Re: Update: To unionize or not?

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

My DH's great grandfather was shot (not killed) by Pinkerton men who Frick(Carnegie Steel) brought in to break up a strike when steel was just beginning to unionize. This tells us how little the owners thought of their workers. They did not want the working men to have decent lives, but despite even being shot or killed they perservered and un ions built what we now call the middle class. And , unless people get it thru their heads that being middle class is something we HAVE TO fight to preserve in this country, the middle class will dissappear again.Believe me - read your history books - we don't want to go back to life as it was before unions. Working 6 days a week, 12 hours a day doing backbreaking work for barely enough pay to sustain life , and there were no such things as benefits of any kind.

Deree · ‎06-30-2018

Unions will have their pros and cons for individuals but overall unions are a good thing and offer the employee more benefits than not. It seems to me that it's the nonunion folks who bash unions and have an us against them mentality. Most people in this country have the choice about whether to set themselves up in a unionized job or not but if someone chooses not to they shouldn't begrudge those who do.

Wear a mask. Social distance. Be part of the solution - not part of the problem.

reiki604 · ‎03-09-2010

@kjae, It took a month for you to come up with this response. I stand by my statement. Appreciate what you have. Life is too short.

'I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed man'.......Unknown

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@kjae wrote:
I am glad that you are pleased with the outcome. I do want to relate something that happened today at school. Los Angeles will probably authorize a strike coming in October. A colleague and I are over 65 and ready to retire probably at the end of this year. If we go on strike I lose credit for the entire year on retirement benefits. I need this year. to count The question was asked by someone else if it affects retirement and the answer was given.. The response from our union rep was-well, you owe the rest of us your support and you just have to do it. Really? Will these people help to pay my bills when I am short $ each month?

@kjae

If it's really going to be that tight for you financially, maybe you really aren't ready to retire. Costs will continue to go up after retirement and if you find yourself needing to go back to work to make ends meet, which happens to too many people, then another year or two where you are might be the lesser of two evils, so to speak.

kjae · ‎07-24-2012

Need to help take care of my new grandbaby.

Imaoldhippie · ‎06-10-2015

I hope it works out for you and your co-workers. Unions were good back in the day when they were needed and started up. Today.....IMO they are a boil on the b*tt of the working person.

LIFE IS TO SHORT TOO FOLD FITTED SHEETS

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@Imaoldhippie wrote:
I hope it works out for you and your co-workers. Unions were good back in the day when they were needed and started up. Today.....IMO they are a boil on the b*tt of the working person.

IMO unions are still neeed , otherwise we will quickly find employers taking back one after another of the benefits our fore fathers had to fight so hard to get for us. The only strength workers have is in banding together & being one voice.

I'm a nurse and I always felt that my profession really needed to be unionized nationally - not just some hospitals here and there, but a strong national organization to fight for just some simple basic things like 40 hour work weeks, actually being able to get relieved so we could take a lunch break, getting weekends off with our vacations etc.

Twins Mom · ‎04-03-2016

It bears repeating... there are good and bad unions/ individuals running them. They require members who are attentive to what’s going on. As a member in teachers group, my needs were not of the majority so not worth pursuing. I was crushed. On the other hand, they protect needs of workers who are not considered important when in fact they are out in trenches everyday for the good of organization. Many workers still have few days off with pay and no job protection.

Kalli · ‎03-11-2010

In my personal experience being in a union was an advantage. Our union was the reason we got a raise every year, and had a great health plan and a nice retirement. I was free to concentrate on doing my job and never had to worry about negotiating my salary as the union did that. Men and women were paid the same for the same job. Yes, we had expensive dues. I accepted that as necessary to receive the other benefits.

My husband had a recent conversation with his friend’s wife who had the same career as I had but was in a right-to-work state. Her ending salary when she retired was a tiny bit above half that of my final salary. Half. She was pretty angry when she found out the discrepancy was so large as we’d basically done the same job all those years.

If you don’t agree with everything a union stands for, speak up, become active, go to meetings, be a rep. But also make sure you weigh the advantages vs disadvantages. I know I was much better off for having been a union member.