Still Like Unions?

saintfan · 11-17-2011, 07:15 PM

Don't read into this that I'm backing Romney (or anybody else for that matter), but DO read into this my disdain for Unions.

This IS what Unions have become in America. This was NOT their original intent, but nevertheless, this is what Union labor is all about in the United States. If this doesn't piss you all the way off you have no soul...

Obama Isn't Working: Labor | Mitt Romney for President

SmashMouth · 11-17-2011, 08:08 PM

No worries, brother. The election is closer than you realize. ?.

Srgt. Hulka · 11-17-2011, 11:04 PM

I worked in the local GM plant here in Shreveport one Summer. I was hired to test drive the new trucks as they came off the line, then download information off the computer. I double checked with the job agency before I went to work out there to make sure what I was going to be doing was cleared with the union. They assured me that it had. The day I arrived for work, the union had a fit that I was there to do a union job. I ended up doing some menial clerical, non-union job for three months during the summer. Now, during my summer that I worked there, I spent the whole time in the plant. The area I worked in was right next to the welding shop. Now, I noticed one day soon after I started that the welders wern't doing anything. Just sitting reading novels. So I started watching them. The welders sat on their welding carts all day, every day reading. Maybe once a day, they would get a call on their radio from someone needing a repair. The welders would slowly close their books, lay them down, get comfortable in their carts, start them up and slowly drive off. They would be gone about 15 minutes and then they would return. They would back their carts back into the welding bay, turn them off, get comfortable, pick up their books, and start reading again. That's it. That is what they did all day, every day. They didn't clean their area. They didn't do anything but sit on that cart all day and read novels. They did nothing else. Now I don't know what a welder makes in a General Motors plant, but I know it's probably quite a bit of money. Because of unions, these guys do ONE job and one job only. Now, every person in the building was like that. One job and one job only, and we're talking thousands of people. I learned that summer what unions were all about and why cars cost so much and the craftmanship sucks. These people have no competition for their jobs, no motivation to improve their jobs and no chance of losing their jobs if they screw up.
Unions once had a place in this country, and did a good job of protecting worker's rights. But that time is long gone. All unions are about now is to syphon as much money as they can from employers and union members, while getting over-inflated salaries and over-inflated pensions for as little work as possible.
I have never been a member of a unoin, nor will I ever be a member of a union. Unins are one of the main reasons the United States is losing jobs by the millions to China, Indonesia and Korea. The unions have priced our labor and products out of reach, so the jobs and manufacturing are sent overseas.

saintfan · 11-18-2011, 12:02 AM

Originally Posted by Srgt. Hulka

I worked in the local GM plant here in Shreveport one Summer. I was hired to test drive the new trucks as they came off the line, then download information off the computer. I double checked with the job agency before I went to work out there to make sure what I was going to be doing was cleared with the union. They assured me that it had. The day I arrived for work, the union had a fit that I was there to do a union job. I ended up doing some menial clerical, non-union job for three months during the summer. Now, during my summer that I worked there, I spent the whole time in the plant. The area I worked in was right next to the welding shop. Now, I noticed one day soon after I started that the welders wern't doing anything. Just sitting reading novels. So I started watching them. The welders sat on their welding carts all day, every day reading. Maybe once a day, they would get a call on their radio from someone needing a repair. The welders would slowly close their books, lay them down, get comfortable in their carts, start them up and slowly drive off. They would be gone about 15 minutes and then they would return. They would back their carts back into the welding bay, turn them off, get comfortable, pick up their books, and start reading again. That's it. That is what they did all day, every day. They didn't clean their area. They didn't do anything but sit on that cart all day and read novels. They did nothing else. Now I don't know what a welder makes in a General Motors plant, but I know it's probably quite a bit of money. Because of unions, these guys do ONE job and one job only. Now, every person in the building was like that. One job and one job only, and we're talking thousands of people. I learned that summer what unions were all about and why cars cost so much and the craftmanship sucks. These people have no competition for their jobs, no motivation to improve their jobs and no chance of losing their jobs if they screw up.
Unions once had a place in this country, and did a good job of protecting worker's rights. But that time is long gone. All unions are about now is to syphon as much money as they can from employers and union members, while getting over-inflated salaries and over-inflated pensions for as little work as possible.
I have never been a member of a unoin, nor will I ever be a member of a union. Unins are one of the main reasons the United States is losing jobs by the millions to China, Indonesia and Korea. The unions have priced our labor and products out of reach, so the jobs and manufacturing are sent overseas.

Good read Hulka...I've never worked for a Union either. A co-workers wife does, and he can't talk about it without feeling guilty. It's a damn sad shame what they have become. Thanks for sharing your story.

phatoosdey · 11-18-2011, 08:49 PM

As a union electrician working in the bay area... Yes I still do like unions.
I'm aware there are obvious flaws but I believe they still serve a very important role in skilled labor. Yeah if we all worked in sweatshop as they do abroad our jobs wouldn't have went overseas. Not sure that's a better solution. Sorry for wanting a decent hourly wage, I hope we can still be friends.

saintfan · 11-18-2011, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by phatoosdey

As a union electrician working in the bay area... Yes I still do like unions.
I'm aware there are obvious flaws but I believe they still serve a very important role in skilled labor. Yeah if we all worked in sweatshop as they do abroad our jobs wouldn't have went overseas. Not sure that's a better solution. Sorry for wanting a decent hourly wage, I hope we can still be friends.

I think it's the "obvious flaws" that are the problem.

SmashMouth · 11-18-2011, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by phatoosdey

As a union electrician working in the bay area... Yes I still do like unions.
I'm aware there are obvious flaws but I believe they still serve a very important role in skilled labor. Yeah if we all worked in sweatshop as they do abroad our jobs wouldn't have went overseas. Not sure that's a better solution. Sorry for wanting a decent hourly wage, I hope we can still be friends.

Then fix those flaws and don't force others whom do not want to join, don't hold hostage good working people's money by stealing their money and spending it on guys like the head of aflcio and let people decide!

homerj07 · 11-19-2011, 12:14 AM

Does anyone live in an area where you don't have unions OR the unions you have do not have any real teeth?

Florida is what is called a "Right to Work State" meaning police, fire & teachers can have unions BUT they can not strike.

This has not stopped the fire people form abusing the privilage. BUT teachers in my area have not seen a raise in 5 years.

Yes many unions have HUGE faults. BUT we would be really screwed w/o some type of control over businesses.

Cruize · 11-19-2011, 08:28 AM

Our entire system has become horribly flawed top to bottom. One day it will crash.

QBREES9 · 11-20-2011, 12:05 AM

I'm a Union Photographer and PROUD of it. If we didn't have a UNION those ASS JACKS would make me work 10 hours a day. They would have me Report, Shoot pictures, edit the pictures and run the live truck.

Not all Unions are bad but not all are good.

11-17-2011, 07:15 PM	#1
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Still Like Unions? Don't read into this that I'm backing Romney (or anybody else for that matter), but DO read into this my disdain for Unions. This IS what Unions have become in America. This was NOT their original intent, but nevertheless, this is what Union labor is all about in the United States. If this doesn't piss you all the way off you have no soul... Obama Isn't Working: Labor \| Mitt Romney for President

11-17-2011, 11:04 PM	#3
Srgt. Hulka 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shreveport, LA Posts: 4,417	I worked in the local GM plant here in Shreveport one Summer. I was hired to test drive the new trucks as they came off the line, then download information off the computer. I double checked with the job agency before I went to work out there to make sure what I was going to be doing was cleared with the union. They assured me that it had. The day I arrived for work, the union had a fit that I was there to do a union job. I ended up doing some menial clerical, non-union job for three months during the summer. Now, during my summer that I worked there, I spent the whole time in the plant. The area I worked in was right next to the welding shop. Now, I noticed one day soon after I started that the welders wern't doing anything. Just sitting reading novels. So I started watching them. The welders sat on their welding carts all day, every day reading. Maybe once a day, they would get a call on their radio from someone needing a repair. The welders would slowly close their books, lay them down, get comfortable in their carts, start them up and slowly drive off. They would be gone about 15 minutes and then they would return. They would back their carts back into the welding bay, turn them off, get comfortable, pick up their books, and start reading again. That's it. That is what they did all day, every day. They didn't clean their area. They didn't do anything but sit on that cart all day and read novels. They did nothing else. Now I don't know what a welder makes in a General Motors plant, but I know it's probably quite a bit of money. Because of unions, these guys do ONE job and one job only. Now, every person in the building was like that. One job and one job only, and we're talking thousands of people. I learned that summer what unions were all about and why cars cost so much and the craftmanship sucks. These people have no competition for their jobs, no motivation to improve their jobs and no chance of losing their jobs if they screw up. Unions once had a place in this country, and did a good job of protecting worker's rights. But that time is long gone. All unions are about now is to syphon as much money as they can from employers and union members, while getting over-inflated salaries and over-inflated pensions for as little work as possible. I have never been a member of a unoin, nor will I ever be a member of a union. Unins are one of the main reasons the United States is losing jobs by the millions to China, Indonesia and Korea. The unions have priced our labor and products out of reach, so the jobs and manufacturing are sent overseas. saintfan likes this.

11-18-2011, 12:02 AM	#4
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Originally Posted by Srgt. Hulka I worked in the local GM plant here in Shreveport one Summer. I was hired to test drive the new trucks as they came off the line, then download information off the computer. I double checked with the job agency before I went to work out there to make sure what I was going to be doing was cleared with the union. They assured me that it had. The day I arrived for work, the union had a fit that I was there to do a union job. I ended up doing some menial clerical, non-union job for three months during the summer. Now, during my summer that I worked there, I spent the whole time in the plant. The area I worked in was right next to the welding shop. Now, I noticed one day soon after I started that the welders wern't doing anything. Just sitting reading novels. So I started watching them. The welders sat on their welding carts all day, every day reading. Maybe once a day, they would get a call on their radio from someone needing a repair. The welders would slowly close their books, lay them down, get comfortable in their carts, start them up and slowly drive off. They would be gone about 15 minutes and then they would return. They would back their carts back into the welding bay, turn them off, get comfortable, pick up their books, and start reading again. That's it. That is what they did all day, every day. They didn't clean their area. They didn't do anything but sit on that cart all day and read novels. They did nothing else. Now I don't know what a welder makes in a General Motors plant, but I know it's probably quite a bit of money. Because of unions, these guys do ONE job and one job only. Now, every person in the building was like that. One job and one job only, and we're talking thousands of people. I learned that summer what unions were all about and why cars cost so much and the craftmanship sucks. These people have no competition for their jobs, no motivation to improve their jobs and no chance of losing their jobs if they screw up. Unions once had a place in this country, and did a good job of protecting worker's rights. But that time is long gone. All unions are about now is to syphon as much money as they can from employers and union members, while getting over-inflated salaries and over-inflated pensions for as little work as possible. I have never been a member of a unoin, nor will I ever be a member of a union. Unins are one of the main reasons the United States is losing jobs by the millions to China, Indonesia and Korea. The unions have priced our labor and products out of reach, so the jobs and manufacturing are sent overseas. Good read Hulka...I've never worked for a Union either. A co-workers wife does, and he can't talk about it without feeling guilty. It's a damn sad shame what they have become. Thanks for sharing your story.

11-18-2011, 08:49 PM	#5
phatoosdey Drunkagen Join Date: May 2007 Location: kenner Posts: 356	As a union electrician working in the bay area... Yes I still do like unions. I'm aware there are obvious flaws but I believe they still serve a very important role in skilled labor. Yeah if we all worked in sweatshop as they do abroad our jobs wouldn't have went overseas. Not sure that's a better solution. Sorry for wanting a decent hourly wage, I hope we can still be friends. homerj07 likes this.

11-18-2011, 08:55 PM	#6
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Originally Posted by phatoosdey As a union electrician working in the bay area... Yes I still do like unions. I'm aware there are obvious flaws but I believe they still serve a very important role in skilled labor. Yeah if we all worked in sweatshop as they do abroad our jobs wouldn't have went overseas. Not sure that's a better solution. Sorry for wanting a decent hourly wage, I hope we can still be friends. I think it's the "obvious flaws" that are the problem.

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11-17-2011, 08:08 PM	#2
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,200 Blog Entries: 29	No worries, brother. The election is closer than you realize. ?.

11-18-2011, 09:51 PM	#7
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,200 Blog Entries: 29	Originally Posted by phatoosdey As a union electrician working in the bay area... Yes I still do like unions. I'm aware there are obvious flaws but I believe they still serve a very important role in skilled labor. Yeah if we all worked in sweatshop as they do abroad our jobs wouldn't have went overseas. Not sure that's a better solution. Sorry for wanting a decent hourly wage, I hope we can still be friends. Then fix those flaws and don't force others whom do not want to join, don't hold hostage good working people's money by stealing their money and spending it on guys like the head of aflcio and let people decide! saintfan likes this.

11-19-2011, 12:14 AM	#8
homerj07 In Doh We Trust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 7,027 Blog Entries: 16	Does anyone live in an area where you don't have unions OR the unions you have do not have any real teeth? Florida is what is called a "Right to Work State" meaning police, fire & teachers can have unions BUT they can not strike. This has not stopped the fire people form abusing the privilage. BUT teachers in my area have not seen a raise in 5 years. Yes many unions have HUGE faults. BUT we would be really screwed w/o some type of control over businesses.

11-19-2011, 08:28 AM	#9
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,457	Our entire system has become horribly flawed top to bottom. One day it will crash.
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,457

11-20-2011, 12:05 AM	#10
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,985	I'm a Union Photographer and PROUD of it. If we didn't have a UNION those ASS JACKS would make me work 10 hours a day. They would have me Report, Shoot pictures, edit the pictures and run the live truck. Not all Unions are bad but not all are good. Crusader and strato like this.