The problem with the unions is that they were started by the right people, but taken over by the wrong people. They started with all the best intentions, many movements do. They become corrupt when the ambitious, the impatient, and sometimes just downright selfish, rise to the top. They rise because of that ambition- they bully their way to power. Those with the initial ‘best intentions’ get pushed aside. It’s a shame. The unions got a black eye when the wrong people grabbed leadership away from the right people. Why didn’t the right people fight back? Far, far fewer of them are fighters. That’s the rare few who took on the original foe. but left us because life here is only temporary.
What’s the difference between a CEO and a Union Leader? The CEO wears a custom tailored pinstriped suit and arrived in a Lincoln. A union Leader wears a custom tailored solid suit and arrived in a Cadillac! They may have been useful at one point but now they simply drain money out of the meager paycheck the employee makes. Unions are Big Business themselves. I hae never seen a union make a difference. As a teacher they promised to stand behind us and that is what they did, stand behind us instead of in front.
My only dealings with unions has been from the outside looking in. For the most part I have found that I have had to wait…and wait and wait for the union people to arrive to do the job I could have done in 10 min 2 hours earlier. Only for them to get flippant with me if I actually do it myself and require me to undo it so they can come back when they feel like it to redo it. on and that 10 min job for me always seems to take them a good 30-45 mins…
I agree that at one time unions were very much needed but believe that now the Unions are actually impeding companies growth and work output. There time has passed.
I’m an orchestra musician, and in our field, we still need the American Federation of Musicians very much. Orchestra management is notorious for treating musicians unfairly and even with contempt. They’ll mismanage funds and say there’s no money for payroll, and they’ll threaten shut downs, and they’ll try to push pay cut after pay cut, deny benefits, you name it. All while the musicians must spend thousands of dollars on their equipment, and spend hours and hours every day in unpaid practice time.
x_Tech over 8 years ago
I heard that three years in a row so I started taking vacation days whenever.
Flash Gordon over 8 years ago
That’s why we need unions. I was a union member (IBEW) during my 36½ years at the phone company. Union yes.
Plods with ...™ over 8 years ago
…you mean the one with paid plane tickets and hotel reservations? What about it?
Thomas Scott Roberts creator over 8 years ago
The problem with the unions is that they were started by the right people, but taken over by the wrong people. They started with all the best intentions, many movements do. They become corrupt when the ambitious, the impatient, and sometimes just downright selfish, rise to the top. They rise because of that ambition- they bully their way to power. Those with the initial ‘best intentions’ get pushed aside. It’s a shame. The unions got a black eye when the wrong people grabbed leadership away from the right people. Why didn’t the right people fight back? Far, far fewer of them are fighters. That’s the rare few who took on the original foe. but left us because life here is only temporary.
Sportymonk over 8 years ago
What’s the difference between a CEO and a Union Leader? The CEO wears a custom tailored pinstriped suit and arrived in a Lincoln. A union Leader wears a custom tailored solid suit and arrived in a Cadillac! They may have been useful at one point but now they simply drain money out of the meager paycheck the employee makes. Unions are Big Business themselves. I hae never seen a union make a difference. As a teacher they promised to stand behind us and that is what they did, stand behind us instead of in front.
Wenthral over 8 years ago
My only dealings with unions has been from the outside looking in. For the most part I have found that I have had to wait…and wait and wait for the union people to arrive to do the job I could have done in 10 min 2 hours earlier. Only for them to get flippant with me if I actually do it myself and require me to undo it so they can come back when they feel like it to redo it. on and that 10 min job for me always seems to take them a good 30-45 mins…
I agree that at one time unions were very much needed but believe that now the Unions are actually impeding companies growth and work output. There time has passed.
belgarathmth over 8 years ago
I’m an orchestra musician, and in our field, we still need the American Federation of Musicians very much. Orchestra management is notorious for treating musicians unfairly and even with contempt. They’ll mismanage funds and say there’s no money for payroll, and they’ll threaten shut downs, and they’ll try to push pay cut after pay cut, deny benefits, you name it. All while the musicians must spend thousands of dollars on their equipment, and spend hours and hours every day in unpaid practice time.
bikamper over 8 years ago
My boss found out how scary I can be the first time he pulled that.
ChrisV over 8 years ago
God I hope I don’t hear my boss say this anytime soon. I’ve got 2 vacation weekends coming up.
jmcenanly over 8 years ago
I had just read where some places use an employees vacation time to audit his work