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How many here belong a union in the public or private sector? Why? or Why not?

How many here belong to a union?

  • Total voters
    67
  • Poll closed .
Rocketman said:
I labored for a masonary company straight out of high school for less than 1/2 that amount. Leaving the house at 3:30 am and getting home at 7pm on the jobs that were not local.

12" blocks and bond beams, pouring concrete out of 5 gallon buckets. That job had no benefits, I purchased my own health insurance and got by just fine.
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Great story. I worked for a moving company with similar hours. Didn't get paid overtime. I didn't get by just fine at all - oh and I also attended school at the same time.

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Rocketman said:
We have enabled a weak society that is not used to work, evidence posted above.
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Whatever you have to tell yourself.
 
Rocketman said:
Why would you say that? I have be a laborer and was paid. I lived within my means based on that level of pay. That is life my friend.
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I say that because you seem to think that you are worth more than a laborer. Why is that? Why are you worth more money? Without "ditch diggers," we wouldn't have any infrastructure. So be thankful for all of those people when you are driving on one of America's highways or if you ever make it to Massachusetts and you are enjoying a Patriots game at Gillette Stadium. American union built with pride baby! :lol:

Sorry, but I don't want to compete with China's slave wages. I KNOW there are other things we could do to stop these companies from having their cake and eating it too and not have to lower wages.
 
Rocketman said:
I labored for a masonary company straight out of high school for less than 1/2 that amount. Leaving the house at 3:30 am and getting home at 7pm on the jobs that were not local.

12" blocks and bond beams, pouring concrete out of 5 gallon buckets. That job had no benefits, I purchased my own health insurance and got by just fine.
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Really? And how long ago was that?
 
whysoserious said:
Great story. I worked for a moving company with similar hours. Didn't get paid overtime. I didn't get by just fine at all - oh and I also attended school at the same time.

Want to continue trading stories?
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People that live within there means get by just fine, people that want something better make it happen, end of story.
 
ChrisL said:
I say that because you seem to think that you are worth more than a laborer. Why is that? Why are you worth more money? Without "ditch diggers," we wouldn't have any infrastructure. So be thankful for all of those people when you are driving on one of America's highways or if you ever make it to Massachusetts and you are enjoying a Patriots game at Gillette Stadium. American union built with pride baby! :lol:

Sorry, but I don't want to compete with China's slave wages. I KNOW there are other things we could do to stop these companies from having their cake and eating it too and not have to lower wages.
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Everyone starts out somewhere, nobody deserves to start out on top. I could care less who/what built Gillette stadium. I guess you think those union guys should make just as much as Tom Brady:lol:
 
Rocketman said:
People that live within there means get by just fine, people that want something better make it happen, end of story.
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I tried to live within my means. It's hard to get by in a city while working, maintaining a car, going to school, paying rent, etc.

I had help from family. I'm lucky.
 
ChrisL said:
Just look at the sweat shops in other countries where workers have no rights. If not forced, a lot of companies would NOT pay an employee their worth. They would pay as little as possible to increase their own bottom line. That is why China is growing at such a rapid pace. Whether you want to admit it or not, unions play an important role in helping to set average wages for certain jobs. I can agree that some unions have become too greedy and political, but I think they are still important. They also help employees with legal battles with employers, many of which would not be able to afford counsel otherwise.
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1: Are we other countries? No? Then Apples and Oranges.

2: Unions brought about alot of the changes. Including many of the safety measures that are now law. The minimum wage etc etc. But now that all of those are implemented, including a federal department to report unsafe work areas, unions have become obsolete. Now they are just a drain and not a benefit.
 
Rocketman said:
Everyone starts out somewhere, nobody deserves to start out on top.
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20-something dollars an hour is NOT starting out on top. PLENTY of people make a lot more than that. Perhaps next to a McDonald's employee that is the "top." Besides, companies sign contracts with the unions willingly. They AGREE to the terms of the contracts when they sign their names to them. Of course, I'm referring more to labor unions and the like.
 
whysoserious said:
I tried to live within my means. It's hard to get by in a city while working, maintaining a car, going to school, paying rent, etc.

I had help from family. I'm lucky.
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Hard, not impossible, very admirable though:applaud
 
ChrisL said:
20-something dollars an hour is NOT starting out on top. PLENTY of people make a lot more than that. Perhaps next to a McDonald's employee that is the "top." Besides, companies sign contracts with the unions willingly. They AGREE to the terms of the contracts when they sign their names to them. Of course, I'm referring more to labor unions and the like.
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$20 bucks an hour is incredibly high for unskilled labor, entry level positions.
 
Kal'Stang said:
1: Are we other countries? No? Then Apples and Oranges.

2: Unions brought about alot of the changes. Including many of the safety measures that are now law. The minimum wage etc etc. But now that all of those are implemented, including a federal department to report unsafe work areas, unions have become obsolete. Now they are just a drain and not a benefit.
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Many construction companies do NOT follow OSHA regulations. OSHA has a LOT of job sites to visit, so they rarely get around to every job site. There are some pretty horrible construction site accidents due to just plain negligence or just old equipment because of a lack of oversight. This stuff is rare on union work sites. All of the workers are required to have OSHA cards, which means they have to pass an OSHA safety test. This is NOT required in private construction industry.

Also, an employee of a private company does have to worry about retributions if they "rock the boat." This is not the case with union employees. They are protected, and THAT is a good thing.
 
Rocketman said:
$20 bucks an hour is incredibly high for unskilled labor, entry level positions.
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It's a good living wage, and I'm happy that some of the hardest working people (construction guys) are making that kind of money. With the amount of abuse their bodies take and how hard they have to work, they are totally worth it IMO. Their jobs are NO less important than that of any white collar worker. It's all in your perception.
 
ChrisL said:
It's a good living wage, and I'm happy that some of the hardest working people (construction guys) are making that kind of money. With the amount of abuse their bodies take and how hard they have to work, they are totally worth it IMO. Their jobs are NO less important than that of any white collar worker. It's all in your perception.
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It is about bottom line and what their performance contributes to it.
 
Surtr said:
The job I just got is non-union. Full medical and pay started at 14 dollars an hour. I'll be making 20 dollars an hour in under a year. Non-union pays better, and gives better benefits.
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Well, if your new job is competing with union labor and benefits, then why would they pay you less than what a union job pays? The union is setting the standard for your wages. Without the union you can be sure you'd be making a lot less with no benefits whatsoever.
 
MaggieD said:
I worked for the telephone company for about six months -- IBEW union. I resented the dues. Offered to work when the workers struck. By contract, I couldn't. I was pissed as hell. I never liked what they stood for -- which, as I saw it, was keeping everyone mediocre and stifling ingenuity.
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I worked for a telephone company for about six months also, only we were non-union. We got paid minimum wage with no benefits and they were on our backs constantly. They mostly hired part-time college students who they would burn out in a few months. They were always hiring due to the high turnover rate.
 
Rocketman said:
$20 bucks an hour is incredibly high for unskilled labor, entry level positions.
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It just depends. My brother started out making a little better than that at a factory about 15 years or so ago, but he is not making that much more than that after 15 years (I think he is around $28/hour) but newbies at his factory now start off at I think @ $13-$14/hour because the unions had to give up the great old pay scale for the newbies in order to keep the older scale workers from giving back wages and benefits. The newbies also do not get pension/matching 401K's like the senior workers.
 
Rocketman said:
It is about bottom line and what their performance contributes to it.
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People in unions CAN get fired. Not every union is like the teacher's union you know. :roll:
 
Rocketman said:
I consult users of coal and natural gas on other alternative fuels that could reduce their production cost while helping generators achieve sustainability goals.
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In other words, you're a salesman.
 
Fisher said:
It just depends. My brother started out making a little better than that at a factory about 15 years or so ago, but he is not making that much more than that after 15 years (I think he is around $28/hour) but newbies at his factory now start off at I think @ $13-$14/hour because the unions had to give up the great old pay scale for the newbies in order to keep the older scale workers from giving back wages and benefits. The newbies also do not get pension/matching 401K's like the senior workers.
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That is a good point, but look at the Post Office, they are going broke paying pensions they can no longer afford along with medical benefits. Why should be people not be expected to plan for their own futures?
 
Rocketman said:
I totally agree, the two I belonged to protected the weakest members. Stronger more determined members were forced to carry these people, much like what we see today with the Obama administration.
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Somehow, I get the feeling that you will be in the unemployment line before too long.
 
Sig said:
In other words, you're a salesman.
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Not really, I don't sell anything. I calculate annual GJ's needed to meet budgets and then suggest possible revenue bearing substitues based on manufactuing by product streams in the area.
 
Sig said:
Somehow, I get the feeling that you will be in the unemployment line before too long.
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I doubt it, never have been since the masonary laboring days.
 
Rocketman said:
Not really, I don't sell anything. I calculate annual GJ's needed to meet budgets and then suggest possible revenue bearing substitues based on manufactuing by product streams in the area.
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Sort of an ENRON on wheels.
 
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