Possible strike!

You dont seem to know much about business, sales people in the field can be some of the highest paid people in a company. If you are a hard worker & good with people sales is where the money is. Blackisbeautiful you seem to think something is owed to you, & your comments about rich kids going to school pisses me off, I worked my ass of to pay for school and the loans that followed, now I am still working to pay off my wifes school loans. Some of my friends took the "easy road" and got jobs in factories making good money right out of school, many are now unemployeed because the manufacturing dried up and they have no real skills, I did construction with my dad as a kid, we were not union and the those "nice union guys" would break out the windows in our crane slash our tires and a few times threaten us with harm. Unions are greedy bullies who push people around & take what they want if not for the unions I dont think the auto industry would have tanked like it did IMO.

 

Never say never man. I’m sure people 100 years ago said there would never be a robot vacuuming for them or washing their dishes or a black president (Obama attack for the win lol).

 

Pro-union here!!!

 

Just a few reasons unions are better than non-union shops.

The reason one joins a union is because they work for you to ensure you get a proper hourly wage according to the law (is your wage correct). Unions reduce wage inequality because they raise wages more for low- and middle-wage workers.
You work in acceptable conditions, are entitled breaks during the day.
Union workers receive more generous health benefits than non-union workers. Union workers typically receive better pension plans.

Unions play a pivotal role both in securing legislated labor protections and rights such as safety and health, overtime, and family/medical leave and in enforcing those rights on the job. Because union workers are more informed, they are more likely to benefit from social insurance programs such as unemployment insurance and workers compensation.

Those of you that are non-union have a right to decide whether to continue on your path just as those who feel unions are an acceptable way to work. You can always make a case that companies will leave because of unions. This is partially true but those of you working in the free world shouldn't deceive yourself. Those same companies will still move to another country where they don't have to pay your non-union wages, benefits, overtime, or safe working conditions.
Freely choose who you work for. But don't knock those who chose a better life for themselves and their families.

 

Rob, I hope things are resolved quickly for you and your fellow co-workers.

For those of you that despise unions, you fail to understand a very important chapter in U.S. History. People fought and died for worker safety.

Please understand that the reason you have a safe, clean working environment is because of the organized labor movement. It is not because the government wants to protect you or your employer loves you.

Back in the day, prior to unions If you were working and weren't killed on the job, they would have fired you on or before your 40th birthday for being too old!

Unions also have had a dramatic impact on bringing about human rights.

An interesting video for those that need a recap on their history. Warning you may need an open mind while watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvn3cW_mMU4

 

Agree, Unions were needed one time........... now it is a different story.

 

Good luck with the labor negotiations.

My issues with corporations is when they block progress in their own interest and are able to influence government to help them do so.

Who here believes, (historically speaking), that without organized labor and workers revolts that we would have a 40 hour workweek, vacation, sick pay, etc? Hell, there would still be children working in factories. (Like your Chinese made stuff)

Have there been some out of control unions? Yes.
Has there been out of control corporations? Yes.

I work in a non-union shop and In my instance I would not vote for a collective bargaining agreement. The company pays good wages and has excellent beneifits, and ESOP, etc. But for the corporations and industries that treat Americans like dirt, squeeze them for all they are worth and them dump them after years of faithful service and hard work, yeah those guys can feel the wrath of my nuts.

 

I used to believe that too. And by that logic, all unions just disband then? The fight is over. We can all work for companies with policies like Walmart. With pitiful wages and no health care?

No. The fight is not over. Workers rights are constantly under attack, there is much to be accomplished. Especially on the subject of health care.

They serve a valuable purpose in the community as well, especially when they sponsor legislation to effect laws which benefit society as a whole.

Without unions, every unbalanced budget in the public sector would be balanced on the backs of the working class. To do away with unions, would be the unraveling of our society.

 

You obviously don't know anything about business. As the other guy pointed out people in sales make nearly as much as the top management of most companies and they deal with far less BS.

Yes, I went from running a Human Resource department and being a manager in the corporate office to a Sales Manager in the field, and I received a 50% increase in salary and more than doubled my bonus potential in doing so. I'm really heartbroken and I think I made a terrible decision. On top of that I'm now responsible for about 1/2 of Texas and all of New Mexico for my company and I work from home instead of having to go in to an office every day. My company paid for my move from where our corporate headquarters is, and I get many of my expenses paid for now (gas, insurance, vehicle maintenance/registration, and I rack up airline and hotel points like nobody’s business that I can use personally). I'm no longer bored by shuffling paper, and now I travel within my district meeting architects, building owners, consultants, and engineers to discuss the technical aspects of the products my company manufactures. I went from doing the same thing every day to something different everyday and more freedom to work how I want to than I've ever had. My life sucks now.

For your information, this was a very calculated and tactical move on my part. Many CEOs come from a sales and marketing background, but they lack the managerial and people skills of a person that has been successful in a field like oh say HR. So I've been successful in HR and I'm now moving in to another phase in my career, so that I can one day achieve my goal of being a CEO. I'm only 29 years old, and I'm well on my way to my goal, and I have picked up more about running a business in the last 6-7 years than I'm afraid you will ever understand friend.

Your thoughts and views on things are very short sighted. Companies are in business to make money, and if their workers demand more money than they are worth in the open market it will severely hinder the chances of doing so. As a result the company will go under and there will be no jobs for anyone. Congratulations, nearly everything is manufactured overseas from just your kind of thinking.

Again, prepare yourself for the real world with valuable skills and education and there is no need for a union because the open market will dictate a fair salary and benefits for your input towards the goal of making money for your company. That is business. Deal with it.

 

Well said. Many companies/owners treat their employees with exception. Working for them means that they respect good work ethics and in turn pay their employees in the form or wages, and benefits such as health insurance and profit sharing. This tends to lend itself to smaller businesses. I think any one of us would welcome such an employer.
As to the rest of us, yes we have moved around until we have found that right job, whether it ends up as a union shop or not. I don't think there are many that can say they work for love. At least in my case it revolves around the paycheck.

 

You ever think maybe the auto industry wouldn't have went under if the powerful unions had not made sweeping the floor a $25/hr + job. How does GM make a decent affordable car when they have all those retired assembly line workers getting such wonderful benefits. Toyota does not pay nearly as well as the big three but even with recent quality issues still has a lot better product than our domestic options. Toyota is a not union, they retain employees by providing a good place to work and paying those who deserve it what they deserve. Just my opinion, and I can see a day when a robot stocks the shelves @ the store.

 

X3 Everybody appreciates their increased wages over the years but don't realize that it is because of Unions.

 

Couldn't of said it any better myself!!!

 

Well said!

 

Who designed those shitty cars? Who built them poorly? Union Labor I would guess, your arguments don't make much sense. Toyota is building cars/trucks with american workers in America for less with better quality, seems like a no brainer Unions are the only major difference right.

 

Point by point again....

Just a few reasons unions are better than non-union shops.

The reason one joins a union is because they work for you to ensure you get a proper hourly wage according to the law (is your wage correct). Unions reduce wage inequality because they raise wages more for low- and middle-wage workers.
You work in acceptable conditions, are entitled breaks during the day.

Please allow me to point out that all of the things that you listed above are covered by the Department of Labor, and they are not the responsibility of the union. Unions did have a place in the American economy prior to the DOL becoming a powerful part of our government in 1970, but now that these programs are federally ran the role of unions has been reduced to simply negotiating for wages above the minimum wage and benefits.

Union workers receive more generous health benefits than non-union workers. Union workers typically receive better pension plans.

Please keep in mind that employers are not required to offer health plans or retirement plans. Your employer offers health insurance and a retirement plan voluntarily, and they have the right to end said plans if it becomes more than they can afford. Before we throw a bunch of stones at our employer’s maybe we should take a second to thank them for the benefits they provide for us that they are not legally obligated to give us.

When it comes to that pension comment, if you have one of those dinosaurs you better hang on tight because they are dying fast. Back in the day when people didn't live in to retirement anyway it was fine for an employer to shoulder your entire retirement, but now that we live longer it is completely ridiculous to say that the employer should be responsible for saving for YOUR retirement. I think 401k plans are a better option because it forces individuals to take responsibility for their own retirement, and if the employer decides that they want to contribute the employees should be grateful.

Unions play a pivotal role both in securing legislated labor protections and rights such as safety and health, overtime, and family/medical leave and in enforcing those rights on the job. Because union workers are more informed, they are more likely to benefit from social insurance programs such as unemployment insurance and workers compensation.


Again, this is all DOL responsibility. Your union tells you that they do this stuff, but they don't. The DOL was formed in 1913 (it didn't become the powerful part of our government it is now until 1970 though), and they are the people that come out with all of the employment laws in this country. The unions have lobbyist that may have some impact on this process, but don't tell me that you think the filthy dirty lobbyist program is really good for anyone in this country except for special interest groups.

Those of you that are non-union have a right to decide whether to continue on your path just as those who feel unions are an acceptable way to work. You can always make a case that companies will leave because of unions. This is partially true but those of you working in the free world shouldn't deceive yourself. Those same companies will still move to another country where they don't have to pay your non-union wages, benefits, overtime, or safe working conditions.

You are correct. Employers can go elsewhere regardless of whether there is a union or not. I can tell you from personal experience in the Executive Leadership Council at my company (CEO, CFO, Chief Energy Scientist, Director of Market, Director of Manufacturing, Human Resource Manager) that we would probably leave where our current headquarters are, if the manufacturing facility unionized. However, there is no reason for them to unionize because we offer reasonable wages, excellent benefits (90% paid health insurance for employees/70% paid for their dependents, 100% coverage on dental, free life insurance/AD&D, and we match up to 6% on the 401k) and we share any profits the company makes with all the employees.

Freely choose who you work for. But don't knock those who chose a better life for themselves and their families.

Again this is a short sighted comment. You chose a better life for yourself and your family by improving your value to employers in the market, not demanding that they pay you more than the free market says you should for your job. Improving your Human Capital is the only way to choose a better life for yourself and your family!

 

So you chose to be in a union. Don't complain about a strike. Suck it up. Although your union leaders will still get paid.....

IMHO, you get what your worth. Of course if you were at my house right now, I would pour you a free beer off my keg. Time for me to relax!

PS - I avoid shopping at S&S, they are overpriced. Could it be due to the cost of labor?