What is the Point of Unions?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Jabber1990, Jul 16, 2016.

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  1. stayinback

    stayinback Road Train Member

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    Oh that's right........You guys actually have it somewhat together up there
     
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  3. Pintlehook

    Pintlehook Road Train Member

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    MOST (not all) Union Contracts allow for 2 and a half times your hourly wage for dues per month. $150 for dues sounds like $60/hr, I'd be good with that. :)
     
  4. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    I wouldn't say that lol.
     
  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Not all locals pay 100% healthcare or have zero deductibles. I know some do, but also some don't.
     
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  6. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Different local then; this local wasn't allowed to participate in the 401K because that's one of the questions I asked.
     
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  7. Pintlehook

    Pintlehook Road Train Member

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    Yep. Predicated upon the terms of the agreement.
     
  8. Pintlehook

    Pintlehook Road Train Member

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    More thoughts in my pea brain :

    I'm writing these comments in anticipation of the "union fat cat" arguments I hear from the anti organization crowd.

    The union leaders in my local are paid a salary of 40 hours per week of the top rate of the highest contract in our local, plus 10 hours of time and a half. Lucrative? Yes, considering UPS tops at $38/hr or so. However, these guys routinely work LONG days and listen to ALL of the members bellyache about this or that, so the compensation is fair, at least in my opinion.

    Also, the financial statements are read publicly in EVERY MONTHLY MEETING, that way everyone knows where their dues money is going. Furthermore, those financial statements are available for every member to view privately at any time.

    Just trying to dispel any other myths that may be out there.
     
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  9. MidWest_MacDaddy

    MidWest_MacDaddy Road Train Member

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    Sounds to me like the Unions brought some of this on themselves... Pie in the sky retirement plans, which have hit companies too. All requiring more lower people paying in than higher end pulling out.

    I personally don't have anything against unions... I just have yet to work some place where it was of benefit to anyone.

    Actually been at places where it was voted down because the employees actually had a good working relationship with the company and didn't want or need a third party to get involved.

    Another place voted it out since they weren't getting anything different from the non union employees (same jobs) and were actually locking themselves into contracts and were missing out on raises others were getting before their contracts were up...

    Nothing against people who want to be in a Union but Unions have themselves become Big Business. Just one big entity against another big entity...

    And the little guy is now stuck between them.

    Good luck and stay safe
    wherever you choose to sweat.
     
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  10. MidWest_MacDaddy

    MidWest_MacDaddy Road Train Member

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    Yup, good history lesson... And now with a government agency for everything under the sun, it has replaced the union in covering those bases.

    Now it's basic contract negotiations and similar issues but all those "big" issues of days gone by have been addressed.

    Although I am not pro Union, I will give them the credit for many labor related changes over the last 200 years...

    Maybe they worked themselves out of a job...

    And then couple that with the negative downsides, many mentioned above, and the union movement gets a double whammy.
     
  11. MidWest_MacDaddy

    MidWest_MacDaddy Road Train Member

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    Nothing is inherently evil about it but there are pros and there are cons... Both sides have been listed within this thread.

    A driver can certainly moan and groan about an issue, can try to negotiate his own better deal, and still not with to unionize....

    Those that see more pros are pro Union and those that see more cons are anti Union.
     
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