God do I hate unions(and septa!)

[beer]

Originally posted by: hdeck

Originally posted by: beer
The campus shuttle bus drivers here are complaining that their $9.75-$13/hr wage for driving college students around in circles all day isn't enough.

If you don't like it then quit.

meh, they're just bitching because the regular metro drivers get paid more.

Here is my firing line that I submitted, which didn't get published among all the SG election/Brian Ferguson hoopla:



It would seem to me that everyone advocating greater compensation for the
shuttle workers is forgetting that Texas law requires Capital Metro to choose
the lowest bid solicited. The market has established a price that says shuttle
bus drivers are compensated at about $9-$13 an hour. If the drivers? union
wants to fight for better benefits and compensation, fine, but what happens
when Capital Metro chooses another, cheaper subcontractor? At that point
ATC/Vancom is no longer able to employ any of the workers.

Arguments have been presented that the shuttle drivers make less than
equivalent college shuttle drivers in other parts of the country, specifically in
Berkeley, California. This argument is neglecting the fact that the cost of
living in Berkeley is much greater than in Austin. Unions have a tendency to
price themselves out of labor markets if the available labor pool is large
enough, so it would be wise to tread carefully and ask yourself, ?if the pay is
so bad, why am I still here?? Another thing great about this country is that if
you don?t like your job, you can quit. If the pay is that awful and if these
drivers can make more elsewhere, more power to them. I certainly don?t want to
see my fees increase to reflect a 20% increase in their wages because some
whiny socialist liberal neglects free-market principles that have given this
country a much stronger economy with lower unemployment than anywhere else in
the world.

 

[Bv3]

Originally posted by: beer

I certainly don?t want to see my fees increase to reflect a 20% increase in their wages because some
whiny socialist liberal neglects free-market principles that have given this
country a much stronger economy with lower unemployment than anywhere else in
the world.

What possible connection can you make between unions and socialism?

Also, unions are a natural product of the free-market, not an opponent of it. When employers and employees are free to negotiate wages with each other, each side will use all the leverage available to it. How does a collective of workers bargaining together equate to neglect of free market principles?

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Bv3

Originally posted by: beer

I certainly don?t want to see my fees increase to reflect a 20% increase in their wages because some
whiny socialist liberal neglects free-market principles that have given this
country a much stronger economy with lower unemployment than anywhere else in
the world.

What possible connection can you make between unions and socialism?

Also, unions are a natural product of the free-market, not an opponent of it. When employers and employees are free to negotiate wages with each other, each side will use all the leverage available to it. How does a collective of workers bargaining together equate to neglect of free market principles?

It's a relatively unskilled union. They are artificially inflating the value of their labor and making demands that are almost unreasonable. This is especially true when your employer solely functions 100% as a subcontractor to a government agency that has to pick the lowest bidder, by law.

 

[Siddhartha]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Ok, those of you around Philly have heard of the Septa strike, which was just averted. Its ridiculous. They take tokens or drive busses, and they are whining because Septa wants to charge them part of their medical insurance? Give me a break, its not like you have a real job. Yes, its necessary, but it is not skilled at all. They were going to strike because of this, Septa gave them a one year deal where they keep the free benifits, AND get a $1000 bonus. To 4700 employees. And some of the workers are STILL saying that they aren't satisfied! God do i hate unions.

Yeah, they should be happy they have jobs! So what if the new medical "benefits" structures increase their costs by thousands of dollars. They should shut the fvck up and get a second job to pay for the health care.

 

[jjyiz28]

i don't have probs w/skilled labor unions, but unskilled crap like driving busses, packing grocery, they are overvaluing themselves.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Xede

However, with very few exceptions, your employer is not your friend. They will take advantage of you at every available opportunity.

As an employee, no employer can "take advantage" of me. If I don't like what they offer me, I quit and look for a different job.

Unions are inefficient. They artificially inflate wages and provide havens for workers unable or unwilling to earn those same wages based on individual accomplishment and productivity. In the long run, artificially high union wages just raise prices for us all.

Agreed.

BTW-I am 37 years old. I've never worked for a union in my life. I did cross the picket lines during the supermarket strike. I don't give a rats ass about some banana scanner who is being asked to help pay for their healthcare.

 

[milagro]

Just another point I'd like to bring up regarding all these healthcare related strikes. In a lot of instances these unions are covered 100% by the companies they work for. This type of arrangement can become abusive to the parenting company as the workers and there families will see their doctor's as frequently as desired because there's no cost to them. By shouldering a portion of the cost, they may make more prudent decisions when making healthcare decisions (e.g. generic vs. namebrand, more excercise/fewer visits etc.) and help keep various healthcare costs from skyrocketing further...

All you anti union people need to quit whining. Most of you have no idea what goes on in a union or what they even stand for.

well you don't appear to be doing anything to offset our perceived "ignorance".... what do we need to do..band together and paypal you 10% of our incomes to get decent dialogue?

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: dartworth
All you anti union people need to quit whining. Most of you have no idea what goes on in a union or what they even stand for.

Also, you cannot lump all unions in the the same category. That is just ignorance, of course many of you just talk out of your ass anyways.

What are you talking about? I've seen a lot of mafia-related movies!

 

[milagro]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: dartworth
All you anti union people need to quit whining. Most of you have no idea what goes on in a union or what they even stand for.

Also, you cannot lump all unions in the the same category. That is just ignorance, of course many of you just talk out of your ass anyways.

What are you talking about? I've seen a lot of mafia-related movies!

Ok this can not be blanketed across all unions, but I speak from firsthand knowledge that a union members from a large telecom headquartered in New York has issued death threats over labor disputes...not uncommon at all, though from what i"ve seen, largely occurs in the east coast...