Why don't union representatives take a pay cut while the workers are striking?

Question

The UAW leader says he is willing to strike if necessary, and the reps for the grocery workers in So Cal are saying the same. They want the workers to go without pay as a sacrafice for greater pay and benefits, well then they should sacrifice along with the workers!

I was raised in Flint, MI and I know all about Unions (UAW) and I've watched them ruin a complete city as well as the American economy, by demanding more money and greater benefits for many job that didn't justify the pay or benefits. We needed unions many years ago, but now with OSHA and the labor laws they are just a drain on our economy.

Answer 1

Are you a union member? Good Question.
The AFL/CIO cares nothing about us Rank & File Union Members.
They are corrupt. They are all in the pocket of the Democrat Party, and many are controlled by Organized Crime.
Our Union Bosses give millions and millions of our union dues to the Democrat Party.
We have no say.
I spent years fighting for Unions. NO MORE.
"Basketca...", below, is very wise. It took me years to to find out what Basketca...already knows. Great Answer!!!

Answer 2

The union representatives are area of the artwork force, so that they do no longer receives a fee. The officials (union crew) do receives a fee as they artwork for the union, no longer the business enterprise. interior the present political era, I even could confess that strike action is amazingly almost consistently the right ingredient to be executed. we've come some distance from 1979 at the same time as the unions called strikes over issues as perrty because the shape of loo roll. The postal workers have a superior reason to be disillusioned.

Answer 3

it seems there is a lot of answers from people that do not understand the role played by the union officials in mediation of a contract.
It is no bed of roses for those on strike,or the officials in negotiations, and the elected official has a duty to those strikers that voted to go on strike, to keep trying to get them better wages. I'm not saying there isn't a few bad apples, but, if not for the unions, companies would not pay better wages to keep them outside the gates. for those who do not know, unions are only as strong as their membership, and companies are doing a great job convincing everyone how bad unions are. If there were more unions helping workers get better working conditions, and wages, there might be a better standard of living in America, as it was earlier in our history. Big business has succeeded in weakening the unions(which by the way, stands for unity by democracy) to the point where our standard of living is going backwards, not forward.
So before you put down a union, or an ELECTED official of a union, join one, the run for an office in your union, that's how it works, I did and was a business agent of our local, so I know for a fact you can make a change if you are unhappy with the status of your surroundings. Only in a union environment can you do this, or next time you have a complaint, go to your boss and see what happens.

Answer 4

the answer to this is really simple. The representative is still at work. His job is to stand for all workers within his district and this is never more important than in a strike situation. Also if a union member does not want part of his dues going to political activities by law he has the right to refuse to pay that part of his dues. If anyone truelly believes unions do not help common works just look. Your kids are in school not working factories and mines for republicans like they were at the beginning of the union. Unions may not be perfect but your kids have a chance to live today because of unions!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

Where did you get the idea that your union reps were honest, care-about-the-members kind of people? They are right there among the politicians.

They should put their union-paid salaries on the back burner during a strike, but they will not.

I personally would not go on strike by the union big shots' recommendation. History shows that union members never recover what they lose during a strike. Your credit rating, etc. will go down the tube. Also, grocery chains can afford to close a location when the workforce strikes. Either way, you will lose, not the big guys--union big guys, corporate big guys.

Answer 6

Some do. Some use their compensation to subsidize families of strikers. But the union officials are only doing there job, the job they were elected for, when it negotiates, bargains and then walks away from table. The strickers support the movement.

It would be another story if the strikers were against the strike and the union official steamed forward. But why should the union officer refuse pay for doing his job - the job the stikers asked him to do?

Answer 7

They do sacrifice. Most union leaders make voluntary donations to a fund that helps the striking workers. Union leaders get elected because people trust them. You obviously don't know what you're talking about.

Answer 8

When I was bargaining for the Hospital Employees' Union the entire committee went on strike pay if there was job action. Our staff support did not, because they were employees of the union itself, and not members.

Why should they be expected to strike for benefits they do not necessarily get? The elected people, however, should be expected to share the pain.

Answer 9

In my experience, and I have a bunch, Union BA's are in the pocket of the businesses.

Answer 10

Why I don't like unions....they say they're helping the workers, but what they're REALLY doing is the leadership is making money off the WORKERS hard earned money.