Nov-04-2019 11:44 AM
Nov-06-2019 04:42 PM
ShinerBock wrote:
So at what point does it not become bashing to you? What if the UAW asked for $120k salaries and $15k bonuses and paying no health care? At what point would you say they are being greedy just like we are or do they get a pass simply because they are union?
Nov-05-2019 09:15 PM
ShinerBock wrote:goducks10 wrote:
Fact of the matter is, apples to apples, same job, same state, a union person is usually better off.
Yes, in this scenario there are probably more benefits to being in a union.
I will admit I am not union material. I could not stand that seniority was more important than knowledge and how well you did the job. My work ethic forced me to be the best at whatever I did and a structure where even a dumb a$$ has more ranking than me just because he applied for the job sooner than I did not jive with me.
I also was not happy making what others made. I was willing to work harder if it got me more pay, but the union guys hated that and preferred that everyone got the same pay like some kind of communist country. They were happy with the union negotiating their pay, but I wasn't. I wanted to negotiate my own pay and benefits like I do now.
I guess to each their own. I would rather carve my own path based on my own merit. It comes with a lot risks and its own sacrifices, but the reward is high which is why CEO's and executives make so much. However, I can understand how someone would want to take the safer path and be apart of a collective. Negotiating your own worth and being forced to prove it year over year is not for everyone. Some prefer the safer "known" route with less risk.
Nov-05-2019 05:36 PM
Huntindog wrote:
You seem to want to point to a single point in time when the 40 hour week became the standard. And you want it to be Ford in 1926.. And you do not want to give unions any credit for it. The truth is that this was a HEAVY lift, and it took a long time, with Unions being involved in the effort long before Ford got on the bandwagon. The tide was already shifting when he made his move. If you were to actually read my link with all of the different events and time periods, you would see that unions had been involved it the effort for a long time. And that Fords move was NOT the end of the effort. That happened quite a few years later. And yes unions were involved in the effort BEFORE, and AFTER Fords move.
I give Ford credit for being an astute buisiness man and recognizing that he could get great press by accepting the inevitable before many others... He got to own the moment in time. That behaviour is still going on today.
For example:
Read the news and you will see quite a few companies are jumping on the 15.00 HR minimum wage bandwagon. It hasn't happened nation wide..... YET. But it does appear that this too will happen at some point. So these companies are jumping on board early for the favorable press.... And yes most Unions support this effort.... I personally wish they wouldn't, but they are.
Nov-05-2019 05:13 PM
ShinerBock wrote:Huntindog wrote:ShinerBock wrote:Huntindog wrote:Shinerbock wrote:
Actually, no one here is bashing union in general.
Oh there have been a few general bashings.... I think Fish was one of the first.
I have been a Union organizer, member and Shop steward since 1994.
I can tell you from experience, that not all Unions have it as good as the UAW, or the public sector Unions. They are the most sucessful, perhaps too suscessful for their long term good, and some of them like the UAW get a lot of press.... Some public sector Unions such as teachers enjoy good press.... In spite of the built in negotiating advantage they have as public sector Unions.
Many Unions are still fighting the battle to get their members into the middle class..... Which Unions were a prime driver of creating.
Many things that we now enjoy, and think of as a normal right came about because of Unions. OSHA, 40 hour work week, vacation pay, sick pay, holiday pay, greivances for unfair discipline, etc.
These things (and more) exist now in both Union, and non Union companies because of Union efforts. The non Union companies went along and provided them or were forced to by legislation to keep up with the Union standards.
The UAW has members that often do highly specialized jobs,(skills) that will not transfer easily to another company.... And the automakers have a highly cylical business that makes obscene profits in boom times. With that much money available, thay are often able to secure contracts that are unheard of in other industries.... But they usually suffer in downturns.
As for the bad actors that pop up in Unions occasionally... Whenever there is a huge pot of money available, there will be those that cannot resist partaking in it... It is part of the human condition.
I will point out that there have been PLENTY of people in the management/company side that fall into this catagory as well.
I have worked both Union and non Union, and have seen the benefits, and downsides first hand.
I believe that Unions are necessary to balance the unfettered power that companies other wise would have.
If they were to disappear from the workplace, we would see many benefits that we take for granted disappearing as well. This would go for Union and non Union workers alike.
This is false. I was fed this propaganda too until I researched it myself.
The 40 hour work week was created by Henry Ford long before his plants were unionized because he thought that his employees would buy more Model T's if they had time off to enjoy them. Henry Ford, along with Jewish(Saturday) and Christian(Sunday) religion, also played a big role in the two day weekend long before his factories were unionized.
Paid sick leave was first created in foreign countries, and is still not a law in the US even though most companies, union and non-union, give it to their employees.
Paid vacation came about because employers in the early 1900's saw that their employees having time off made them more productive.
Holiday pay is not required in the US and is up the the employers discretion. Many companies offer it for the same reason they offer vacation and sick pay, to attract workers. There have been recordings of Holiday pay in US companies long before unions were even established here.
There are many other things that unions take credit for, but had little or no impact on their implementation. Many of these things just took a natural progression as communication became more instant and the traveling time between places decreased. People were able to be more selective on where they wanted to work, and employers had to find way to entice the best employees.
Ummm, here is some more for you to research on.
Henry Ford was late to the party. He did what businesses are still doing today; He saw which way the wind was blowing and decided to jump in and look like a hero.
History of the 40 hour work week
And what I stated was true. If you look at the link you posted, all they talked about hours per day worked and it was common to work six or seven days a week so that would 48 or 56 hours a week working eight hours a day. Henry Ford was the first implement a five day 40 hour work week(as it stated in your link) without any of his factories being unionized. If you click on the "statement" link in the article you posted, it will take you to this article which is exactly what I stated.
The 40-Hour Revolution
Nov-05-2019 04:40 PM
goducks10 wrote:
Fact of the matter is, apples to apples, same job, same state, a union person is usually better off.
Nov-05-2019 04:05 PM
Bedlam wrote:Sometimes I think you are like me but you have more toys than I do...lol. at least wheeled ones. Most of my toys go bang.;)
You had me going for minute with GOA: I was trying figure out what the Portuguese had to this with topic until I remembered Larry...
Nov-05-2019 03:38 PM
Nov-05-2019 01:37 PM
Huntindog wrote:ShinerBock wrote:Huntindog wrote:Shinerbock wrote:
Actually, no one here is bashing union in general.
Oh there have been a few general bashings.... I think Fish was one of the first.
I have been a Union organizer, member and Shop steward since 1994.
I can tell you from experience, that not all Unions have it as good as the UAW, or the public sector Unions. They are the most sucessful, perhaps too suscessful for their long term good, and some of them like the UAW get a lot of press.... Some public sector Unions such as teachers enjoy good press.... In spite of the built in negotiating advantage they have as public sector Unions.
Many Unions are still fighting the battle to get their members into the middle class..... Which Unions were a prime driver of creating.
Many things that we now enjoy, and think of as a normal right came about because of Unions. OSHA, 40 hour work week, vacation pay, sick pay, holiday pay, greivances for unfair discipline, etc.
These things (and more) exist now in both Union, and non Union companies because of Union efforts. The non Union companies went along and provided them or were forced to by legislation to keep up with the Union standards.
The UAW has members that often do highly specialized jobs,(skills) that will not transfer easily to another company.... And the automakers have a highly cylical business that makes obscene profits in boom times. With that much money available, thay are often able to secure contracts that are unheard of in other industries.... But they usually suffer in downturns.
As for the bad actors that pop up in Unions occasionally... Whenever there is a huge pot of money available, there will be those that cannot resist partaking in it... It is part of the human condition.
I will point out that there have been PLENTY of people in the management/company side that fall into this catagory as well.
I have worked both Union and non Union, and have seen the benefits, and downsides first hand.
I believe that Unions are necessary to balance the unfettered power that companies other wise would have.
If they were to disappear from the workplace, we would see many benefits that we take for granted disappearing as well. This would go for Union and non Union workers alike.
This is false. I was fed this propaganda too until I researched it myself.
The 40 hour work week was created by Henry Ford long before his plants were unionized because he thought that his employees would buy more Model T's if they had time off to enjoy them. Henry Ford, along with Jewish(Saturday) and Christian(Sunday) religion, also played a big role in the two day weekend long before his factories were unionized.
Paid sick leave was first created in foreign countries, and is still not a law in the US even though most companies, union and non-union, give it to their employees.
Paid vacation came about because employers in the early 1900's saw that their employees having time off made them more productive.
Holiday pay is not required in the US and is up the the employers discretion. Many companies offer it for the same reason they offer vacation and sick pay, to attract workers. There have been recordings of Holiday pay in US companies long before unions were even established here.
There are many other things that unions take credit for, but had little or no impact on their implementation. Many of these things just took a natural progression as communication became more instant and the traveling time between places decreased. People were able to be more selective on where they wanted to work, and employers had to find way to entice the best employees.
Ummm, here is some more for you to research on.
Henry Ford was late to the party. He did what businesses are still doing today; He saw which way the wind was blowing and decided to jump in and look like a hero.
History of the 40 hour work week
Nov-05-2019 01:26 PM
ShinerBock wrote:Huntindog wrote:Shinerbock wrote:
Actually, no one here is bashing union in general.
Oh there have been a few general bashings.... I think Fish was one of the first.
I have been a Union organizer, member and Shop steward since 1994.
I can tell you from experience, that not all Unions have it as good as the UAW, or the public sector Unions. They are the most sucessful, perhaps too suscessful for their long term good, and some of them like the UAW get a lot of press.... Some public sector Unions such as teachers enjoy good press.... In spite of the built in negotiating advantage they have as public sector Unions.
Many Unions are still fighting the battle to get their members into the middle class..... Which Unions were a prime driver of creating.
Many things that we now enjoy, and think of as a normal right came about because of Unions. OSHA, 40 hour work week, vacation pay, sick pay, holiday pay, greivances for unfair discipline, etc.
These things (and more) exist now in both Union, and non Union companies because of Union efforts. The non Union companies went along and provided them or were forced to by legislation to keep up with the Union standards.
The UAW has members that often do highly specialized jobs,(skills) that will not transfer easily to another company.... And the automakers have a highly cylical business that makes obscene profits in boom times. With that much money available, thay are often able to secure contracts that are unheard of in other industries.... But they usually suffer in downturns.
As for the bad actors that pop up in Unions occasionally... Whenever there is a huge pot of money available, there will be those that cannot resist partaking in it... It is part of the human condition.
I will point out that there have been PLENTY of people in the management/company side that fall into this catagory as well.
I have worked both Union and non Union, and have seen the benefits, and downsides first hand.
I believe that Unions are necessary to balance the unfettered power that companies other wise would have.
If they were to disappear from the workplace, we would see many benefits that we take for granted disappearing as well. This would go for Union and non Union workers alike.
This is false. I was fed this propaganda too until I researched it myself.
The 40 hour work week was created by Henry Ford long before his plants were unionized because he thought that his employees would buy more Model T's if they had time off to enjoy them. Henry Ford, along with Jewish(Saturday) and Christian(Sunday) religion, also played a big role in the two day weekend long before his factories were unionized.
Paid sick leave was first created in foreign countries, and is still not a law in the US even though most companies, union and non-union, give it to their employees.
Paid vacation came about because employers in the early 1900's saw that their employees having time off made them more productive.
Holiday pay is not required in the US and is up the the employers discretion. Many companies offer it for the same reason they offer vacation and sick pay, to attract workers. There have been recordings of Holiday pay in US companies long before unions were even established here.
There are many other things that unions take credit for, but had little or no impact on their implementation. Many of these things just took a natural progression as communication became more instant and the traveling time between places decreased. People were able to be more selective on where they wanted to work, and employers had to find way to entice the best employees.
Nov-05-2019 01:19 PM
ShinerBock wrote:I live in a RTW state but work in a unionized state. Yep, it costs more to live over there, but virtually every metric is better. Especially for low income groups, single women, non-whites, etc. Better education, better health care, higher income, better outcomes in general. By far in most cases. Of course, I was forced to join a union against my will and still feel a little bent about it, but my future is far better off than it would have been if I'd not crossed the border to work. It's actually VERY common around here.goducks10 wrote:
You know who loves unions? The non union workers that do the same work in the same town as union workers.
When unions leave wages drop.
A side note to this is that right to work states generally have lower cost of living and higher employment rates. It is a fact based on US data that on average non-RTW states have considerably more unions and a much higher the cost of living. A higher salary is needed to cover the higher cost of goods because the producers of those goods had to increase the salaries of their workers. It is a perpetual and never ending cycle. Another thing that increases the cost of living is taxes and regulations which most unions give to the political side that generally likes to increase these things whenever they can.
So just because the average salary is higher, does not necessarily mean they are better off when you consider all things.
Not saying that all union are bad. I am just saying that you have to take all things into account when weighing the pros and cons of it all. You can't just look at one single thing and say one is better(or worse) than the other.
Nov-05-2019 10:50 AM
Nov-05-2019 10:14 AM
Dadoffourgirls wrote:SidecarFlip wrote:Dadoffourgirls wrote:
I just hope that all the local UAW members now support all the Union Teachers in getting pay raises and no increase to their health care as well. The Teachers gave back and froze salaries just like the UAW members.
I disagree.
Especially here in Michigan with MTA as a negotiator in contracts. Considering the quality of students educators are turning out here, they need a pay cut not a raise.
Just voted NO on the local bond issue. They get enough of my tax money as it is. Show me you can actually educate students to become productive member of society and I'll consider compensating you accordingly.
as it stands, Michigan teachers aren't showing me anything but terrible SAT scores and a poor product.
I'd like to have had a job where I worked 1/2 the year and got paid for the entire year. Talk about cushy.
I wish you would educate yourself on education in Michigan. There are many issues within the education process. Slamming teachers shows me exactly what type of retired union person you are.
Hopefully all of those non-productive youngsters do not take advantage of the old guy in the neighborhood.
Nov-05-2019 08:19 AM
SidecarFlip wrote:Dadoffourgirls wrote:
I just hope that all the local UAW members now support all the Union Teachers in getting pay raises and no increase to their health care as well. The Teachers gave back and froze salaries just like the UAW members.
I disagree.
Especially here in Michigan with MTA as a negotiator in contracts. Considering the quality of students educators are turning out here, they need a pay cut not a raise.
Just voted NO on the local bond issue. They get enough of my tax money as it is. Show me you can actually educate students to become productive member of society and I'll consider compensating you accordingly.
as it stands, Michigan teachers aren't showing me anything but terrible SAT scores and a poor product.
I'd like to have had a job where I worked 1/2 the year and got paid for the entire year. Talk about cushy.
Nov-05-2019 07:47 AM
goducks10 wrote:ShinerBock wrote:goducks10 wrote:
You know who loves unions? The non union workers that do the same work in the same town as union workers.
When unions leave wages drop.
A side note to this is that right to work states generally have lower cost of living and higher employment rates. It is a fact based on US data that on average non-RTW states have considerably more unions and a much higher the cost of living. A higher salary is needed to cover the higher cost of goods because the producers of those goods had to increase the salaries of their workers. It is a perpetual and never ending cycle. Another thing that increases the cost of living is taxes and regulations which most unions give to the political side that generally likes to increase these things whenever they can.
So just because the average salary is higher, does not necessarily mean they are better off when you consider all things.
Not saying that all union are bad. I am just saying that you have to take all things into account when weighing the pros and cons of it all. You can't just look at one single thing and say one is better(or worse) than the other.
Ask those non union workers if they're getting the same benefits as their union counter parts. Earning lower wages when things are cheaper is fine except when it comes time to save for retirement.