Lets not forget that Toyota has UAW and CAW shops in North America, and they're selling corollas and tacomas just fine. The japanese are out-engineering the big three, plain and simple.

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TEAMSTERS LOCAL 200

Sheesh! Ya trot out some facts and some of these right wingers back right away from the discussion and head for the hills. Or should I say head for the sand pile because it seems as though they spend a good deal of the time with their heads buried in the sand...
rx

rex - all points made here by myself and others again and again.
your comment on the welfare state in our hospitals is accurate.

ronno - glad to see you made it through the holiday,

I have worked for Union and Non Union. The best job I had was Non Union But only left it to relocate. Now I am a Union Carhauler and I would not work for these people for 5 minuets if it were not for the union.
So it all Depends on where you are at.

As Far as the car Companies paying high Health care comes from back in the day when they were handing out Benefits like candy as Incentive packages but they grew to monsters over time.

There was a 4000 dollar costs on the big 3 on each car. Today after recent UAW deals this is down to 800 Dollars.
Now if they can Manufacture the right car they will be back in business

I see the benefits of Unions and there was a time in this country where they had to evolve, because of the abuse to the worker. I don't always agree with their politics or choices for political office, but I will say that there are times when they are needed. I have seen some of them abuse their power and go overboard on certain things, but I've seen that in non-union jobs too. I guess the only problem I have with a Union trucking job, is most of them seem to want you to start over in life. At 48, I really don't want to work as a dock worker for several years to try to become a driver. Also, there "seems" to be a relocation problem with some. I would have to move my family and home to get a job, or to keep the one I would have. Not to mention that it seems almost impossible to get a job that's Union in driving, unless you want a local delivery job. All that being said, I'm rather torn between union and non-union trucking. If I were able to get a job as a driver after training school with a road trainer and become a driver after road training, I would consider it. Louisiana is a right to work state and of all things was pushed by a "pro-union Democrat" with a majority Dem House. I pissed alot of people off in the late 70's when it happened, but there was a lot of corruption and abuse of power in the unions down here then. I actually wish that truckers could get together and do something about the current conditions they face. I've got a feeling that the influx of Mexican drivers might very well end up replacing the American Driver and or lower the standards. I truly think that is what the agenda is. A new lower class of cheap workers and Social Security contributors.

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" I guess the only problem I have with a Union trucking job, is most of them seem to want you to start over in life. At 48, I really don't want to work as a dock worker for several years to try to become a driver. Also, there "seems" to be a relocation problem with some. I would have to move my family and home to get a job, or to keep the one I would have. Not to mention that it seems almost impossible to get a job that's Union in driving, unless you want a local delivery job. "


you do not have to start over...

you can walk through the door as a student and become a road driver.

relocation is only needed if you live more than 2 hours (100 miles) from a hub or terminal.

local driving is an option - OPTION not mandated.

You can even send me a PM if you want. I've made a list of companies, but no one is definite. Remember, I live in Louisiana.

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PLEASE TELL ME WHERE AND WHEN. IF I HAD A CHANCE TO BE A UNION DRIVER AND GET UNION TRAINING FROM THE GROUND UP, AND BE A DRIVER FROM THE GET-GO, I WOULD.

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I walked off the street and became a union carhauler in 99.
I never even saw a carhauler before.

America is becoming a third world country because we won't stand together!!!! Look at the countries in Europe, Sweden has one of the highest union memberships in the world it also has one of the highest standards of living in the world. Big Business has Brainwashed the people of america to believe unions are bad. Yes the unions have done things wrong, but when push comes to shove I would rather be a part of a bigger force than to be hung out there on your own. Big business in america will stop at nothing to make sure that your rights as an American Citizen are slowly washed away. They will also make sure that they will step on the rights of people in other countries. There are companies out there that are still charging a premium price for products that are now made in a different country, Danner Boots, Levi jeans ect ect. Are these same companies paying these new workers a fair wage? hell no!!!! But they are still charging a premium price for these inferior goods.

The Unions were Established at the turn of the century in the early 1900's. Riots broke out, people died fighting for alot of the rights we have today. The 5 day work week, overtime pay, Holiday pay, The labor laws limiting the hours you can work children.

If you don't know what your rights are it is because the companies out there don't want you to know. Look in any place of business, they have to post what your rights are, But why are those documents printed in the smallest type and put in a place were employees really can't read them.

Why is it that lead paint was banned in this country but now we are importing toys from china with lead based paint on them?

Our goverment is not trying to protect the working class they are to busy making deals to make the rich richer!!!!

In the meantime everyone should haul some more crap that was made in another country.

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Menace Of The Midwest