Union workers out there?

[bbortko]

From an outsider's perspective, unions seems to be antiquated and cause more problems than they solve. That being said, I've never been in a union, will never be in a union, so I certainly can't understand the intricacies. But they sure do seem bloated and top heavy....

So what is the purpose of a union? If you don't like your current economic situation, why not move? Why not change a career? Why not make changes that positively effect your life? Why does a union need to make your life better?

Unions are needed because they are the only ones that represent the working class. I could leave the union and go back to being an accountant but why, so that I can loose my job everytime I get a new boss and they want to bring in their people, so that my employer can cut my benefits so that the CEO gets his bonus, to work 60 hours a week with no overtime since I'd be salaried so that the company can make more money. I'm the one doing the work, risking my life, and wearing out my body why should I take a hit so that a few big wigs can have their cake? Look at nonunion states, the workers are paid horribly and their benefits are worst, but the companies are charging the customers the same and pocketing the difference.

 

[gogger]

I have been in the Union for the last 17 years. AFSCME/OCSEA work for the State of Ohio. I have been a chapter president and I am still a union Steward.

The thing I have found is that if you want your concerns addressed you need to get involved. Become a steward, file your own greviances. Go to the Union meetings. Go to the meetings held at the Union Headquarters. Take any training your union offers.

Basically it seems that most leaders are interested in their own concerns than those of others. So if you want your concerns addressed you need to be willing to sacrifice your time to get involved and make sure that they are.

If there is serious corruption then your local law enforcement might be an option. Embezzling funds is illegal. If the misuse of funds is at your local level then you might need to go to the next level and report it to them.

Our treasures books were audited every year.

Get a copy of your unions constitution it should outline how things should be addressed.

Presently my union is being attacked by our new Govenor he is doing everything he can to weaken it and if Senate bill 5 is not repealled he will have succeeded. I will cancel my membership if it doesn't get repealled. There won't be any reason to be a member.

We haven't gotten a pay raise in 8 of the last 9 years. Working conditions continue to get worse. More violence in the prisons. Assaults on staff are on the rise. And he wants to take away everything we have fought to get. Plus he wants to privatize as many prisons as he can. Which has been proven to be a bad idea.

I think he is lining his own pockets and once he is out of office it will take years to get back what we have.

 

[Clay]

I dunno about all that. You make it sound like a union is some sort of welfare. Cant get fired, better benefits, guaranteed raises, no overtime without time and a half (or more). Oh, and you get to hold the public hostage until your demands are met?

Seems to me like you should find a better place to work instead of relying on union? What's wrong with being an accountant? If your services are needed, then you will be employed. If they are not, then you find another job. As far as companies making profit, isn't that what you want? I wouldn't want to work for a company that is bleeding cash because the union has them by the balls. Look at how well that worked out for Detroit...

Move to where the food is.

I work for a big company. I've worked for smaller companies and ultimately, I've decided a bigger company suits me better. I work hard, get paid well, take advantage of the company 401k matching, and if I had a problem with this company, I would leave for a new company. I worked for my last company for nearly 7 years before I felt like I needed to move on. When I finally did, this company was happy to have me. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. They pay me, I provide work for them. I am a salaried employee, and while the expectation is 40 hrs, if I work more, so be it. It happens. If employees are paid horribly, there are certainly alternatives. Get up and get out of the door. Find somewhere new. Do something else. Everyone wants a handout, and the expectation that they are entitled to something. I think people are entitled to exactly squat-diddly. You get what you earn, and sometimes you get lucky to get a little more. But people have to take responsibility for their own actions.

Do you think a CEO shouldn't get a bonus? Are you assuming that he didn't work hard to get where he is? I'm sure he never worked an hour over 40, never got his hands dirty, and certainly never went the extra mile... To me, bonuses are ok. They are something to strive for. They are something to work towards and are not something that is entitled.

 

[J.Lake]

Hahaha Clay your arguments are typical of someone never in a union. Finning over the last 3 years have increased its profits dramatically. Due in part to its workers. I feel i deserve a lil slice of their profits since they were made with my hard work. Unions give more power to the workers something that is needed. If your company is taking your bonuses for its ceo than you my friend have a bad union. Our union is on site at all times. Our steward cares about my family. I have no problem with non union its just not for me.If someone had the choice between a union job and a non union job; they would be sick to choose non union.

Again I do not know how the unions in the U.S. work. I just know my union and my wifes union. And I am proud to be a member of IAM.

 

[Inglorious]

I'm having the same issues as the OP with my union. The stewards and union leaders are encouraging the members to not work during the day and are actually fighting to be able to read books, use facebook, and play games while on the clock. I've seen grievances filed over someone getting written up for sleeping on the job. The stewards are teaching the new employees how to manipulate the system to get extra overtime by not actually doing anything productive during the week. To someone who is not originally from this area and was actually raised with a work ethic it is extremely frustrating and demoralizing to see people act this way. Taking a union position is one of the worst decisions I have ever made in my life, and it's hurting me financially since I would be eligable for larger annual raises if I was in a non-represented position than I am getting based on the contract. All unions do is protect the lazy and incompetant and protect those who would be without a job without the protection.

P.S. I am posting this on my lunch break...not on the clock.

 

[Clay]

That being said, I've never been in a union, will never be in a union, so I certainly can't understand the intricacies.

Hahaha Clay your arguments are typical of someone never in a union.

Yeah, they probably are.

All unions do is protect the lazy and incompetant and protect those who would be without a job without the protection.

While it's probably a bit harsh (and all unions are not the same), this is how a lot of never-unioners see them as well; thus my welfare statement above. I'd actually like to understand more and not have that opinion, but nothing ever seems to sway that opinion.

General statement: If you want better pay, work harder and get promoted or find a new job.

 

[Inglorious]

General statement: If you want better pay, work harder and get promoted or find a new job.

I would love to, but per the union contract promotions are handed out based solely on seinority and has nothing to do with productivity level or knowledge of the job. I am try to get into a non-represented position, but unfortunatly there aren't many openings in the area for someone with my skill set.

 

[bbortko]

There is nothing wrong with a CEO of a well performing company getting a bonus, there is everything wrong with a CEO cutting payroll to make a profitable company more profitable.

In the building trades things are different, if my contractor didn't want me he can lay me off no questions asked. As far as lazy useless people I see more abusers of equal opportunity than abusers of union rights. A family member of mine works for a state runner university where union employees are replaced as needed but there are some that the university won't even ask to do their jobs because they know the employee is just looking to sue someone.

 

[Clay]

There is nothing wrong with a CEO of a well performing company getting a bonus, there is everything wrong with a CEO cutting payroll to make a profitable company more profitable.

I don't agree. I think that if the company employs x amount of people, they aren't obligated to retain x amount of people forever. If the company seeks a new direction and needs to streamline some, then there are layoffs. If there is growth, there are new hires. This isn't anything new.

 

[bbortko]

I don't agree. I think that if the company employs x amount of people, they aren't obligated to retain x amount of people forever. If the company seeks a new direction and needs to streamline some, then there are layoffs. If there is growth, there are new hires. This isn't anything new.

if there isn't a need for the worker let them go, a union should never have the say so in that matter. As an accountant I've seen many times where employers with responsibilities that take 40-45 hours per week get an extra 10 hours of work dumped on their desk just to boost profits, that should be illegal. If your hired to do a certain job an they increase your responsibilities without increasing your pay the company is stealing from you.