Jump to content
GreaseSpot Cafe

Nationwide Strike


Abigail
 Share

Recommended Posts

Errr, no. Reality Check. Unions haven't served that purpose for decades.

...but I'm glad that it's over and folks can go back to work...

Tom, I would agree that in many instances unions have failed to do what they were supposed to do. I would even agree that many Federal and State laws have reduced and in some instances eliminated the need for a union. However, I would not agree that all unions are now unnecessary.

I think, hope, and pray that this strike has sent a very strong message not only to GM, but to the entire manufacturing industry. Even more importantly, I hope and pray it has sent a very strong message to our government regarding free trade and the very negative impact it has had on our country. Finally, I hope and pray it has sent a very strong message to our government regarding the very real need for some kind of healthcare reform to reign in the nearly impossible to pay cost of insurance.

Edited by Abigail
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It seems to me that Unions are needed when dealing with large companies such as shipping companies, for instance. Also, in construction, when doing big jobs for really big companies like Bechtel Corporation (they build the world man) who build things like federal missile sites, etc, a Union is needed. One of the things that has really hurt big companies is not the high wages and benefits that Unions command for the workers, but rather the frivolous lawsuits that Union members have leveled against these big companies.

And now, something in favor of the Companies has been done. Basically, when working for any company that is big and is Union, there has been more and more requirements for each worker to take "mini-seminars" on various safety issues. Issues like "ladder safety", "trips and falls", "electrical safety", "sexual harrassment", "scaffold safety", etc, etc. And after one has completed these various "courses", that one then has to sign what basically amounts to a "release form" which relinquishes the employer from any fault since the employee had been properly trained and signed his name to said training. This certainly has not stopped all frivolous law suits, but it has helped the companies deal with frivolous law suits to a large degree.

And I am highly in favor of it. When I worked for Bechtel in Delta Junction Alaska at the Fort Greeley Ground Based Missile Defense System,

( http://www.boeing.com/ids/news/2004/photor...pr_040722n.html )

I spent a whole first day for eight hours taking a safety seminar complete with all of the release forms to fill out before I could begin work the next day. And also, the Company (Bechtel) has on their payroll "Safety Officers" who walk around and make sure that the workers when up high are wearing a safety harness, or that they are wearing their gloves, or that they are wearing their safety glasses at all times. It gets pretty obnoxious, really, but the company has saved millions in law suits by avoiding injuries by spending more to educate and enforce the safety regs. We even did stretch exercises in the morning (at forty below!) like the Japanese. And, it was worth it to me, because I was taking home $2200.00 a week for three months straight. I love working Union....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Garth -- you need to learn to read what (is written) that you quote,

before making statements to the contrary,

that negate what you quoted. :)

(Ps -- I said one thing -- and after quoting it, you assumed I said something else).

:nono5:

I stand corrected. ((bows))

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lets talk unions in the construction trades.

The wages that many of the unionized workers get is not a problem. They are skilled labor and work well to getting the job done right.

The problem is the work rules and regulations. Having a foreman for every five workers. Buying tools for each job. Restrictions at what they can do. No I can't change that. We need to stop work and wait till the electrician gets here to do 10 minutes of work. Doesn't mater that 8 hours of work time was wasted waiting.

The unions are getting better but still cause more cost problems than what they save.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...