts making cars in the US? Don't hear many complaints about the Japanese cars being low quality do we? Why is that? Because the American auto companies have to reduce quality in order to be competitive. I bought my last GM vehicle until the auto union makes their rates competitive and the US auto makers put out a quality product.

Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi all employ large amounts of UAW. Honda workers(non union) are paid at and above that of their UAW counterparts.

There is alot more to do with the big three failing then just wage rates.

 

[cjfrontlovr]

"Prevailing wage" is another ultra left wing tactic meant to inflate prices. If I have to pay "prevailing wages", that means I have to pay my best non-union contractor double his rate. This is why the school systems are constantly over budget.

not..alittle more of an even playing feild with a decent wage for the working man.. management earns 100k+ peryear and wants to beat down the little man even further..take your multi million dollar bonus's and blame the unions and the working man..real smart

 

[pdbrady]

Non union. Damn proud to be. I need a "Support your local non-union" bumper sticker. Someone made the comment in support of union to "take care of yourself, don't worry about others" (something like that).......that just proves the union opposing point. I refuse to hire someone to make threats and bargains for my pay, or stand in front of my work throwing a tantrum to get what I want, I just work my ass off for it. There was a point in time they were good, that time has come and gone.

 

[diver1]

I too work for a union with the railroad and i too love the union. I think i just really enjoy my job. I see what outside contractor are treated like from thier boss's and am glad to be union. They have a high turnover rate and seem to let thier people go with not much warning and i haven't even mentioned the pay difference!!!!

 

[diver1]

I just got done reading some great stuff some of you guys are saying about union and nonunion. I think it might be one of those (chicken or the egg ) kinda things and think the management and the workers will someday really need to pull toward eachother or the whole job thing will seem to just go away like it is all around me. (wife got let go) and seven of my friends just got let go from our union and sound like more on the way. Last year we made the biggest record year the railroad has ever seen but this year the numbers do not match last years awsome numbers by around 10 percent less so we have to down size. I feel that the layoff isn't much of a thank you but they did give everyone a nice watch even the guys they sent home.

 

[ewurm]

not..alittle more of an even playing feild with a decent wage for the working man.. management earns 100k+ peryear and wants to beat down the little man even further..take your multi million dollar bonus's and blame the unions and the working man..real smart

The working man? Apparently people that are not in unions don't work? Just because you don't stack bricks or lay shingles for a living doesn't mean you aren't a working man. Even so, there are people that do those things for a reasonable price that aren't in a union either. I would hire those people first. For every quality union contractor, there is a quality non-union contractor that will offer a reasonable price for the same work. The unions are driving themselves out of business. It isn't an even playing field. It only seems even to the people holding their employers hostage for a greater wage. For example, my next vehicle purchase will be a foreign vehicle based on the poor quality of my last 3 american made vehicles. Apparently the American non-union workers who put together Toyotas don't wire their intercoolers in reverse polarity. Union work will never get my business because it's overpriced.

 

[cjfrontlovr]

unions aren't the ones who put this country into the quagmire we're in now..there's a place for everyone..i'd rather pay for someone who's trained in his feild of work and not the one's contractors hire off the corner who go by the name jose'.i am a manager in a medium sized electrical contractor..when i hire and get people whom dont perform, they are gone..we are as competitive as any non-union company and in my opinion give a more professional project when complete.the days of union men and women sitting on their hands for hi pay are long gone..at least where i'm in charge..there are non-union companys we compete with that do a good job as well.they beat us on million dollar jobs by 10-20 thousand..where's that profit go? to the working man or the owner? my wage is twice that of most non-union and of 20k less on a million dollar job..go figure where the profits going..the owners of my company drive porsche caymen and bmw's..i drive a chevy..shame on me wanting my "piece" for myself and family.

 

[ewurm]

When I hire union or non-union contractors and they don't perform, they are gone. What's the difference except for cost? The worst contractor I have ever hired was union, and cost me thousands. I thought the extra training and expense was meant to insure quality?