How Do Truckers Join a Union?

I've worked both types of jobs. You definitely want to be union pay and benefits and quality of life being a union member is way better.

 

That's a fact for you Wink, but may not be for others.

 

It varies on location. We had the longest nuclear plant construction project which took 20 years and we had Roadway. The plant got completed and about the same time Roadway closed their Chattanooga terminal. There was literally hundreds without jobs and no where to put them. That's another reason I decided to go OTR.

 

Non-union trucking companies won't hire ex-union drivers. On rare occasion they may, but usually won't risk bringing potential trouble to the company.

 

I never had a problem. Even when I was laid off I was able to go back to a company I previously worked for that wasn't union and they used me.

 

That's true - to a point.

We can see that point with governments and companies that are going broke because of union contracts.
Mainly retirement benefits, but wages and medical as well.

So many cities (and states, like CA) are going bankrupt because they can't afford to pay retirees the health and income they were promised by union contracts.

If you are in it for the here and now, unions are the way to go.
But in the long run I think that they just drive up the cost of living to the point of no return.


While my post may be viewed as a pro-con union arguement, I think it is a valid part of this thread.
And if my response is deleted because I am anti-union, then the post I quoted and responded to should also be deleted because it is just as pro-union.

 

I am pro-union. I come from a Union family and believe in Union principles. I figure that since I am planning on going OTR, I doubt I will be able to find a Union position. From what I have read here, most of the few Union jobs that exist are regional. I also plan on potentially being an OO someday, when and if the time is right (I gotta learn to crawl before run) and as an OO, I don't think a Union position will be available. Haven't heard of any OO Union outfits. Thanks for asking the question, I am always curious to see what factual info is available about which companies have Union positions, which don't and where they are at. There's a political section on this forum to debate the pros and cons of Unionism, it can get pretty merciless in there though.

 

Just asking, You join a Union, are you there for meetings? or just send Money & hope things work ok?. I will send you some kind of news letter for $30.00 a month. I will send your wife a dozen roses in your name for $40.00 extra a month. Think about it. Just what do they do?

 

I will try and answer this question without being controversial about it. I am the secretary-treasurer for my local lodge (it is not in the transportation industry). Our management attempted to lowball some workers and pay them significantly less (about $7 to $10 per hour less) pay than other folks in the general geographic area we are in doing similar work. A term referred to a "Prevailing Rate". It was a breach of our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). We spent money hiring a Mediator and an Arbitrator (those expenses were split 50/50 with management per our CBA) and ended up getting them their proper prevailing rate pay. They now are paid about the same rate as other folks in our area doing the same work, not more, not less. But, it required money be spent to 'force' management to abide by legal and fair agreements that we have in place. That is an example of what Union dues are used for.