Originally Posted by notarps4me

Unoins are not what they used to be. GM used to have a good union. The complaint I have with unions is they do nothing for me, but take money out of my check. The places that I worked that was union they would take some lazy goof ball that did not want to work and fight for his job. You don't want to work hit the door is my opinion.

Originally Posted by groovemachine

Not all outsourcing is the fault of unions, the corporations will take the lowest paid workers possible to maximize their profits...there is no loyalty among these huge multi national corporations.

Originally Posted by groovemachine

What I don't get is why truckers are exempt from overtime rules...

Wouldn't it be more fair to be paid mileage and a half after 40 hours of driving, it if I made .30 cents per mile I would make .45 cents for every hour I drove that week after 40...

Or if truckers were salaried, i.e...as a newbie I might get hired on for 600/week otr with the requirement I work up to 70 hours a week...an experienced driver making more...say about $50/week per year of experience. Maybe with bonuses for safety/perfect on time record...etc...

It seems by not being salaried or hourly otr truckers get the shaft. These are some of the hardest working folks in America, and shouldn't they be rewarded as such?

Originally Posted by Burky

I don't hate unions. In fact, there is no doubt that my situation is better with unions around than it is without them. Over the years, pay and benefits have risen, an that is due to the influence that the unions have had on industry.

That being said, I have no desire to be in any of the current existing unions. I prefer to work outside of them, without having them collecting money from my check and spending it on liberal causes directly in conflict with my beliefs. I don't prefer to send in money to support the lavish salaries of union execs who haven't been near a truck even once in their life, but want to make work rules for me. When I have a problem at work, I prefer to walk into the office and settle it one on one with the responsible aprty, not go through a committee and various grievance procedures. I want to get good runs and newer equipment not because of my seniority, but because the company knows that I ensure that the equipment is productive and makes financial returns on their investment in it. When I have something break on my truck or a trailer, I want to repair it myself if I can, not be subject to union job rules that prohibit me from making use of my common sense.

Would I join a union? If the union were properly set up so that all they did was collective bargaining for pay and benefits, then possibly. I don't want them deciding my work rules, I don't want them involved in political causes, and I want them free of corruption and illegal practices. I work in a "just in time" industry, and I don't want strikes that will kill the company by depriving our customers of our services

Until that union comes along, then I am not joining one. As for the Teamsters, they have had about 50 years of nonstop corruption, so if they can show me 50 years of clean, unindicted behavior, then I will take a look at them.