Non-Union Members on IFish

[FM2]

Hey, let's hear from the non-union members on ifish. This is not a bashing but we are all a brotherhood and can help each other out in some way and non-union folks are many.

I work for a Christian electronics company as the Product Development Mangager and LUUVVVE to fish images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif

Let's hear from all non-union folks images/icons/smile.gif

[Vinny]

Go ahead, it's not shameful to be non-union.

It's only shameful to cross picket lines and to scab. Kind of like taking something that isn't yours (you know, like theft) at the expense of others.

I've worked for several non-union companies. It just so happens that my current affiliation is union and I would NEVER cross a picket line (unless maybe I owned the company images/icons/tongue.gif ).

So I don't count in this thread. images/icons/grin.gif

[Snapset]

You know, when I started at the Company where I work now, 20 years ago, I thought unions were a waste of time.

I thought that by initiative, hard work, intelligence and integrity, management would reward my productivity and reciprocate my loyalty.
Then I woke up.
That is why I am proud to pay my UNION DUES.

If management, especially in a publicly traded corporation, ever learns the meaning of benevolence, or at the very least loyalty, I will be happy to stop paying dues.

[whitewaterbill]

So....It seems we now have 2 union threads!

How about we forget this crap and go fishing!

Bill

[FM2]

Bill, Got a DB, where would you like to fish?

[Bait O' Eggs]

images/icons/rolleyes.gif

now were even images/icons/rolleyes.gif

[Snapset]

Before I get the public reaming I deserve, I better apologize to all the management level employees I may have offended with my above post. You are probably on average, no less benevolent or loyal than the union people you may work with. My only lame excuse is I wrote my previous post after the football game today.

I have taken a lot of you fishing in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. If some moderator were to delete everything I've written in this thread, I would credit a favor to you.

[Hookset]

Snapset, is that a request? Union or non-union, just appreciate the fact you have a job.

Gregg

[Salmonator]

been through the steelworkers vote twice at my place of employment. Both times management got real luvy-duvy the preceding months before the vote. After all the scare tactics and the union busters that come in and show their biased movies describing the horrors of unions, the majority votes no only to be subjected to the same unfair buddy system practices and performance reviews that are given up to a year late. You know where my vote went...

[RW]

RW images/icons/confused.gif

[ 09-30-2001: Message edited by: RW ]

[FRESHSALMONROE]

HELLO, LETS GO FISHING

[rainycity]

Salmonator,
So, did the rest of the folks there ever come to thier senses and vote in the union or are you still fighting to get unionized?
I`m a member of the dedicated unionists and may be able to get you some propaganda to help you out in your cause.

[ 09-30-2001: Message edited by: rainycity ]

[Salmonator]

We just lost the vote a few months back by a margin of something like 55 to 45% which is the closest vote so far. I am under the impression that there is a time frame to be met before the union can petition again....

[rainycity]

That was pretty close,
normally it takes a couple of tries or folks getting the short end of a stick enough to realize it and vote the union in

[Vinny]

That "short end of the stick" thing is why you vote to unionize. If you're not getting "the short end" you work for one of those one-in-a-million companies, and do NOT need a union.

Then there are the rest of us . . . images/icons/rolleyes.gif

[Dogfish]

I have never had a job where I had an opportunity to join a union. I have usually been an "exempt employee", aka some form of management.

My father-in-law is a member of a union, and when Crown Cork and Seal went on strike, I took my 2 year old son down to support him and we stood along side him.

I have seen both good and bad things come out of union membership, just like religion. I find it very disappointing when violence erupts because of some contract dispute. The name calling tha goes on disgusts me. I know that these types of people represent only a portion of the membership, but that is what the media portrays.

Unions have done a lot for the blue collar workers of our country, and they are getting better at policing the corruption within themselves, but I think they would improve their image even more by keeping these a-holes in check by expelling anyone committing an act of violence during a strike, or contract negotiations.

These are the things I think of when I hear "union". It is the union's job to change peoples perceptions through their actions. Flame me if you want, but this is a non-union man's take on the whole thing.

Andy

[rainycity]

Hmmm,
Sounds more like a management position on the unions than just a person who has never had an opportunity to join one.. images/icons/grin.gif

[rainycity]

Dogfish,
Boy, I`ll say,,
food, then money,,you must like the heat. images/icons/grin.gif

[SteelieSteve]

I've been both. 15 years a teamster. No preference and don't feel this should be a forum for labor... go fishing! images/icons/rolleyes.gif

[Cool Texan]

I'm in the union of the Overworked Underpaid Underappreciated Brotherhood of Workplace Grunts.

Does that count?? images/icons/grin.gif

[invader]

worked in a union for 17 years at the same company!!.. then they let let us get laid off!! been working non union now for 12 years and make more per hour!! less union dues too!!......john

[Dogfish]

Nope, just a banker. Before that I worked in restaurants as a manager. I got to mess with people's food and then their money. Two things that get people hot in a hurry.

Andy

[Simon Peter]

Unions have had their place in the history of America and the increase of productivity in the American work-place.

The only problem I have seen is that so often the Union-worker forgets that the "corporation" is not bullet proof and must remain competetive in the global market. When demands and wants exceed the value of the worker then their job goes elsewhere.

In light of the recent down-swing in the economy I would not recommend any union person to strike or complain, but instead to be ready to take less pay, less benefits and adjust to the recession that is already here.

If you have been working someplace for awhile and you are itching to strike, just spend the next week trying to line up a new job that pays better than you already get, has better benefits etc. I bet you will be very surprised that job does not exist or that there is 250 applications on every opportunity.

You might guess I am not a union supporter, but I do support the idea of paying a man what he is worth so he can support his family. That is the just a right thing to do. If an employer does not do this, how can he excect to get good work out of his employees. Greedy union-workers wanting more than prevailing economic wage - I don't support.

[Silent Lucidity]

Longstanding member of the "Couldn't catch a salmon or steelhead if I hooked a carcass to my line and threw it out in the river" union. Dues have gone down since I started using that 30lb/10lb Spiderwire, as I am now able to straighten hooks before the line breaks off on an underwater snagging.

Ask Y'all. In one short fishing trip I can drastically alter the topography of the bottom of any body of water I fish.

Don't worry, though. I'm trashing the Spiderwire, and the stuff casts about as smooth as a spool of razor wire.

[AuntyM]

What a crock. images/icons/mad.gif

The majority of companies in Corporate America always expect you to take less during hard economic times, and they fight tooth and nail to keep wages and benefits low in the good times. The amount of money they took in profits during the last 10 years via wages and bonuses etc. is disgusting. Everyone has an opinion on what caused this current downturn, and I blame the greed of those at the top!

You may think you know what your talking about, but you don't. Got any decent fishing advice?

My advice is to stay actively involved in your Unions. Go to meetings and be as vocal as you can. If you give anything up, make sure when profits return, you get it all back, and then some!

AuntyM, formerly ATU 1384 Chief Steward and a darn good negotiator!

[Silent Lucidity]

I can't help but stay active in my union, AuntyM. images/icons/frown.gif Trust me, I've tried.

[AuntyM]

SL,

I have been having about the same success as you of late. Perhaps we should create a new forum for the condition?

images/icons/grin.gif

Sorry I got umm.... a little annoyed by SP's advice.

My husband is lucky, he works for an employee owned company. The best kind of place to work.

[Silent Lucidity]

I sorta work for a employee-owned entity, I guess. It's called the federal government. images/icons/tongue.gif

Maybe we should put out some sort of challenge for these ace anglers on iFish. "Break the bad streak! I DARE you!"

[Deleted User]

Aunty M you are awesome! Not only do you fish, you are hard core union! I negotiated our contract in 1994 during a big upswing in the economy and we had to fight the greedy ******** for every thing we got! Now,because of some real bonehead management decisions they want to take it all back and then some! Anyone hear of the Freightliner "Buy Back" program? Jim Hebe, the former president of Freightliner came up with this stroke of genius and in doing so almost ruined the entire trucking industry. There is now a glut of used trucks on the market for really cheap and no one wants to buy a new class 8 truck. So of course in order to bail them out of this collossal **** up F/L want their hourly workers to take huge concessions or they will "take their ball and go home" We as a major supplier have been asked to do the same. SP I've been through the good years and through the Reagan years and never once during the good years did we ever ask for more than a living wage! Slam unions all you want but without collective bargaining what would the modern workplace be like?
Stew images/icons/grin.gif

[AuntyM]

Stew,

We gotta stop this stuff in common thing! Don't want to start any talk. images/icons/grin.gif

My son drives one of those Freightliners for Swift Trucking. He told me about the buy back/lease stuff that some of the companies do. I thought it was a dumb idea.

Here is an interesting link Executive Pay Watch (http://www.aflcio.org/paywatch/index.htm)

[boater]

stew, on your "thanks to everyone" thread i posted that freightliners buyback program ruined that company, did you just find out about it ?, i work at kenworth up here in seattle and we have known about it since they started it, we have been updated everyday about it, it sucks and now they are screwed, also, you make parts for us and them, kenworth is not asking us for any cuts so how is that going to work for you, 30 percent less money to make parts for us at the same price we paid before, your employer will be making 30 percent more on our parts ??

[Deleted User]

I had heard of it but was not all that familiar with it. The rank and file will not accept those kind of concessions. I will take a voluntary lay-off first and make more money! Thanks NAFTA........ images/icons/mad.gif
Stew

[Simon Peter]

Not to stir the pot, but just to add information.

A corporation is comprised of more than management and workers.

A corporation is a separate entity that is managed by a board of directors who are responsible to the stock owners. The CEO works for the Corporation and is directly responsible to the Board. Stock owners require a return on investment -or the capitalistic system allows for them to take their investment someplace else.

I would agree that an employee owned business is nicest to work for - you end up being your own boss but more important you are one of the stock owners and this puts you in position to make decisions including compensation.

Not trying to hammer unions - again, I realize they have made a difference in working wage. However, the questions comes up is if the worker is worth the wage. I have seen many circumstances where non-skilled union workers demanding wages outside of what the economic picture allows.

Who is the one who should benefit from the success of the business - the stock holder or the laborer? Obvious answer is both since the one cannot live without the other.

I guess my advice is that people look at the whole picture. Don't just listen to the union boss - I guarantee you are not getting the whole picture. Take a look at the big picture before you act.