Forum Overview :: Beer, Curry and Vomit
 
I don't know what to think about unions, really. by Fussbett 09/04/2004, 1:51pm PDT
Zseni wrote:

It sounds like Canuck unions are even more intrusive and vocal than US ones are. I should like to say, though, that my union steward was right there before anyone else, pulling the hose off and scoffing loudly at the managers who asked if I felt like I could work for the rest of the shift and advising me about going on light duty. And that steward doesn't even like me! Was it worth the Robin Hood-esque bounty of union dues I pay? No, but the Taiwanese physical therapist who electrocuted my lower leg and gave me eerie reassurances that "it will only feel 'weird' for a while, and then you will just feel cold." probably cost more than I make in a month anyway.

Why so down on the extravagances of unions? Fussbett: secret supply-side sympathizer?

I am indeed very pro free market economics, and since I'm also liberal on social issues, my brain does heat up a bit where unions are concerned as I try to sort out my feelings about them. I've basically arrived at "necessary evil" or sometimes "pendulum has swung too far", because while great in theory, you know, teamsters. On the flip side, it's disappointing when the unions let the corporations do the big things like move jobs out of the country. Those are the things that unions should be trying to stop, but instead they're concerned about benefit rate hikes and not getting raises in step with inflation.

Basically anytime I hear someone complain about their job I advise them to look for another job. Unions are the opposite, and act like everyone is trapped. Unions have the ability to bully their employer which just rubs me the wrong way. It creates an atmosphere of "us versus them" like I have never seen before I worked a union job. The employer being a dick, but sticking to the letter of the law, and the employees being lazy jerks, but sticking to the letter of the law. Of course, I don't see life from the perspective of a single ESL mother who can't just walk across the street to another factory job. To her I guess it's great that they went on strike and got a 2.9% pay raise, because she doesn't have a lot of other options.

I should also point out that my union experience happened in the post office, so that's a confluence of several negatives: civil servants, post office, union. It's an extreme case. Seniors sat at the back and processed 10% of the letters that us temps did, yet the supervisors rode the temps for increased production all the time. The fulltimers were never told what to do and the seniors were completely untouchable as they counted the days to pension. I was being paid $17/hour, fresh out of high school, which is RIDICULOUS. Right now my tax money is paying some kid probably $19/hour to sort letters and that kills me. Of course the hardworking father of three who has been there 20 years is only making $21/hour, which I also dislike about the unions. The "every man is created equal" aspect that rewards seniority over ability and effort. It ensures that no one excels or tries harder because there is no getting ahead. The bare minimum effort will ensure the same incremental pay raise as busting your ass.

Shop stewards. I totally forgot about them. Fucking hall monitors, of course they're all dicks.
PREVIOUS NEXT REPLY QUOTE
 
Well I snapped my ankle at my blue collar job (damage report, country music) by Zseni 09/02/2004, 7:26pm PDT NEW
    I worked a union job once. by Fussbett 09/02/2004, 8:46pm PDT NEW
        Re: I worked a union job once. by Zseni 09/02/2004, 10:32pm PDT NEW
            I don't know what to think about unions, really. by Fussbett 09/04/2004, 1:51pm PDT NEW
                Unions! (long!) by Zseni 09/05/2004, 10:32am PDT NEW
                    Re: Unions! (long!) by Ray of Light 09/05/2004, 12:44pm PDT NEW
                    ANECDOTAL WAR by Fussbett 09/05/2004, 2:00pm PDT NEW
                        A+ for the mouse-overs NT by William H. Hayt, Jr. 09/05/2004, 3:22pm PDT NEW
                        SLOBS VS SNOBS! by Zseni 09/05/2004, 6:27pm PDT NEW
                            Re: SLOBS VS SNOBS! by E. L. Koba 09/06/2004, 11:38am PDT NEW
                                Re: SLOBS VS SNOBS! by Zseni 09/06/2004, 12:34pm PDT NEW
                                    I got a 'load of whites' for ya NT by Construction Site Guy 09/06/2004, 1:05pm PDT NEW
                                        AYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY by Andrew Dice Clay 09/06/2004, 7:44pm PDT NEW
                            I'm replying now. by Fussbett 09/08/2004, 10:20pm PDT NEW
            Re: I worked a union job once. by Creexul :( 09/04/2004, 5:59pm PDT NEW
                Re: I worked a union job once. by Kahimi Kerry 09/04/2004, 6:35pm PDT NEW
                    =( NT by Creexul :( 09/04/2004, 6:49pm PDT NEW
                        Wow this guy was so upset he added my own reply for me? by Creexul :( 09/06/2004, 6:40pm PDT NEW
                            That was the last straw! by Kahimi Kerry 09/06/2004, 8:14pm PDT NEW
                                Shut the fuck up, worm. NT by Kahimi Kerry 09/06/2004, 10:51pm PDT NEW
                                    This is a fake, please ban them. NT by Kahimi Kerry 09/06/2004, 11:32pm PDT NEW
                                        Because that's something that happens here. NT by Kahimi Kerry 09/07/2004, 12:26am PDT NEW
                                            Don't blame me, I'm not the fag. NT by Kahimi Kerry 09/07/2004, 9:36am PDT NEW
                                                OR THE VAG! NT by Creexul :( 09/07/2004, 10:12am PDT NEW
                                Horrible! Stop writing immediately. NT by I need clarification 09/07/2004, 12:02pm PDT NEW
                                    Follow up. by Creexul :( 09/07/2004, 7:16pm PDT NEW
                                        Solipsist ---------> NT by Creexul :( 09/07/2004, 11:30pm PDT NEW
                                            I don't even know what that means. What? Oh yeah. And I don't care. NT by Creexul :( 09/07/2004, 11:59pm PDT NEW
                                                Creexul, master of internet, unable to locate by Dictionary.com 09/08/2004, 7:50am PDT NEW
                                                    Dictionary.com just called you stupid, Creex. NT by I need clarification 09/08/2004, 11:49am PDT NEW
                                                        Oh, If only Caltrops cred was money. NT by Equifax 09/08/2004, 12:20pm PDT NEW
                                                            Yes, we're all here to make money. I suggest you stop a few posts ago. NT by I need clarification 09/08/2004, 2:45pm PDT NEW
                                                                No, some of us seem to be here to suck each other off. NT by Equifax 09/08/2004, 3:32pm PDT NEW
                                            Dude, you just got totally smoked by Clippy here. NT by Fullofkittens 09/08/2004, 8:35am PDT NEW
                                Vampire ---------> NT by Kahimi Kerry 09/07/2004, 3:17pm PDT NEW
    Awesome news about Vag! by Tito 09/02/2004, 9:27pm PDT NEW
    zenisie's secret identity: fred durst. NT by Creexul :( 09/06/2004, 10:03pm PDT NEW
 
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