I have spent many a night in non union docks - and watched their forklift boys screw off....



try and keep generalizations within focus...


I passed a Koski work crew on a bridge today - 30+ guys sitting on their hands - or shovel leaning... they are non union....


lazy is up to the individual and pace set by older workers in a lot of shops/docks.

I do not think it is fair that only union boys are labled "lazy"

I put in long weeks - I have to do the same paperwork as you - I have the same hassles in traffic and climbing hills that you do. I know that for ANY of us if you screw up or screw up you will loose your job.


I have been both sides of fence - I am conservative and find that the union does not contradict my personal beliefs or ethics.

I have always worked hard - but now I work hard under a protective contract that has kept me from
1. being forced or asked to run illegal
2.being gone from family weeks at a time
3.working hours and hours for free doing "other duties"

in addition and as a bonus I have found a great group of diverse coworkers (company staff too) that I can spend time with outside of work.


Unions in trucking have maintained a decent quality of life for me - that allows me to play with trucks - (which I love) - and at the same time have a life and time for hobbies.

a bit more background on me since last week it was insinuated that I was some liberal flim flammer -

I come from

very conservative immigrant parents who are proud to be americans

a rural upbringing - been on farms all my life

I am active in my community - and not anti-social (like some of you believe all uniuon drivers are)

I seek out and chat with anyone in truckstops that have questions about what I do - and I have recruited many - not a one has gone back to non union trucking (wonder why?) because they have reached a level of respect from their contemporaries and management that you can never get hustling for JB or Swift...

The political leanings of the Teamsters is overstated - I work for an incredible company that treats me like a Human. I do my best for them and in return we keep everything proffesional and to the point.


when I started driving at WASCO and then on to Dick Simon years ago It took them a while to realize I was not going to play games - I have always been treated fairly well at non union jobs - but I feel that I am really rewarded now for all my years of "paying the dues" at lesser companies.


Unions are not for everyone - but look at it this way - some of you are stressed and grumpy and do not know why -

could it be your situation - most companies pay only enough to give you a taste of blood and to install a bit of greed... (the more miles = more money ideaology)... Most employers pay you only enough to keep you coming back for more... Unions help even this out and take some of the grief away...

some of you can Mutha F Unions all you want - but consider my case and the fact that I am friendly - willing to share my experiences and I do not look down on new guys or ones in dead end jobs... I enjoy my life - always have - and can do so more with the schedule my contract provides...


so cuss me all you want from your sleeper cabs #( truckstop of the day )tonight - but go to bed knowing that I wish none of you harm or misery... I just want to extend my hand to those who may be interested in better pay/benifits/hometime/respect/brotherhood/and a more even schedule.


cyall tomorrow - I will be running out in the a.m.

it is bed time for me (in my own bed # home).

I agree with Latanea. There are union workers who have a strong work ethic, and there are those that dont. There are non-union workers who have a strong work ethic, and there are those that dont.
It seems to me that is a huge generalization to lump all of us union workers into one group...
Like Latanea, I work hard, but I get paid fairly for the hours I do work. I get my overtime every day I work overtime. I know my rights, and know that I have some protection if I should need it.
Recently, a 'new' driver started at our terminal. Turns out that he isnt new. He worked with us 5 years ago, left in search of the almighty $, only to return a few weeks ago. I suspect that if this union job was as awful as all that, he wouldnt be back again!
Like Latanea, I also work for a fantastic company, who treats me like a person and not a number. They respect me for who I am, and in turn they get more out of me, because I feel like they care.

We are fortunate in our jobs, and I am still grateful for working where I do, with the great people, and great company. The union representation we have is fantastic, and supportive.

Every morning I look forward to getting out of bed and going to work... more than I could say for other non-union jobs I have had throughout my working career.

latanea and Etosha

Wonderfully stated! What more can you say.

Drive safe

FYI,
These non-union companies, Fed X FReight, Old Dominion, Saia, Overnite trans, ect are charging the same rates as union carriers, and that revenue isn't being passed to the drivers and dock workers like it is at the union carriers. Instead management is getting it. I ask you is that fair and just?

I'll let you in on something that apparently you and millions like you haven't considered when it comes to purchasing union made automobiles versus Japanese non union automobiles. If Americans don't wake up and smell the saki by the year 2025 this country will not be call United States Of America, It'll be called United States Of Japan. Sure japan built manufacturing plants in America only to keep import charges down, so americans would buy their automobiles at a price lower than Ford GM and Chrysler which are union. Every dollar of each vehicle sold in america isn't staying here in america. Some of that money is going to japan. We as americans need to wake up and smell what's cooking, and it's not KC strip steaks, it's rice chow mein. If you are a true american buy american only automobiles made in america, and unionize the toyota and nissan plants in america. It's your duty as an American

Uh, no it's not.

LOL yeah after FREE TRADE came into play, before they could Drive up Wages for people to earn an honest living and we were protected by Tariffs so we could Make outsiders match production costs

Before Nixon if it cost $1.00 to produce 1 pair of shoes in the United States, and it only cost China $0.10 to make those same shoes and ship them here American jobs were protected because we charged a $0.90 tariff on imports so that competed on the same playing field as Americans...

How ever Someone wanted to play dirty and Unplugged the Drain, they Force Fed everyone that Tariffs were bad then we moved to Free Trade and that allowed Corporations to act like Illegal Immigrants and go for cheaper faster to get it done they don't care about the American worker they only care about their bottom line..

And our Representatives are still lying today, because they are Screaming that Unions are destroying the country because paying a decent wage to American workers is hurting the country Meanwhile Countries like China and India are Protecting their Citizens with Import Tariffs on all American goods pricing us out of their markets and ensuring their products are made and sold in their country

Free Trade is a Lie and its only here to Increase a TransNational Corporation's bottom line, Unions fought for Pensions and Benefits back when a Benefit was what the definition of the word is a Benefit and you didn't have to pay for your medical it was a benefit for working at that company which did increase company loyalty and dedicated workers


But today you have people so full of themselves and their pride that they are blinded to the Fact they are working their Fingers to the bone putting in 60 hour weeks and barely making it by but dammit they work for what they got and they don't need any hand out... its sad that they cant even realize that they are worth more than what they are being paid and too full of themselves to Grow the Balls to Demand more

The Leaders of America have even convinced some people that a Public Program that Requires you by law to Save for Retirement is Socialism... lol its your money you paid into it, why don't u want what you paid out back??? are you too manly to think that everyone can contribute a little their entire lives and as you reach the age to retire u can draw on that money to help in some way????

Unions from what i can see are good and helpful, there are drivers who make double what i make in a year doing the same thing as me and the only difference is that they can collectively bargain and Demand a decent wage, Whats wrong with that why would you demand to make less for what your doing? or do you enjoy the Victim Mentality too much

__________________


There are Old Truckers and there are Bold Truckers, But there are no Old Bold Truckers.

You are so wrong on so many levels it's not even funny.

But the Bear game isn't over yet so I'll let it go.

It is socialism, because it is not your money. The money taken from you to get put into Social-ist Security goes to the current retired generation to pay for their retirement.

The problem now is that what Social-ist Security is paying out has begun to exceed what it is taking in, and by the time you expect to retrieve your money, it won't be there.

__________________
Z-Lady's devoted hubby.

And when done by anyone but the government, that is called a Ponzi scheme, and is a criminal act.

__________________
Jarlaxle Baenre
----------------------------------------------------
RIP E. Gary Gygax 1938-2008

Like I said before good people I am not anti-union I am just anti-union 4 nevada.somebody said earlier that the company should have the right 2 run their business however they want and if u don't like it there's the door.Ok but still u can't run a business if u abuse your people am I right? That is where unions r SUPPOSED 2 step in!!HOWEVER this is not the case in Nevada.Unions r full of it.I know of a local trucking company here in Vegas that is Unioned.Once you get hired on with the company u r on the bottom of the barrel.Now granted u r a newbie and I fully understand seniority.Lets say this company is contracted to a particular job site.This company will send ALL these trucks at this one job site.They get screwed on their hours because TOO many trucks r on site.Meanwhile the guys at the bottom get NO HOURS and can't make any money for themselves they're lucky if they even get dispatched to a job at all.To me that just isn't fair.