Have to cross this picket line

i seriously didn't call you a scab, you do realize that i also have a good job for a non union company, like i have stated before? I just don't like misinformation being spread around, like you saying that you make as much as a union driver. keep on wishing, and go pout about putting your foot in your mouth about making as much as union drivers.......

 

So you're saying that all union drivers everywhere make the same wage with the same benefits for the same union. No, they don't, obviously. And you better check into what roadwork pays on state, county, and federal roads. #### sight better than a measly $20 an hour. That guy holding the slow sign is making about $28.50 and I would know.

You know what's really funny. Us workers fighting over some silly #### while the overseers walk away with the real money. $90k a year? Please. You can make that in the IT department showing people how to turn on their monitors. No union job pays $200k a year that I've ever heard of, and I have friends that make that much. Why do all these guys take such pride in limiting themselves to the same thing every day for the rest of their lives? That's all they've got? They've given up, in my opinion.

Me? I've got a good job, but I don't intend to stay at it. Pension, heh. I watched my grandfathers pension being whittled away at for decades. Farmland, if you're curious. Where that company went was a result of forcing him and his peers into early retirement. The ones that weren't fired outright. That pension is only as strong as the company behind it. You want proof, look at the unions now trying to get the government to cover all the pensions that those companies can't cover anymore.

I don't trust retirement plans set up by someone else. I don't trust social security. I don't expect anyone to bail me out when I can't work any more. I'm going to try to start up my own company(s) and work as hard as I can to be much more than a wage slave to anyone. That's what this country is about and I intend to take full advantage of it. And if I ever find myself in the position of having many employees, they won't need a union. I'll make sure of that.

Oh, the OTR drivers at my current company complain when they don't clear 6 figures for the year. I'll be honest, though. Aside from being work that I'm not particularly interested in doing, the company has been hit hard by the economy. There have been layoffs in every department except mine and OTR. Then again, most of the fleet was parked in the lot when I started a couple months ago and remains parked right where it is. Shame really, they have excellent trucks and a lease to own deal that can't be beat. Just not my thing or I'd have my own truck right now. Expecting to be layed off any day now, but I'll be one of the last people layed off. I take a bit of pride in that.

 

Hey,.............You found something I think we agree on,.............

And that is the way management want's it,..........If were busy fighting with each other we can't concentrate on the fight management is bring to the worker,........

 

Back to the original subject of crossing picket lines.


I made a promise to myself shortly after I started driving a truck to NEVER cross a line.


I got sent into a plant late one night that was going on strike early the next morning.


Bottom line was thay my company knew about it and sent us...Me and 3 other drivers.....in to the plant anyway.


I turned around and dropped the loaded trailer where I picked it up gave them back the bills...hooked to my empty I brought in and left the property.


I then called my company and told them what I'd done.....after an extended and very heated phone conversation.....they quit trying to get me to go back and get the freight I'd left.


I'm NO fan of unions and absolutely refuse to work union again in my life.

But..........in support of those who do and have given me a fair shake at union plants......I don't cross picket lines.

Everybody else has to make up their own mind about this.

 

I'm on the same page. I will not cross for ANY reason. The question of the union being right/wrong/good/bad has no bearing on my decision.

 

This truck will roll across a picket line....has done it more than once....sorry to say my partner has chewed up more than one picnic table. Not to worry we have replaced all picnic tables we have slammed into fences. She means business and don't even think you're going to throw anything at the truck....you really don't want to mess with her. Some poor fellow learned the hard way one night.....she's feisty and she bites is what he told me.

 

So what do you guys do when you dont know a place is on strike and show up and they are,turn around and bring the load back i dought it, the unions dont effect me either way if i have a delivery or a pickup i cross the line do my business get in and get out as best i can and go on my way, and i've crossed a few and have never had an issue and if i ever do i will take care of the issue the best way i see fit at the time. I dont agree with the unions but if thats what some one agrees with then thats there right and who am i to argue.

 

JMO..... times are tough especially in the chemical world. One would be smart to take back the paltry insurance premium requested and live to fight another day. It's a numbers game from the employers view and if he can't make money.... he'll close the doors. Seen it done.

And for comparison; I pay over $600 a month for my group plan ( family ) with a big deduct. and a 80 / 20 split.

 

yeah, teamsters struck the cargill salt mine in cleveland in 2003. one of them threw a rock and broke a window out of a fedex truck.

 

Pretty much, right on the $$$ money!

And that was a pun!