So I had a union grievance filed against me....

[bignateyk]

Just pointing out there are plenty that don't take care of their employees. For every Google there's an Enron.

Back to the original OP, I can definitely understand the frustration about getting a grievance filed against you for carrying in a box, plugging in a light or emptying out the trash can. It seems the lessor the skill level the more petty the Union. For the life of me though I don't understand why a Company that has all Non Union White Collar Workers would use Union members for Janitorial or Shipping and Receiving.

Sounds like upper management isn't doing it's job.

Yeah i'm not sure why it's that way, but at the university, all the janitorial, shipping/receiving, plumbing/electrical, etc... is part of something called the "office of the physical plant" or OPP. They are unionized. As far as I know, every other position at the university is non union.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

People get to deduct money they give to churches. I bet atheists would have issues with that also.

Well, I guess most union lappers view their union like a church by believing and following their dogma so it sort of fits...
Except for the fact that donations to a church is entirely voluntary...

 

[Adrenaline]

If you are going to claim that most companies do not treat their employees well, back it up.

(BTW: Only ~10%±5% of the American workforce is dissatisfied with their job.)

Only 10% are dissatisfied you say? I would say more, but I live in TN which is not the best place for jobs at all. I would say it is more here. Employers have not shown they give a crap in general around here with anything other than their bottom dollar. I am VERY VERY VERY VERY BLESSED to have the job I do. I love my job. It is just really hard to find a good job around here with great bosses.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Ok, there are 22, I was unsure as I only knew of three. I had not bothered to look it up. Thanks.

Yeah, some companies do take cae of their employees, but unfortunately not most. I work for a great company that takes care of its employees. I am a union employee there and it is great, we get treated well.

are all of the employees at your place unionized? if not, how well are the non-union employees treated?

all of my family has done well in regular jobs. then again, we are math/science people (except my mom, who was a teacher) so the comparison may not be exactly apples to apples. point being though, AFAIK all the employers we have worked for have treated us well. sure, someone somewhere is going to have an asshole boss, but not the "you'll be fired tomorrow" type. especially when it'll actually take months just to re-train whoever the new hire is.

 

[Adrenaline]

Well, I guess most union lappers view their union like a church by believing and following their dogma so it sort of fits...
Except for the fact that donations to a church is entirely voluntary...

My union is entirely voluntary also. This isn't a place where union membership is mandatory.

 

[Geekbabe]

Well, I guess most union lappers view their union like a church by believing and following their dogma so it sort of fits...
Except for the fact that donations to a church is entirely voluntary...

and so is choosing to try to get a job in a union shop.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

My union is entirely voluntary also. This isn't a place where union membership is mandatory.

To join a church - a donation is not mandatory. Try that with your union...

 

[Red Dawn]

(BTW: Only ~10%±5% of the American workforce is dissatisfied with their job.)

http://www.conference-board.org/utilities/pressDetail.cfm?press_ID=2582

Job Satisfaction – by Age, Income and Region

The largest decline in overall job satisfaction, from 60.9% to 49.2%, occurred among workers 35-44.
The second largest decline took place among workers aged 45-54, with the satisfaction level dropping from 57.3% to 47.7%.
The smallest decline occurred among workers 65 and over. Overall job satisfaction declined from 60.8% to 58.0%, making this group the most satisfied with their jobs.
The largest decline in job satisfaction took place among householders earning $25,000 to $35,000, with satisfaction falling from 55.7% to 41.4%. This income group expressed the second lowest level of overall satisfaction.
The second largest decline was posted by householders earning $35,000-$50,000. This group experienced a decline from 59.7% to 46.7%.
With less than 47% of householders claiming to be satisfied with their current job, workers in the Middle Atlantic and Mountain states are the least satisfied workers in the U.S.
The East South Central region has the most content workers. Close to 59% of residents in these states claim they are satisfied with their jobs.
Company promotion policies and bonus plans tended to be the lowest on the satisfaction scale.
Educational and job training programs did not fare well either. Only 30% of workers claimed to be satisfied with these types of company programs.
Workers also rated their wages poorly, with only 33.5% of householders expressing satisfaction with their pay.
Additional results from the supplemental survey conducted by TNS in August 2004 include:

40% of workers feel disconnected from their employers.
Two out of every three workers do not identify with or feel motivated to drive their employer's business goals and objectives.
25% of employees are just “showing up to collect a paycheck.”

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Only 10% are dissatisfied you say? I would say more, but I live in TN which is not the best place for jobs at all. I would say it is more here. Employers have not shown they give a crap in general around here with anything other than their bottom dollar. I am VERY VERY VERY VERY BLESSED to have the job I do. I love my job. It is just really hard to find a good job around here with great bosses.

I live and work in Tennessee, and I don't know why you keep saying it's not the best place for jobs. Care to explain further?

Edit: And my numbers come from a 2008 Gallup poll.

 

[Adrenaline]

To join a church - a donation is not mandatory. Try that with your union...

You have to work at my plant for 6 months before joining the union is optional. It is not forced down your throat to join the union. They come to see you about joining and talk respectfully to you and then go about their business.

 

[bignateyk]

To join a church - a donation is not mandatory. Try that with your union...

I worked part-time at a grocery store when I was in highschool. The union didn't do anything to benefit part time employees, but we were forced to pay union dues anyway (even if we didn't want to be in it)

 

[Adrenaline]

I live and work in Tennessee, and I don't know why you keep saying it's not the best place for jobs. Care to explain further?

I did not check your profile, but the Memphis job market sucks in general. I have seen to many bosses treat people like crap and heard (have listened to) a bunch of people wish for better jobs that would just treat them right.

The average household income in this city is below the national poverty level I believe. Again, I have not checked on this in about 5 years or so. I do know average pay around hee is not great.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

and so is choosing to try to get a job in a union shop.

AS I just stated - To join a church - a donation is not mandatory. Try that with your union...

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

http://www.conference-board.org/utilities/pressDetail.cfm?press_ID=2582

Job Satisfaction – by Age, Income and Region

The largest decline in overall job satisfaction, from 60.9% to 49.2%, occurred among workers 35-44.
The second largest decline took place among workers aged 45-54, with the satisfaction level dropping from 57.3% to 47.7%.
The smallest decline occurred among workers 65 and over. Overall job satisfaction declined from 60.8% to 58.0%, making this group the most satisfied with their jobs.
The largest decline in job satisfaction took place among householders earning $25,000 to $35,000, with satisfaction falling from 55.7% to 41.4%. This income group expressed the second lowest level of overall satisfaction.
The second largest decline was posted by householders earning $35,000-$50,000. This group experienced a decline from 59.7% to 46.7%.
With less than 47% of householders claiming to be satisfied with their current job, workers in the Middle Atlantic and Mountain states are the least satisfied workers in the U.S.
The East South Central region has the most content workers. Close to 59% of residents in these states claim they are satisfied with their jobs.
Company promotion policies and bonus plans tended to be the lowest on the satisfaction scale.
Educational and job training programs did not fare well either. Only 30% of workers claimed to be satisfied with these types of company programs.
Workers also rated their wages poorly, with only 33.5% of householders expressing satisfaction with their pay.
Additional results from the supplemental survey conducted by TNS in August 2004 include:

40% of workers feel disconnected from their employers.
Two out of every three workers do not identify with or feel motivated to drive their employer's business goals and objectives.
25% of employees are just “showing up to collect a paycheck.”

http://www.gallup.com/poll/109738/us-workers-job-satisfaction-relatively-high.aspx

Newer and with methodology.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

You have to work at my plant for 6 months before joining the union is optional. It is not forced down your throat to join the union. They come to see you about joining and talk respectfully to you and then go about their business.

And? You work in a right-to-work state which gives employees the CHOICE to join or not. That is entirely fine by me. It should always be up to the employee to join or not join a union at their place of chosen employment.

 

[Red Dawn]

Well, I guess most union lappers view their union like a church by believing and following their dogma so it sort of fits...
Except for the fact that donations to a church is entirely voluntary...

So is belonging to a Union.

 

[Geekbabe]

To join a church - a donation is not mandatory. Try that with your union...

I'm actually happy to be paying union dues.

 

[Red Dawn]

And? You work in a right-to-work state which gives employees the CHOICE to join or not. That is entirely fine by me. It should always be up to the employee to join or not join a union at their place of chosen employment.

Hey nobody is forcing them to work there.
Sound like you have a victim mentality going on.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

I worked part-time at a grocery store when I was in highschool. The union didn't do anything to benefit part time employees, but we were forced to pay union dues anyway (even if we didn't want to be in it)

That practice should be illegal. No employee should be forced to participate(by payments/etc) in a union if they do not wish to be in one. Likewise anyone not a member should not have to have their wages confiscated by one.

 

[Scouzer]

are all of the employees at your place unionized? if not, how well are the non-union employees treated?

all of my family has done well in regular jobs. then again, we are math/science people (except my mom, who was a teacher) so the comparison may not be exactly apples to apples. point being though, AFAIK all the employers we have worked for have treated us well. sure, someone somewhere is going to have an asshole boss, but not the "you'll be fired tomorrow" type. especially when it'll actually take months just to re-train whoever the new hire is.

I know you weren't asking me, but I wanted to answer your first question. In my company unionized employees are treated quite well, but the non-unionized employees... heh. Good luck. It's really... really... really bad.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Hey nobody is forcing them to work there.
Sound like you have a victim mentality going on.

Nope. I am for CHOICE for the employee. If a person wants to work for a company - they shouldn't also be forced to join a union and have their wages confiscated.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

So is belonging to a Union.

wrong - addressed in other posts.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

I'm actually happy to be paying union dues.

Good for you. It still doesn't mean they should be tax deductible.

 

[Adrenaline]

AS I just stated - To join a church - a donation is not mandatory. Try that with your union...

To join a church tithing is expected. They preach about it all the time. Every church I have gone to for a period of time has done this. Everyone does not do this and it is understood but a portion does.

To join a union you have union dues, this is understood. The union at your job has helped the foundation for all of your pay and benefits you will receive.

 

[Red Dawn]

Nope. I am for CHOICE for the employee. If a person wants to work for a company - they shouldn't also be forced to join a union and have their wages confiscated.

Hey nobody's forcing them to work for that company. If they don't want to pay dues or belong to a union they can find work elsewhere. They need tofind a place of work where the Management doesn't want the Union's presence.