Disgusting interview story.

I have always been concerned about unintended consequences. Unfortunately many people who are being laid off from Union government, trucking, and construction jobs are learning the hard truth about perceptions regarding union workers.
Most union workers are probably hard working, honest, and care about the quality of their work. But the image of union bosses telling you "dont work so fast" or "you cant clock in 15 minutes early" are hard stereotypes to break.
Unfortunately for most former union workers you are (wrong as it may be) thought to only want to do the minimum amount of work required to complete a task.
Those are the unintended consequences of wanting a decent wage for your labor. Unfortunately having more people available than jobs for them to do means employers have an edge in breaking unions. The only "good" thing about it is we are more likely to be competitive in a one world economy that the two party system seems so bent on dragging us into.

 

I've had one union job. Never actually made union, they fired me three days before I was off probation and could join the union. Worked too hard, showed up on time, helped others when they needed it even though it's frowned upon in that environment. Two words sum up union jobs for me, NEVER AGAIN. I was the hardest working employee there at the time which is sad considering I tuned down my "get up and go" to the bare minimum my morals could take.

I like to put in a hard days work and get the job done. Not do the bare minimum and if something isn't in my job description just walk away like most if not all union workers do. Although I will admit some don't want to but are forced to do so.

I will never work in a union environment again, should union set up shop where I am I'll be the first to quit, and ... should I ever be in a position to hire someone for my own company you can bet I won't be hiring ex (long term) union workers. If you've had the experience and couldn't take more than a year of their BS that's just fine. But if you can tolerate it for more than a couple years (ie. worked at the plant 15 years and got laid off as part of a bulk downsizing) I'd want nothing to do with you.

 

I was quickly schooled by the other workers at Yellow when they saw me bringing back too many trailers from the rail yard one day. The guys all knew I was a noob there and started telling me how long each run should take, etc. I too was used to working my but off and had to learn to slow way down. I welcomed it though. I enjoyed making good money and not killing myself for it. We had a guy there who worked really hard and wouldn't listen to the other drivers. No one talked to him and they would give him dirty looks. I was laid off before he was but he never lost his job for working hard. In the union where I was at, working hard didn't help you, only seniority did.

 

Excellent advice in any situation.

I have more people get frustrated with my "lack" of information responses, than anything. I treat almost every conversation as if it were a cross examination on the witness stand.

Unless I'm doing something like this forum, offering my opinions. I limit my comments and responses to the question asked....nothing more.

 

Answer the salary question with actual figures in $$ terms and not some vague answer...and most of all--(like your momma or daddy would say-->>) Learn to keep your big mouth shut and don't give more info than you have to or need to! Body language (####y/too self assured..) never sits well with anybody and if they even think you're a threat in any way shape or form whether it be true or imagined...they're not going to waste their time hiring you! Remember, they don't know you from a can of paint and you don't know what they've had come up against or had to deal with in the past. So, instead of running around defending yourself over this *slight*--use it to reflect and remember how not to do it the next time! Now you know what NOT to do. Now, get out there and go get 'em tiger!

 

No one's mad at you. The comments were just pointing out why they made the decision they did.

Sounds like the hard worker outlasted the guy with more seniority....

 

The hard worker had more seniority than I did. I'm not saying people shouldn't work hard. I'm just saying that's how it was at my yard with the union and all. They had their way of doing things and I was just trying not to step on toes. It was like that at Roadway in 1997 when I worked on the dock too. When I need to work hard, I do. I'm working at FedEx Ground running teams and working really hard. The more miles I get, the bigger the check. Only doing this temporary till Reddaway calls me back to work, hopefully soon.

 

My mistake.

 

I worked for Hostess for 20 years - and am now looking for a new job since they liquidated. I worked hard, 60 hour weeks as a transport driver, loaded trucks when needed and did whatever was asked. I have never collected unemployment in my life until now. Hostess closed Nov. 16, I have been looking for work ever since, sending out applications every day - had 2 interviews and no callbacks. Someone has told me it was because I was a teamster and worked for Hostess and my age doesnt help. Not every union guy is lazy or a troublemaker, we just needed a job.

 

It doesn't help that they shuttered Hostess during the slow months. Hiring will pick back up in a couple months. I would think you could get on with a union company then if you wanted to go that route, though being low man on the seniority list will suck.