It seems

[Champane Flight]

It seems that Mike and I agree on somethings! I do believe the Unions of America should have a hand in the training and safety issues of the American and foriegn worker. I believe that a Union that can sit down and negotiate, instead of strike will sooner or later get a contract. I also believe the hardcore anti-union boys will get cut sooner or later. Especially if they open their mouths up to often in front of management. The Unions had better get more weapons, or they will be gone very soon. A strike does not work as well as it used to, there are too many scabs ready to cross.



Do I respect the worker who crosses the picketline of a legitimate strike? NO I do not. Management has to cross, but the scabs do not.

 

[parcher]

There's a union hall on my way to work, beautiful place! Seems I remember union members picketing during construction, IT WAS BUILT WITH NON-UNION LABOR! A classic case of "Do as I say, not as I do"

 

[QRTRHRS]

Former IBEW

Perhaps if my union had spent less time protecting the deadbeats and more time representing those with less than 30 or 40 years, I might still be gainfully employed in the semiconductor industry. Maybe in the next life... .

 

[parcher]

The problem is that the union sees all of its members as equal, when in fact, there are hard workers and deadbeats in every group. I know a few of the deadbeats who spend more time working the system than working!

 

[merryman]

I go on an annual camping/fishing/varmint hunting trip with several firefighters and retired firefighters.

One of the guys is a very enthusiastic union supporter. On the side some of the other guys tell me he is really not a competent firefighter, and that had the union not gone to bat for him several times over the years, he would have been long gone. I have wondered how he got through probation, but maybe just made a real good effort then.

I guess in protecting the good member, they also protect those that should not be protected---when it comes to emergency services thats not so good for the public.



Vaughn

 

[Champane Flight]

Deadbeats or different?

I have seen some within a Union workforce take managments side and call a worker a deadbeat. Being a stewardfor a number of years I have seen several cases that might interest. One guy was busted for picking up two used nuts and bolts from the workbench and putting them in his pocket. The boss tells him that is stealing and he puts them back. This man had 15 years with the company and NO sick timefor over one year. The boss came down on him from that time on and finally got rid of him. He was different, if you wanted something done yesterday, you didn't want him on the job. He would get it done and done right, it just took him longer. He was fired for being different.



I have known men who worked for our company for 10 years plus and did a good job, then something went snap, and they started useing sick pay, and filing grievances. Others that worked twenty years with no problems and suddenly had the boss after them.



The problem with perception is that everyone sees things different, who might be a good worker,is just fast, and screws things up to be fixed later. And then a slow worker who does things right, but takes twice as long. The next time you hear of someone being a poor worker, look at the source and make your own decision.



I used to have to give the boss reports on new hires during probation periods. I hated it, but did it fairly. We went through several new hires in the last ten years. It is a bear because it takes close to a year and a half to train in all positions. Not to mention the paper involved. We only have a 90 day probation, hard to see all of an employee in that period.



So in short, I have seen cases where no one really knew an employee, yet formed an opinion on them on heresay.