I make more money in a non-union shop than I ever made in a union one, because I now get paid vacations, paid Holidays, reasonably priced health care, and the "Thugs" out of my pocket !! Isn't it time to get rid of them ?
2006-09-25 15:29:13 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
yes, my job as an inspector with a large engineering firm, I work around many construction contractors. From experience with these workers I see abuse of the union as pertaining to "union" rules and regulations. In there day unions were needed to improve working conditions,but now they are a "crutch"
2006-09-25 15:33:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 5⤋
It is because of Unions that you can get good wages at a non-union shop. To avoid having a union come in, some companies (the law abiding ones) decide it's better just to pay their people well. If there were no unions, companies would not have to pay so much, and would lower wages as much as they could.
While the Teamsters haver gotten a reputation of being "thugs", most people that have worked with teamsters would disagree. Other unions are not thugs, but are democracy in the workplace. Unions give the employees a voice. I don't know about this questioner, but most of the time, people that claim to make more $ in a non-union shop are either in management, or are professionals that don't have a union. Grocery stores that are union pay entry level cashiers up to $18/hr + benefits. Non-union grocery stores (other than health food stores, which tend to pay union wages whether they are union or no) pay on average around $10/hr.
Union steelworkers average almost double that of non-union steelworkers.
Unions are the difference between democracy in the workplace and virtual slavery. Unions are not external people, but are the workers that support eachother and offer protection in numbers.
Union seamstresses make around $14/hr. Non-union make less than minimum wage...as little as $3.25/hr!
The thugs are the companies that would pay their employees as little as possible. The heroes are the ones that band together to stand up against the naturally oppressive company.
You must realize what a corporation is. It is an entity with only one purpose...to make money. Some corporations have begun to incorporate sustainable practices, taking care of employees, etc, but on the whole, corporations are only about profit. If they can get away with lowering costs by cutting pay, they will. Unions protect even non-union employees.
I agree that various practices of the teamsters were not right. Violence should never be used for any reason. If violence is neccesary, it is because negotiations failed.
2006-09-25 22:47:25 · answer #2 · answered by corwynwulfhund 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Simple FACT: You are making more money in a non-union shop BECAUSE of union shops.
When I worked for a car dealership and the dealership across town joined a union, we immediately lost four good technicians to them.
Almost immediately the meetings began - we never had meetings prior to this.
Our benefits improved along with our wages - this was all clearly do to the management's reluctance to have us join the union, and obviously, he didn't want to lose any more techs to his competitor who was paying higher wages.
As far as unions in general, I have some problems with the reported corruption and organized crime ties to the big unions.
Unions were a Godsend during the sweat shop days of long hours and low pay - but maybe the pendulum has swung too far and the power of production needs to swing back toward the middle again.
Unfortunately, even unions can only do so much to stem the outsourcing of work to foreign labor and can do little or nothing to harness in the outrageous pay discrepancies between white collar and blue collar workers.
2006-09-25 22:52:15 · answer #3 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If corporations can set their prices, why can't workers argue for their wages.
The market is self-correcting here - if unions demand too much, they'll drive their companies out of business and will be broke.
However, this is NOT the problem with the auto makers. That is, in part, a tribute to bad management, bad decisions, tough competition, and a nation that demands it's companies be the ones who handle health care.
Personally, I'm grateful for all the benefits of unions, and don't want to toss them aside too lightly. They may not work for everyone all the time, but they have their place.
2006-09-25 22:32:25 · answer #4 · answered by Steve 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
no. Unions serve a purpose in some cases because not all businesses act in an ethical fashion, regardless of what is publicly claimed, however, in most cases, yeah, maybe they're not doing the jobs they need to do. Unions are supposed to be a liason between the employees and the management, not an unofficial resource for the Democratic Party...and truth be told, if the Union is doing what it should be doing, there is no reason to support a political party because they've taken care of business where they need to most- at home.
2006-09-25 22:36:07 · answer #5 · answered by paradigm_thinker 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Maybe you work for a company in which they have good intentions. However, I work in a school as a teacher. While I don't think they would reduce wages if the union didn't exist because it takes a lot of skill to be a good teacher and not many want to do it, cronyism and nepotism would be rampant without unions. Also principals and vice principals, along with school boards, could create little fiefdoms of power for themselves, all at the taxpayers' expense.
Also school unions, while protecting bad teachers, look out for good teachers' rights.
2006-09-25 22:36:04 · answer #6 · answered by Shelley 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
NO...again I bring up stats from the 1950,s 1 out 3 Americans belonged to a Union.More Americans from all classes were living the dream of home ownership,college for their kids...its when the Corporation made people like you and others the enemies of unions that we have our present ever widening rift between the haves and the have nots.
2006-09-25 22:31:49 · answer #7 · answered by dstr 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
H*ll yeah,, you got it right now! The union sucks *ss! The union has never been good for anythin. You are totally right when you say that they are thugs. Non union is the way to go, bud. Keep up the good postings...!
2006-09-25 23:10:28 · answer #8 · answered by Cyber Spacer 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Don't come crying to us when you get into trouble and there's nobody to go into arbitration with the company to save your job.
P.S. I resent your calling my husband and all the great men and women on the labor counsel, who work 40 hr p/week + add'l hours working out labor/management business, - thugs. That's irresponsible.
2006-09-25 22:36:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Unions helped create many of the working benefits......that people take for granted.
Unions help build America.
2006-09-25 22:32:17 · answer #10 · answered by Villain 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋