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

[AlienCraft]

Wouldn't a company that wants to keep talent treat their workers correctly without the need for unions? Isn't that the idea or am I missing something or just naive.

That is an idea, you are naive, and in a perfect world, you would be right.
However, the dominant pardigm seems to be "Every man for himself", and Corporations have usurped the notion of Adam Smith's Vision of what 'Moral Men' would do.

Amorality rules the day.
Corporations are sociopathic at their core, and are not swayed by "human-istic" concerns or values.
Their need for Profit over all other concerns is what will keep Unions relevant.

 

[bignateyk]

That'd kind of suck if you were on salary and your Boss decided to save money when moving the office to another site he has you and other salary workers come in on weekend to do the moving. Happened to me and I was not to happy about it but it was the situation you described, either do what you were told or find another job.

When there are people lining up to have your job, that's the way it should be. I've had to work 18-20 hour days for weeks on end in other countries. I've had to come in to work at 3am on weekends. I've been told at 5pm that I have to leave to fly somewhere at 6am the following morning. Those things sure as hell weren't in my job description, but I do it without complaining (before, during, or after) because I know that there are plenty of other people who would love the chance to take my job. Do I feel like I'm being taken advantage of by the man? No. It's just part of working the job that I have, even though it wasn't spelled out in the description.

 

[JDub02]

OP, you just have to learn to haul boxes after the union folks leave for the day. I've worked several different places where they've told me to do that.

you can tell when they're getting ready to leave because they start staging at the door about a half hour before quitting time.

 

[Red Dawn]

That would definitely suck, and I would immediately downgrade my effort to the minimum necessary to keep my job, and start looking for another one.

Well he made up for it by giving us all a GC for a Honey Baked Ham as a Christmas Bonus

 

[Red Dawn]

When there are people lining up to have your job, that's the way it should be. I've had to work 18-20 hour days for weeks on end in other countries. I've had to come in to work at 3am on weekends. I've been told at 5pm that I have to leave to fly somewhere at 6am the following morning. Those things sure as hell weren't in my job description, but I do it without complaining (before, during, or after) because I know that there are plenty of other people who would love the chance to take my job. Do I feel like I'm being taken advantage of by the man? No. It's just part of working the job that I have, even though it wasn't spelled out in the description.

My aren't you special

 

[BoomerD]

meh...I'm one of the biggest union supporters on these boards, yet things like this, IF we have the whole truth, always piss me off.
IMO, the story as related in the OP is nothing to file a grievance over...and I can't see it being any kind of contractual dispute.
"In no case shall members of a different job classification actually move boxes of goods if such boxes of goods shall be moved by employees in this certain job classification."

There's GOTTA be more to the story...

 

[Geekbabe]

Again, I know the merits of a well written job description, and I agree that it is wise for an employer to have them. However, that does not mean that employers are required to have one. Maybe in all the professional jobs you have applied for (I see you work in healthcare, which is an entirely different ballgame), but I know many companies that do not use them.
In addition, job descriptions that are not accurately maintained can be more of a liability to a company than not having one at all.

My whole point was, job descriptions are not a legal requirement. They do not preclude you from doing functions not listed in your job description, and if you refuse, you can be disciplined or terminated.

And you didn't read everything I wrote in my first response, I never refuse a task that's been asked of me by my superior, I quietly perform said task, even foregoing lunch in order to do so. However, I will write and submit a grievance. If workloads have changed and shifted to the point that extra tasks outside the scope of my job duties are regularly being expected of us, the company needs to put that in writing and bring it to the bargaining table.

 

[Geekbabe]

When there are people lining up to have your job, that's the way it should be. I've had to work 18-20 hour days for weeks on end in other countries. I've had to come in to work at 3am on weekends. I've been told at 5pm that I have to leave to fly somewhere at 6am the following morning. Those things sure as hell weren't in my job description, but I do it without complaining (before, during, or after) because I know that there are plenty of other people who would love the chance to take my job. Do I feel like I'm being taken advantage of by the man? No. It's just part of working the job that I have, even though it wasn't spelled out in the description.

And you are paid exactly what for your sacrifices?


I am happy to have my job otherwise I wouldn't have applied to work there, likewise my employer is happy to have me. Being happy and grateful has it's place but getting more and more uncompensated work dumped on you with the mantra "there are people lining up for your job" gets really old after awhile and it does nothing to boost morale or productivity.

If an employer needs to significantly increase my workload, they have the negotiated right to change the job description and bring it to the bargaining table where there will be dialogue between management and the membership regarding the fiscal need/justifications for such changes
how long such changes are anticipated to last and what compensations the membership can expect now or in the future for voting to go along with such.

In short, you're going to expect a lot more from me, you need to put that expectation in writing, I can then decide in a rational manner to stay or go
just dumping more and more on me over time while holding the club over my head about how many people want my job isn't acceptable.

 

[JulesMaximus]

You scabbed a union member's job.

This.

Say hello to Jimmy Hoffa for us.

 

[NetGuySC]

I make it a point to not buy anything that I know is made in a union environment.

 

[drinkmorejava]

lol... someone start a poll... what does ATOT hate more - unions or religion?

No dude, only an authorized Anandtech Inc union member can create polls. If the OP does it, a grievance will be filed.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

That is an idea, you are naive, and in a perfect world, you would be right.
However, the dominant pardigm seems to be "Every man for himself", and Corporations have usurped the notion of Adam Smith's Vision of what 'Moral Men' would do.

Amorality rules the day.
Corporations are sociopathic at their core, and are not swayed by "human-istic" concerns or values.
Their need for Profit over all other concerns is what will keep Unions relevant.

Corporations = private industry. In private industries, unionized labor is sub 10% of the workforce and has been dropping. Please, let's ask the Google employees. Do they need unions because they work long hours and sleep under their desks? Or are they happy with their G1 bonuses + cash and ridiculously nice food and pay that they will keep working even under harsh conditions?

 

[Zargon]

No dude, only an authorized Anandtech Inc union member can create polls. If the OP does it, a grievance will be filed.

hahahhaahha


I mostly watch unions break the place that employs them. But I am a municipal employee and used to work for a large university.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

And you didn't read everything I wrote in my first response, I never refuse a task that's been asked of me by my superior, I quietly perform said task, even foregoing lunch in order to do so. However, I will write and submit a grievance. If workloads have changed and shifted to the point that extra tasks outside the scope of my job duties are regularly being expected of us, the company needs to put that in writing and bring it to the bargaining table.

No, I didn't address it because you are obviously speaking from a union standpoint. I think it is quite ridiculous to submit a grievance for doing something not specifically listed in your job description, and equally ridiculous, barring large changes to your overall job, to think that you should be able to renegotiate based on one or two additions to your essential functions (though it should be documented for ADA purposes).

 

[Red Dawn]

I make it a point to not buy anything that I know is made in a union environment.

So you'll never buy or rent a House, ownhouse, Condo or APT and will not accept the services of a Police Officer, Fireman, EMT or Nurse? Not to mention use any products shipped by rail or foreign products unloaded at Sea Ports?

 

[Zargon]

thankfully not all construction is unionized.

 

[Red Dawn]

thankfully not all construction is unionized.

Just the best built.

 

[Geekbabe]

No, I didn't address it because you are obviously speaking from a union standpoint. I think it is quite ridiculous to submit a grievance for doing something not specifically listed in your job description, and equally ridiculous, barring large changes to your overall job, to think that you should be able to renegotiate based on one or two additions to your essential functions (though it should be documented for ADA purposes).

"No good deed goes unpunished" one or two things tacked onto to job duties can quickly mushroom into 15-20 additional duties, it can change from a situation where the worker's "helping out" is appreciated to one where such help is not only expected, it is demanded. Those "one or two" extra duties can also become a problem if a worker is expected to punch out but then stay late to complete those tasks (as was the case in one hospital that recently joined our union) The grievance forms ensures that additional duties are noted, that real increases in workload/ company expectations don't go unacknowledged or documented and that job descriptions are formally changed in such cases and the rate of pay and benefits for such looked at and bargained over.

I work pretty hard, I received the mark of excellence in my most recent review, I'm a team player and a good manager of my time and workload and I don't mind the occasional extra task or special project, my union is there though to ensure that my contributions remain appreciated and that my interests as a worker are not exploited.

 

[TecHNooB]

Fuck Unions. That is all.

 

[Zargon]

Just the best built.

sometimes.

I know some great guys that are not unionized and do great work.

and my grandfather build his house himself, and 65 years later, its still going strong.

he did have help with the brick work though

 

[Red Dawn]

sometimes.

I know some great guys that are not unionized and do great work.

and my grandfather build his house himself, and 65 years later, its still going strong.

he did have help with the brick work though

Yes there are great Tradesmen that aren't union, they tend to be Small Contractors who build custom homes where being Union doesn't make any sense and they make their profits on Labor not material like the Big Contractors.

 

[theblackbox]

i can't tell you the number of union grievances i had against me when i worked for GM doing hazmat, confined space rescue and first response. i spent more time in labor relations then i did in the plant helping the dumbasses when they got hurt.
i got stupid ones too, like walking too slow in front of someone through the plant entry and causing someone to be late by blocking them because i was in their way.

if someone got hurt, we would call them a taxi if they needed to go to hospital, we dare not call an ambulance because the union would file complaints.

i am glad to say i no longer have anything to do with the UAW, and i hope they rot in hell when they die.

that is all.

 

[Fenixgoon]

"No good deed goes unpunished" one or two things tacked onto to job duties can quickly mushroom into 15-20 additional duties, it can change from a situation where the worker's "helping out" is appreciated to one where such help is not only expected, it is demanded. Those "one or two" extra duties can also become a problem if a worker is expected to punch out but then stay late to complete those tasks (as was the case in one hospital that recently joined our union) The grievance forms ensures that additional duties are noted, that real increases in workload/ company expectations don't go unacknowledged or documented and that job descriptions are formally changed in such cases and the rate of pay and benefits for such looked at and bargained over.

I work pretty hard, I received the mark of excellence in my most recent review, I'm a team player and a good manager of my time and workload and I don't mind the occasional extra task or special project, my union is there though to ensure that my contributions remain appreciated and that my interests as a worker are not exploited.

so, you want people to recognize that you do additional work, but you're complaining about it by filing a grievance? i mean, that's the whole point of calling something a grievance right? you don't like it and don't want more of it.

seems kind of backwards that you should file a grievance about additional duties yet benefit from performing those duties.

if im understanding all this correctly, which there's a good chance i'm not.

 

[AAjax]

I worked Union for 6 years, the Teamsters are some worthless and corrupt bastards indeed.

 

[NesuD]

... for moving a box from storage to my office.

My response was that if I needed the box 3 weeks from now I would have called and asked someone to get it for me. (which involves filing a work order)

You messed up. you should have still filed the work order and when it wasn't completed in the required amount of time then go get your box. As it stands you did not even give them the opportunity to screw it up. You would had a reasonable argument if you let them fail first.