Tell Us Your Union Experiences

[noose4]

After I left the service it took me about 10 years to find a really good job, I am thankful every day for my union, I have a pension and a 401k plan, great wages and benefits, and this being my 15th year on this job I now receive 4 weeks paid vacation, all this and the company I work for still makes billions.

 

[Luissa]

Due to unions I had excellent health care and dental care when I was a child.

When I was in my twenties I was in union when working for the city, didn't deal with it too much, but our union rep did make sure we worked in a safe environment, even turning one of my supervisors in for safety reasons.

 

[Trajan]

I work in a public sector union ( I am paid by the DOE). In Kalifornia.

Having spent my adult life in the military and private sector before this change over the last year and half, I had actually underestimated the public sector union malaise.

For brevity’s sake I can sum it thusly; it is bereft of reward and award on the individual level, there is a complete lack of meritocracy, it is risk averse to the point of paranoia, it stymies creativity, initiative and is so steeped in hierarchy, Byzantine is to light a word or term for it.

 

[Charles_Main]

IMO when it comes to the Public Sector Unions. Governments, and municipalities have no business negotiating and signing long term contracts with Unions who in Many cases helped elect them. Also Governments and Municipalities Live on a fixed income, and have no real motivator to keep things profitable.

IMO we should draw a clear distinction between Private Sector Unions, and those working for the Public Sector.

 

[Trajan]

When I retired from the military I started working for a air-conditioning equipment plant in TN. I joined the union shortly after getting the job. I noticed several things in the 8 years I worked there.

We had two union Presidents while I was there. The first contract re-negotiation took place the first year I worked there. At the time the company had hired alot of new employees and the people that had been there for years wanted some time off and wanted to go on strike. Well us new employees wanted to work, so the strike vote failed.

Four years later our contract was up for a vote again. This time the company did some strange things. One thing I noticed is they took every chair out of the plant. Even the run-testers had to stand up 8 hours a day. In order to do that job you ether had to sit or work on your knees. The company took every chair and put it out in the back 40. When it came time vote the union Prez recommended a strike. The employees voted to strike, and the strike lasted for about a month.

After the strike ended we found out that the company didn't want to go through with their agreements because new management had been hired to run the place. When we went out on strike every concession or benefit that had taken 3 years to negotiate was completely wiped off the table. We later found out everything we had lost. Around the time the strike ended one of my friends that worked on the line said his wife worked at the bank the union Prez banked at, and she said he cashed a very large check that week.

Here at Ft Campbell the union President works out of my shop. I call it work loosely because in the 4 years I've worked there he's never done a day of work. All he does is go to the union headquarters and smoke. Drink coffee. Shoot the shit. Even though no building on post is a smoking area, the union leaders still smoke.

In almost ever case the union Steward, union Representative, or the President was lazy as hell. They never worked like the rest of us. They got the job and it gave them an excuse to screw off. I've never needed a union-rep to sit in on a meeting because I did my job and wasn't a trouble-maker. Only the lay-abouts need union representation just to keep their jobs because of calling in sick too much, insubordination, or not doing their job in a satisfactory manner.

This has been my experience with unions. I was wondering about other's experiences.

I joined the Union in 1964, and couldn't have found a better occupation. High risk & high pay for working high on steel. I helped build a lot of energy plants, ships, refineries, and storage tanks. Part of my dues paid for my retirement, medical, dental, legal fees, and other small items. The big paychecks & lots of hours carefully invested insured my retirement. I took off two years for US military, and returned to the Union where I worked until 1990. They credited me the two years.

I never lost a days work because I paid for a dispatcher who had our jobs lined up for us. I was never intimidated by the boss, and the majority of the time the boss was also a Union member, or I was the Union member boss. If you did your job no one hassled you, and I was never hassled by the employer, boss or pusher man. Everybody I worked with were work oriented people, and were usually never the same people from job to job.

I have no complaints with the Unions and I have worked close with a lot of various other Unions and their members. We come to do a job as safe as we can, as best we can, and in the shortest amount of time we can. Some employers gave us bonuses above our high wages for finishing jobs early, and had the uttermost respect for us. Many of the employers were made up of ex-Union men, so that made a difference.

this was a private sector union...yes?

 

[Trajan]

is there anyone here in a public sector union?..did I miss it?

 

[cutter]

I had been back from Viet Nam for 20 days when I got a job as an apprentice meatcutter at a supermarket in So. Cal. The union apprenticeship program gave me the best training I could get while emphasizing safety and sanitation. Since then nonunion workers in the packing plants have caused an increase e-coli and other meat born disease. Back then the unions seemed to represent the workers in their unions and stay out of politics they were good. Now the unions want to represent the workers of the world, influence elections with no thought about the health of the country, and pretty much destroy our country in favor of the NWO. I used to love my union now I hate them. They have left their union members behind in favor of Socialism. We need new rules for unions that make it impossible for them to be political and to contribute to any politicians or political party's

 

[William Joyce]

Every place I've ever worked (except the law firm) had union and non-union. I was always non-union. When I was a teenager I was a copy clerk for a newspaper. Union guys were in the makeup section, and I just remember they never broke a sweat. Even when all hell was breaking loose, they'd just sit calmly. I just remember thinking that was kind of bullshit. For America to run, someone has to give a shit. Someone has to get nervous, sweat.

I'm not totally against unions, I just noticed that there are definite disadvantages to unions.

A lot of times, working guys are just as suspicious of the union as they are of management.

 

[Tea Bag Partier]

Here's rightwing comedian, uh commentator Bill O'Reilly's experience with unions:

"On a personal note, I'm a member of a union, AFTRA, and when I was working at 'Inside Edition' some years ago, the King World company tried to renege on pension benefits," said O'Reilly. "AFTRA took them to court and the case was settled. If the shop had been non-union, we might have been stiffed."

-Bill O'Reilly

 

[mudwhistle]

is there anyone here in a public sector union?..did I miss it?

I would join ours if I felt I needed it.

They've asked me a couple of times to join.

I told em no thanks.

 

[Dexter25]

Dont even know why you think Im incorrect based on that statement.

This statement is incorrect-" Pepsi, on the other hand, was a non union job. The pay for them was $5.15 per hour". Maybe in 1985 or something.

Actually I'm not incorrect. Pepsi employees, who were at least at the time non-union, were paid $5.15 per hour, which was the minimum wage in the state of Ohio in 2005. The minimum wage in 1985 was $3.35 per hour. Next time you might want to look into some facts before you spout off smart ass comments.

 

[mudwhistle]

Here's rightwing comedian, uh commentator Bill O'Reilly's experience with unions:

"On a personal note, I'm a member of a union, AFTRA, and when I was working at 'Inside Edition' some years ago, the King World company tried to renege on pension benefits," said O'Reilly. "AFTRA took them to court and the case was settled. If the shop had been non-union, we might have been stiffed."

-Bill O'Reilly

Unions have their purpose.

One of them is not starting a revolution.

 

[Two Thumbs]

Wanted to work the rivers on barges.
they asked if I knew anyone, I said no, and when the laughter died they asked for $800 to join the union, then they might have a job for me. 1984, $800 was a lot of money.

In the Navy we had to deal with union contractors, I think they only worked about 3 hours a day, but gave us hell for doing the work our selves.

I was victimized by clintons down sizing, so I had a tuff time finding a job, I was simply unprepared fo civilian life since I was going to retire. But I went back home to get a job as a miner, the pay was absurd, and I needed work, but these morons struck for more money, $29/hr to start. The mines just closed up on them. So the union used it's pull with the Ill gov and made it so profitable for business in Ill to hire and send a miner to college that no one could get any job over minimum wage.

The unions don't give a shit about the middle class, they only care about themselves. Anyone that says otherwise is a liar, anyone that believes otherwise is a fool.

 

[Two Thumbs]

My husband and 10 union things in the parking lot...guess how that went?

Pay the dues or ELSE. The did not care if he joined the union or not. So long as the dues were paid they didnt give a SHIT.

Fuck the unions.

Il state employees that didn't join still had to pay a "fair share" due. That way no one could bargin pay or benies for themselves.

 

[Two Thumbs]

First off, UPS does not require anyone to pay $700.00 to the union. You either misunderstood,or are fabricating reality.

My union experience?
I worked as a merchandiser for seven up. I made $12.00 dollars an hour. Cocacola was unionized as well. They paid $12.00 per hour as well. Both paid double time for over time pay, and offered a benefits package. The job itself was physically demanding, and at times required a tremendous amount of hours. Those "Awful" union dues that everyone is so afraid of came to about $40.00 a month for me.

Pepsi, on the other hand, was a non union job. The pay for them was $5.15 per hour. They did not receive any benefits. Furthermore, the overtime pay for them was time and a half, not even what I made on my regular hourly wages. On top of all that, there were many times where "bosses" would be on the job demeaning the pepsi employees cussing at them,and threatening their jobs. In my case,when I made a mistake, my boss would respectfully speak with me on the matter.

So yes,in my experience, a Union is great to have in many situations.

And what about the chamber of commerce? It is basically a corporate union,or a union to advocate the corporations against the work force. There are other organizations that defend corporations against the workforce. This is ok but labor unions are not? Why is it ok for them?

If you are telling the truth about Pepsi, and you are not, they wouldn't have enough people working for them.

If you are going to lie, at least make it semi-realistic.

 

[Momanohedhunter]

Dont even know why you think Im incorrect based on that statement.

This statement is incorrect-" Pepsi, on the other hand, was a non union job. The pay for them was $5.15 per hour". Maybe in 1985 or something.

Actually I'm not incorrect. Pepsi employees, who were at least at the time non-union, were paid $5.15 per hour, which was the minimum wage in the state of Ohio in 2005. The minimum wage in 1985 was $3.35 per hour. Next time you might want to look into some facts before you spout off smart ass comments.

Ok you are not incorrect, You just are not telling the truth. Well you are about what the minimum wage was in 2005 but that it about it. If the pussy's you run with get yelled at work they most likely were doing something wrong. Second, merchandising is not rocket science. The fact that you were a merchandiser says allot about you. If you have a drivers license and can count to 100 then you can do it. It is considered unskilled labor and only deserves minimum wage. As for PBG, the pay scale was uniform in all non union warehouses . That is why they stay non-union. So go to your moms fridge, grad a pp&j, smoke a bowl and surf your porn freeloader.

 

[Wicked Jester]

Beer delivery man and time for the shipment.

There is a bar stool in the isle way and he yells at me to come and move it FOR him. Its not in his union contract to move my bar stool out of HIS way.

Fuck that bull shit. I told him to move it himself or i was refusing the delivery...and he could pack the 10 kegs right back on his truck...along with MY empty.

Word of advice to union beer man...dont EVER pull that union bullshit with me.

God, I looooooooove you!

 

[Claudette]

I've belonged to two unions in my working life. They were closed shops so the only way to get the job was to join.

I worked at a papermill in NH. James River corp. I worked in the towel room which is a production job. We worked in teams of three. One prepping, one repairing and one running the big converter machines. The company spend half a million to train us. We were damned good. I had a bid with only 3 years seniority because it was a production job. One that the senior union members didn't want because you actually had to work 8 hours a day.

In those days they had a labor pool. Loads of the senior guys were in the labor pool. They would get assigned a job in the AM. Do the job, usually in less than 2 or three hours and were then done for the day and you can bet none of them reported back to be reassigned. They disappeared into the mill for the rest of their shifts. The company told these guys to get take a bid, get in a department because they were going to cut down the labor pool big time. They did. The only folks left in the labor pool were guys with 20-30 years seniorty.

That caused a big problem for those that were left because they could be layed off. No work. WOW so what did they do, well they filed a greiveance against we workers in the Towel Room We were working, low seniority and they with 8-9-10-15 years seniorty weren't.

The company fought it but it was going to arbitration so they caved. We all lost our jobs to a buch of lazy fucks who didn't want to work at all. We also had to train them. Needless to say production hit the crapper.

I have no fond memories of Unions at all. The Union, in effect, cost me my job even though I was a dues paying union member. Seniority is all that matters to them. They could care less about how well you do your job. Hell. You can be dumb as a box of rocks but if you have the seniority you have the job.

The job I have now has a union but I don't have to belong because Florida is a right to work state.

The Unions that operate in the private sector do make big inroads for their members at the cost to the company. Public sector union members are payed with taxdollars. Its kinda crappy to think that the public worker you pay is making more than you are in wages and benefits.

Saw this on a Stossell special on TV the other day. Sand Point, GA privatized all of their public works jobs. They get done faster, better and cheaper than when the Town had its own public works dept. The taxpayers are lovin it.

Perhaps all cities ought to privitize their public works Depts. and their education depts. and tell the Unions to take a hike.

 

[Dutch]

A unionized public employee, a tea-party supporter and a CEO are sitting at a table. In the middle of the table is a plate with a dozen cookies on it. The CEO reaches across and takes 11 cookies, looks at the tea party supporter and says, "watch out for that union guy, he wants a piece of your cookie.

 

[Two Thumbs]

A unionized public employee, a tea-party supporter and a CEO are sitting at a table. In the middle of the table is a plate with a dozen cookies on it. The CEO reaches across and takes 11 cookies, looks at the tea party supporter and says, "watch out for that union guy, he wants a piece of your cookie.

What a moron.

A unionized public employee, a tea-party supporter and a CEO are sitting at a table. In the middle of the table is a plate with a dozen cookies on it that the CEO brought and that the TEA party tax payer pitched in for. The CEO reaches across and takes 11 cookies, looks at the tea party supporter and says, "watch out for that union guy, he wants a piece of your cookie and he wants to come to your house and take your kids and grandkids cookies. Then the union thug does so.