Labor Unions

[Eric]

Are any of you in a union? If so, why? What are the benefits you think you're getting? Please, facts only--no opinions.

 

[C.R.Y.]

yeah im in local 108. in the summer we're supposed to be getting water when its over 80 degrees. its hard to get fire because we can only be fired for theft, no productivity, or not showing up. thats all i can remember off the top of my head

 

[Preach]

yes.

it gives me many benefits. for example, whatever question i may have related to work, and in particular, situations with my boss, i can direct towards my union. they will answer me and give me advice on how to proceed formally correct and to safe-guard myself. in the event of a crisis, they will provide me with some legal help should it ever have to get to that.

but mostly, i like the idea that if a boss ever tries some shit on me, i can just mention my union and watch him shut his face up and loosen the attitude. it really works.

 

[Eric]

yes.

it gives me many benefits. for example, whatever question i may have related to work, and in particular, situations with my boss, i can direct towards my union. they will answer me and give me advice on how to proceed formally correct and to safe-guard myself. in the event of a crisis, they will provide me with some legal help should it ever have to get to that.

but mostly, i like the idea that if a boss ever tries some shit on me, i can just mention my union and watch him shut his face up and loosen the attitude. it really works.

That is a response I was expecting.

Of course, there are crooked people in companies, but if you have a good boss then why should you have the need for a union? I'm not sure how unions work overseas, but in the states, they try to guarantee you raises, but can never promise them. And as a boss, you can't promote someone for being a good employee and so forth.

I have more to say on this and would like more input. But in the meantime, I'm actually on my way to an emergency meeting with all managers in the region because employees are on the verge of passing a bill to create a union in the company. And in my opinion it's dumbfounded.

 

[Tha_Wood]

i was a part of one when i worked at coles supermarket, they didnt really do anything at all for me

 

[Preach]

That is a response I was expecting.

Of course, there are crooked people in companies, but if you have a good boss then why should you have the need for a union? I'm not sure how unions work overseas, but in the states, they try to guarantee you raises, but can never promise them. And as a boss, you can't promote someone for being a good employee and so forth.

I have more to say on this and would like more input. But in the meantime, I'm actually on my way to an emergency meeting with all managers in the region because employees are on the verge of passing a bill to create a union in the company. And in my opinion it's dumbfounded.

As for the in-house union, yeah, that's not a good idea.

I use a union because I'm too lazy to get into my rights. I'm not staying at whatever I choose to do in the next couple of years so I won't care until I find something to care about, but for now I'm working wherever until I go study.

I like the idea that if I have a question that requires me to pick up a book, I can pick up a phone instead.

 

[Jeremy]

No. One of the reasons I quit UPS. The people that worked for me were in a union but the managers were not. The union is the biggest piece of shit ever. They let workers work like shit and do what they want to as long as they pay their union dues every month. You don't know how many people I wanted to fire that sucked at life but because of the union they would always get their job back or not a single thing would happen to them. I got so many grievences filed of my at the union by shit ass employees for making them do their job or writing them up. Fuck unions basicly.

 

[Preach]

^^
if i were a manager i would do the same.

i don't abuse my union though, so it's not a problem with me.

 

[Bobby Sands]

Not in my current job but in my last job i was. It was a bit of a disaster. The guys that were highly involved in the Union just sat on their asses all day and did very little. They knew all their rights off by heart and the company couldn't do anything.

 

[Pittsey]

I am... We were supposed to strike over pensions this week and next, which would have closed the airports....

Personally I want to get out... It is a waste of $30 a month... But once you are in it's hard to get out, and a lot of people give you shit if you aren't in it... Not that I care, but some may feel that is reason enough to stay in it.

 

[Bobby Sands]

^^My last job was in an airport as well. It was a waste joining. They did very little for part time staff only whinge about us taking their over-time. It makes sense for a company staff to use part time staff when the full time staff are off right? But the union guys wanted to be brought in on over time on their days off and get double pay. And eventually they got their. I think the unions ruined the place.

 

[hizzle?]

Eric, I think that as a boss, you should do everything that it doesn't come to have an union in your company or whatnot you have going on there.

I think that a big raise >>>> union for companies...

Unions can be great for both the company and the employees if it is managed properly and fairly.

Here in Quebec, unions get on my nerves becaused they abuse of their rights.... Then again, its annoying when employers abuse their rights...

 

[Jeremy]

You will quit if this happens. There is no point in you even working there. You won't be able to hold anyone accountable.

 

[DarkPhantom13]

Just fire them all or start treating them better.

 

[dillaxx]

when i worked back at jewel in chicago, i was in one.. i cant remember what it was called.. but i was a facer... which no other store really has... basically stock boys stock it, and then we run through pulling things forward when the stuff in front of them gets bought by customers.... but.. we got 7.60 an hour after the min. wage was raised.. it was straight since we got about 20 or so hours a week...

only the dumbfucks got fired.... they stole, they did other stupid shit like vandalize the bathrooms and whatnot... but ify ou were late or just messed around but nothign serious, they could have just moved you to another store.. there are jewels everywhere, so it wasnt that hard.. happened to a couple of the older guys that werent in college so they never really did shit at work either... one got transferred for kissing his g/f that worked in bakery... which was weird...

the cons? well, i lost like.. 7 or 11 bucks out of my paycheck just for the union... taxes werent nice either.... but it was about a $115 check a week... and we really didnt do shit.. we worked at night, around 6-10pm so my friends would come in to buy shit for parties so we just ended up talking... lots of kids from our school came there at random times so itw as kinda like being at school again... plus i was friends with everyone in all the departments... the younger people atleast, since i was the youngest....

yeah, i loved my job.... i kinda miss it now... that and the money... my beer money reservoir is running low...

 

[_carmi]

Eric, I think that as a boss, you should do everything that it doesn't come to have an union in your company or whatnot you have going on there.

I think that a big raise >>>> union for companies...

Unions can be great for both the company and the employees if it is managed properly and fairly.

Here in Quebec, unions get on my nerves becaused they abuse of their rights.... Then again, its annoying when employers abuse their rights...

Exactly. Here in Quebec Unions think they are on top of the world.

I've never been in an union though. I've always been treated well and fairly and never felt the need to have an union. Personally I think it's just more trouble. Fairly and properly managed unions are rare.

 

[Eric]

Eric, I think that as a boss, you should do everything that it doesn't come to have an union in your company or whatnot you have going on there.

I think that a big raise >>>> union for companies...

Unions can be great for both the company and the employees if it is managed properly and fairly.

Here in Quebec, unions get on my nerves becaused they abuse of their rights.... Then again, its annoying when employers abuse their rights...

They basically gave us a 2 hour education session on what we can legal say to our employees if they consider a union. And also what we are allowed to do if some union leader came into our stores.

Afterwards I had to give a presentation to all of my employees on facts of unions and shit. But basically, my store has nothing to worry about. No one is even remotely interested.

 

[Snowman]

Unions blow chunks. i hate em but for now i gotta work under a union til i find something better. my union is so backwards its worthless even filing a grievance. nothing gets done if you and the other person start a fight and the other person started it.

i pay $ 7 a week for dues. and what irks me is these fuckers take all the money from dues. we have at least 500 people at my job. and they party hearty in palm springs california, they tell us its a big union convention. but its more a college frat party night out.

we use to get bonuses back in the day. but the union eliminated that. plus in our new contract if you get sick you get hit with a mark on your attendance. you have to be superhuman now.

 

[Pittsey]

^^My last job was in an airport as well. It was a waste joining. They did very little for part time staff only whinge about us taking their over-time. It makes sense for a company staff to use part time staff when the full time staff are off right? But the union guys wanted to be brought in on over time on their days off and get double pay. And eventually they got their. I think the unions ruined the place.

I would be happy if my union done that for me... I'd want the double time too...