[my05hammer]

I saw this debate today on the news. I myself was a union worker from 1989 until 2005.

I started out in the UFCW and then in 2000 I went to work as a Teamster. I feel that both unions bent me over and had their way with my back side (to put it politely).

I have made more money, gotten better benefits, and have been treated better by my employers since leaving the unions.

I just want to see what you guys/gals think.


EDIT: I do have a brother who is a Union Pipe Fitter in the HVAC field in Milwaukee. Being in that union has greatly improved his quality of life and he enjoys working in that field.

 

[adam]

Personally I don't want anything to do with a union; I was part of one a few years ago and the only thing I noticed was money taken out of my check and nothing else. I think unions can be a serious downfall for companies and their workers.

 

[my05hammer]

Personally I don't want anything to do with a union; I was part of one a few years ago and the only thing I noticed was money taken out of my check and nothing else. I think unions can be a serious downfall for companies and their workers.

I TOTALLY agree. At least that has been my experience.

There might be others who feel the other way and that is what I want to know. Lets hear all of your stories.

 

[SHOOTER Z]

I'll NEVER join a dang union!!!!!! I have worked strikes before in security and it ticks me off. Here these goober are making more then me in the first place efusing to work and THEN have the balls to stop working for more money! THAT is what has screwed up this country and why the auto industry and other jobs are going by the wayside and outta the country. I do believe in a fair wage or a job done BUT they want it all!

 

[Dane]

I would rather not need unions, but the fact of the matter is most businesses and governments for that matter take advantage of their employees. The union is to see for fair treatment. Unfortunately unions have in areas where they have power to have abused that power too. Here in FL it is a 'right to work' state. Unions are allowed, but not power with 'no strike' allowed by law. I work for a local government that IMHO doesn't treat it employees fair. Money abounds for their pet projects, but not their 'most important asset 'the employee.

 

[futuremodal]

The problem with unions isn't the rank-and-file, it's the Obamanazis in the union leadership. Where I work we are all union and all gun owners, yet we were basically told to support Obama or else. And a good chunk of my dues is being siphoned over to the Democrat National Socialists. To me that's like taking my church tithe money and handing it over to Satanists.

 

[Mr. Boom]

No unions for me thanks. While i believe they had their time, i don't think they are needed as much anymore.
I live in a right to work state. The union at my workplace is worthless. It is only an umbrella of protection for those that don't want to work an honest days work for an honest days pay, but still get the pay. I am an exempt employee, so it does not affect me, but i have many friends that are hourly, and i hate to see them get the bone. As it stands now, people who just got hired yesterday make just as much money as those who have worked here for twenty years.
I believe in more of a merit system. You get raises based upon your performance and longevity. That way there is an incentive to be better. But i guess that is the conservative in me.

 

[my05hammer]

The problem with unions isn't the rank-and-file, it's the Obamanazis in the union leadership. Where I work we are all union and all gun owners, yet we were basically told to support Obama or else. And a good chunk of my dues is being siphoned over to the Democrat National Socialists. To me that's like taking my church tithe money and handing it over to Satanists.

Its not just Obama. Its democrats. I was on strike once while working at IBP in Joslin IL back in Nov. of 1996. I was helping the union guys get food and coffee to the people on the line. I typically vote conservative and republican. It was 2 am and about -20 out in the dead of winter in the middle of no where, I asked him how was it fair that my money went to support democratic candidates when I do not support them and that I felt that was extortion? His reply was very educated... he said "I can pull the car over and you can get out and walk if you don't agree with it". I was pretty floored about the situation.

Needless to say he didn't talk to me ever again. Its not like I lost a good friend or anything. I also didn't stand on the picket line any more and the union still paid me for it (a whopping $65.00 per week).

I ended up taking another job after two weeks on strike (ironically with the same union and the same local). After 3 weeks on strike the UFCW got workers at IBP a ten cent raise and fives cents per year over a four year contract, and they ended up having to pay more for medical. It went from 11.00 per week to 45 for a single employee and from 15 to 65 for families. What a great Democratically supporting union. They did the same thing at the new job too (worked there for 4.5 years).

When I worked for Rochelle Foods I was an electrician making $13.25 per hour from 1997 to 2000. My co-worker said to me one day...

"My sister is a grocery checker in Dixon at Eagle Foods. She is in the same union and the same local as we are, and she is making $18.00 an hour!!"

Here we were, trained skilled labor and we made almost 5 bucks an hour less than a checker at a grocery store in the same union (UFCW). All because there were more grocery workers in the union than factory workers so the union catered to them. Plus the ratio of maintenance guys in those factories was not enough to offset the votes of the line workers so when we voted on a contract the maintenance guys had to take what was offered because their votes didn't matter.

Then in 2000 I took a job that had the Teamsters and their contract had a disclaimer at the end that said "This contract is subject to change"!

I am VERY happy to be a NON-union worker, and I am making more money now than I EVER did as a union worker and my benefits are outstanding.

 

[Mstr33t]

The only time I'd join a "union" is if I went into the Air Force Reserves after active duty.

 

[dj]

Personally, I'm not a fan of unions. I honestly think they are what's driving business out of the country (in search of cheap labor). Now they want to have open card voting to make it easier for workers to unionize. Does anyone else see American industry leaving the country in droves? Barney Frank is in favor of unions because he says they raise worker's pay and creates a stronger middle class. That's true as long as the job stays in the U.S. Where does he think that money comes from? It just adds to inflation. I overheard the lady that empties the waste baskets in our corporate cube farm say she makes $25/hr. Honestly, is that job worth $25 per hour? And they wonder why industry looks elsewhere for cheaper labor.

I do believe unions have their place. They were necessary at one time, and do serve to keep management honest. My brother is a trucker and his boss threatened to punish him for refusing to make an additional pickup on his return leg. The extra stop would have either forced him to violate DOT duty hours or postpone the vacation he had scheduled weeks in advance. The union backed him up.

Many times I've seen unions go out on strike for months at a time. I had to wonder if the increase in pay they eventually bargained for covered the wages they lost while on strike. It didn't seem worth it to me. I'd prefer to work in a non-union job.

 

[Rhodes]

Why be forced to contribute to the Dems? Hell no.

 

[unreconstructed1]

I'm a union construction worker, and I enjoy my job greatly.

the unions, just like everything else, need improvement, but overall i'd prefer a union when working construction.

 

[my05hammer]

I'm a union construction worker, and I enjoy my job greatly.

the unions, just like everything else, need improvement, but overall i'd prefer a union when working construction.

My brother is a union pipe fitter and he is very happy too. I think you Union construction workers, electricians, pipe fitters, welders, etc have a good thing going. Your union experience is by far VERY different that that of a union factory worker.

However I still don't like the push to support the dems.

 

[Rhodes]

Its not the guys you work with its the thugs that collect money and use it in ways you would never dream. I just see giving money to the Dems leadership as they are now as giving aid and comfort to the enemy. Its not a partisan thing as I would not be forced to contribute to the Repubs either, but the betrayals and corruption of the Dems has gotten to the point that I wonder if they mean to destroy us.

 

[leadslinger]

...I wonder if they mean to destroy us.

Well they're the government, it's their job...tax and destroy

...would have made a great Metallica title...

 

[godlessdustin]

...I wonder if they mean to destroy us.

Well they're the government, it's their job...tax and destroy

...would have made a great Metallica title...

Lets try not to drag the 'tallica into this.

 

[Rhodes]

...I wonder if they mean to destroy us.

Well they're the government, it's their job...tax and destroy

...would have made a great Metallica title...

Lets try not to drag the 'tallica into this.

Why not isnt like they didnt pissoff everyone over dl music.

 

[godlessdustin]

Didnt piss me off.

 

[Rhodes]

It wasn't that they were out of line but they didn't have to kill Napster over it. Wont even listen to the whinny bitches now.

 

[godlessdustin]

Well they still rocks my socks off.