Unions Suck

[jeffls]

I should say that as a government employee I agree that any job that is performed by union or government will have decreased production.

For a union: they collectively bargain for incentives, both monetary and retentive) that exceed what their employers are willing to pay on the free market. Being for the position of a free market...period...I would argue against any such interference. That is why toyota and hoinda produce better products yet pay their works 2/3 what the americans companies pay, in the same market.

For gov't: Because of seniority rules, date of rank, politics involved, meritocracy is not observed. Those that work hardest are rewarded with more work while those who work least are rewarded with the same pay at the end of the day. Also, the more senior you get the more able you are able to fall into the latter category without fear of jobloss. I see it all the time.

[orient]

Everytime you ride on an airline you can thank the pilots union for all the safety enhancements. Enough on the union bashing.

[mightyhorton]

I don't think the real question is whether unions suck or not. Look at history - unions were formed because the corporations had all the power, workers were starving and dying and working 18 hours per day in really really horrible conditions. Unions came into existence to balance the power. It is good to have checks and balances. The real question is whether any particular union has too much power or has become hidebound, and to what extent its power should be diminished. There is always going to be tension between workers and corporations, and the pendulum will swing back and forth from time to time giving one or the other too much power. The corporations try to exploit the workers, the workers try to exploit the corporation. Neither is bad or evil in and of itself. It is the excess that is bad, and that must be managed.

[sailaway21]

Horton makes very good points.

It's also my understanding that the Honda and Toyota plant workers now make a commensurate hourly wage with the UAW workers. The auto industry has legacy costs that far outweigh any current labor obligations.

All other things being equal, I prefer to be non-union, having been in two, and negotiate for my own self based upon my own performance. I have though, run into management similar to the OP that just begs for a union for it's workers. Many employers treat their equipment better than their employees and not all employees are either inclined or intelligent enough to negotiate their own wages nor work rules.

[southernwind]

Unions want and want for everyone in the union without any regard for the stability of the company, or what the union people will get when the company goes out of business.

[Bilgewater]

Very correct....but that's lumping all unions together. Looking at the bigger picture unions provide a necessary balance for the rest of the world, much like the political left wing balances out the political right wing. It's all about balance IMHO.

[smackdaddy]

So I can't quite tell. It appears that unions do indeed suck - but it looks like a very close call. I think we need the Japanese sailors to weigh in here.

I think the real question here is: do Canadian hockey player unions have a tendency to have sex on boats while fighting and drinking and telling very impressive lies?

[TomandKarens34]

LOL, glad I'm in the IBEW. I did the same work before, got $12 an hour and wished I had a sailboat. Now I make over $30 an hour and I have a sailboat. I feel so badly for the people I'm ripping off ! Anti-Union ? Because Unions are the bane of society ? What a moron. That's the "guns kill people" argument and it has no traction with people who actually can think.

[smackdaddy]

Tom - dude, everyone knows.....

Guns don't kill people - unions kill people...then they get a nice fat pension and go cruising. Heh-heh.

You play hockey?

[sammy404]

So Tom and friends, there you have it Union workers are grossly overpaid! A guy worth 12 in the public sector can get 30 in a union.

And Tom, when the companies go broke from overpaying you, are you going to expect stimulous money too? or say dang we should have been more reasonable way back when.

I make $47 an hour working 7.5 a day and proudly non-union. I have a company pension, yearly bonus, monthly RSP's from my employer, health plan and 6 weeks holidays. And I will survive the tough times because I am a hard worker and I don't have a bunch of fine print protecting my butt!

I don't need strikes to improve my salary. My experience, knowledge and hard work takes care of that for me, not some spokesman.

YOU TOO CAN DO IT NON-UNION!

Unions are fine, I just don't like the childish strikes and organized ransom. Take what the company can pay and be happy.