Real World

[Tusc]

Does anyone else look poorly on most unions which make noise in these trying times?

I support unions when they step up to the plate when employees are being abused. Say, when retirement funds are found to have been SPENT illegally or significant things like utter cancellation of health bennies. But when they strike and raise **** and everyone starts repeating blanket statement rhetoric about living wage and rights... when the company they work for is going towards the crapper... and they have better salaries and benefits than most people already... that really chaps my bum.

I haven't had a day off in over a year. I work 16-18 hours per day, and then I have an hour commute if I'm not at the barn. I work on my wife's business where I shovel horse poop and do hard labor all hours of the day. Two days a week I work at Geek Squad to cover some basic bills after working the barn, and two days a week I am now dedicating to starting my own business. Per hour worked, I earn an average of $1.14. I do not accept or participate in any government hand-outs. I do not collect any bills from former employers. My wife and I do live with family. I do apply to jobs daily, where despite working connections, making personal appearances to apply, etc. I cannot regain access to my former healthcare management career. The turnover has virtually stopped in this market, which I would think would be the reverse situation.

So I probably severed one of those old Facebook friends from high school today when I slammed an ignorant rant pretty hard for their organizing a strike where the main grievance was the company wanted to renegotiate their retirement matching policy. I'm not saying that doesn't **** in and of itself, but it was a declaration to negotiate. Not a declaration of strict policy change to remove all matching or funding at all. I guess everyone has to have their cake and eat it, too.

America. Where did the balls go?

Money for Nothing

**Mods - sorry, this was meant for sneaky pete's forum

 

[Ratical2]

I have a stronger opinion on the subject than you...Unions have gone full circle and become the problem....they are one of the driving forces that is destroying America!

 

[J&R3xV10]

I regretably work in a union job and I agree. I get so tired of the lazy, good for nothing, loser, idiots that I am forced to work with complaining about how poor and misstreated they think they are! It really gets me upset when I see some **** doing 1/10th of what I do but getting the same pay. Its sad that as a supervisor I have to work twice as hard to cover for the dumb pricks on my crew because I can't trust them to do half the work required of them. Worst of all most of the people in similar positions as me make more money in the long run since we are hourly and I get in and get out while they milk it like a dairy cow.

 

[plumcrazy]

I have a stronger opinion on the subject than you...Unions have gone full circle and become the problem....they are one of the driving forces that is destroying America!

exactly.

i dont like any kind of entitlement and people who think they deserve a raise in times when a LOT of people are losing their job and working harder/more hours for the same or less pay.

in construction i see a lot of wasted money, most comes from union labor.

teachers unions are the worst, dont get me started on part time workers...lol

 

[musclenutz]

I have a stronger opinion on the subject than you...Unions have gone full circle and become the problem....they are one of the driving forces that is destroying America!

I agree,way back when the unions were trying to form for the coal miners,my father thought it was a great thing and it was at that time. The unions saved many coal miners from being oppressed and they made life just a little better for miners and their families. Now they have become a shady organization akin to the mob. Politics and money have become the norm. The unions have changed so much from the early days. My cousin who was a coal miner and union man for over thirty five years is disillusioned with the union and told me it does more harm than good now. He tells me in his and many other umwa members eyes,we would be better off without them now. I am just glad i moved away from the coal mines as a young man and found work up North.

 

[Ratical2]

The Hand that Feeds the Democrats
Just in case anyone wonders why Obama and his cronies are so hot to support labor unions, particularly government employee unions, check out the contributions.


Leading Union Political Campaign Contributors
1990-2010
Democrats Republicans

American Fed. of State, County, & Municipal Employees
$40,281,900 $547,700

Intel Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
$29,705,600 $ 679,000

National Education Association
$27,679,300 $2,005,200

Service Employees International Union
$26,368,470 $98,700

Communication Workers of America
$26,305,500 $125,300

Service Employees International Union
$26,252,000 $1,086,200

Laborers Union
$25,734,000 $2,138,000

American Federation of Teachers
$25,682,800 $200,000

United Auto Workers
$25,082,200 $182,700

Teamsters Union
$24,926,400 $1,822,000

Carpenters and Joiners Union
$24,094,100 $2,658,000

Machinists & Aerospace Workers Union
$23,875,600 $226,300

United Food and Commercial Workers Union
$23,182,000 $334,200

AFL-CIO
$17,124,300 $ 713,500

Sheet Metal Workers Union
$16,347,200 $342,800

Plumbers & Pipefitters Union
$14,790,000 $818,500

Operating Engineers Union
$13,840,000 $ 2,309,500

Airline Pilots Association
$12,806,600 $2,398,300

International Association of Firefighters
$12,421,700 $2,685,400

United Transportation Workers
$11,807,000 $1,459,300

Ironworkers Union
$11,638,900 $936,000

American Postal Workers Union
$11,633,100 $544,300

Nat'l Active & Retired Fed. Employees Association
$8,135,400 $2,294,600

Seafarers International Union
$6,726,800 $1,281,300

Source: Center for Responsive Politics, Washington , D.C.


That is a heck of lot of money! Where does it come from????? Think about that one for second or two!

 

[JohnnyViper]

yikes, I think unions are good for those that are members but for the general public its a drain on the system and their pockets