This is despicable.

[Queasy]

I like how a local carpenter's union here in Atlanta hired day laborers and homeless people $10/hr to picket.

 

[79Blazer]

I've worked for all of the Big 3 automakers in my lifetime. All of my experience with them is sh!t. The unions are there to protect the bad employees.
Example 1: Employee smoking pot in thier car ON company time WHILE punched in. Have him on CAMERA. The union wouldn't allow him to be reprimanded, or sent to the clinic for a drug test.
Example 2: If security sees an employee using drugs, or drinking inside the plant, and they try and report it, the union sees to it that the security guard reporting it gets axed.

IMO: Unions can kiss my royal ass

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: SampSon
No costcos around here. We have sam's club and bj's. I think that is what a costco is right? A membership warehouse where you buy in quantity usually?
If so then that requires a membership as well as buying most small items in mass quantity. Bit different than walmart.

Well, then, the market will adjust and bring in other stores. That's all there is to it.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: shilala

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
People usually hate unions until they're about to lose their job and they realize that a single voice has no weight.

Ding, Ding, Ding. There's a winnar.

We won't even consider that a minimum wage exists because of organized labor, or that OSHA and workplace safety exists because of organized labor, or that collective bargaining exists because of organized labor, or that fair market principles exist because of organized labor.
Like it or not, organized labor is the balance that gives open shops their bargaining weight. It's also the influence that drives a fair wage.
That in turn bolsters our economy and increases our standard of living.
That sh1t's fact boys. Do some research and see what it's about.
I'm a union member and I don't believe in a lot of principles my union presses.
I do agree that it boils right down to dollars. If I am part of a group I can get some. If not, The Man gets them all. I want my fair share, or even more than that if I can get it.
Walmart is never going to accept organization. It simply doesn't fit the financial model. They'll abandon every store they have in the US and Canada before it'll happen. There's plenty of money to be made in other parts of the world.

:light:

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: SampSon
No costcos around here. We have sam's club and bj's. I think that is what a costco is right? A membership warehouse where you buy in quantity usually?
If so then that requires a membership as well as buying most small items in mass quantity. Bit different than walmart.

Costco, Sam's, and BJ's pretty much sell most of their inventory at, just below, or barely above cost. They make the bulk of their profit off of membership fees.

 

[dderidex]

Originally posted by: JACKHAMMER

Originally posted by: timswim78
I don't shop at WalMart because of their businesses practices.

Same here. In fact, I shop at the grocery store that I do b/c it IS unionized. All of the experience I have had with unions is posititve. Better compenated workers = happier workers = better work output (except for some labor unions) IMO

Exactly, same here!

Originally posted by: FoBoT

Originally posted by: meltdown75
WTF, why the hell would the average Joe care whether Wal-Mart was unionized or not?
Would it really affect you if Wal-Marts were unionized?

hello!

my $0.50 two liter bottle of soda would go up in price. of course it would affect me

if i wanted to pay $0.89 for a two liter bottle of soda, i would shop at target or the grocery store instead of walmart

Perhaps true.

But, what would you rather have? A $0.50 bottle of soda that is who-knows-where in the store because they just started remodelling, but haven't finished yet despite weeks of work because the employees are all so depressed - you go to ask someone for directions, and they can barely speak to you with civility because they hate their job so much (but try to put on a "happy face" that's pretty transparent because they know if they sneeze at you wrong and you complain, they get fired immediately)....

Or paying $0.89 a bottle and shopping at a store with a friendly staff who are essentially happy with their pay and benefits, greet you with a GENUINE smile, and really want to help you?

We've got both kinds of stores in town, and I'll pay the $0.89 for a happier shopping experience!

 

[meltdown75]

There are definitely horror stories out there. Heck in a town of 40,000 nearby, an automotive worker on strike was RUN OVER by a bus full of scab workers!!! I'm sure the legal ramifications are ongoing in that situation. It was an International Truck plant in Chatham, Ontario. This is going back a couple years, maybe two.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: mwtgg

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong

Originally posted by: mwtgg

Originally posted by: spidey07
good for them.

unions = teh devil

Yep, I don't see their purpose in this day and age.

they have thier place, but not in retail.

What about in education? Healthcare?

It bothers me that education and healthcare are unionized. It's bad enough that the systems are so bloated with government beurocracy and regulation, and that their funding comes completely from local, state, and federal tax dollars. Then the unions step in and make it worse, while forgetting the important people - the children.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: sandorski
1 less Walmart to scourge the planet. Now we know the best way to kill a Walmart, Go Unions Go!

Now we have an entire walmart of employees out of work. Yay Unions.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: mitch2891
Not a great fan of unions mainly because I think strike action is the wrong way to go about things.

They hold to much over the buisness and can be damaging.

As for the loosing a job because of not joining a union it has happened to me. While studying for my masters I used to work for an electronics company doing some C programing for things like EPOS tills and when the staff cuts were announced I was told I would loose my job. Upon asking why I was told it was easier for them to make the cuts from non-union labour than from the employees who had joined.

If they not had a union, wouldn't someone else have been fired? Sounds a lot like the mafia coming into your store and have you pay them for protection.

 

[JACKHAMMER]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: mwtgg

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong

Originally posted by: mwtgg

Originally posted by: spidey07
good for them.

unions = teh devil

Yep, I don't see their purpose in this day and age.

they have thier place, but not in retail.

What about in education? Healthcare?

It bothers me that education and healthcare are unionized. It's bad enough that the systems are so bloated with government beurocracy and regulation, and that their funding comes completely from local, state, and federal tax dollars. Then the unions step in and make it worse, while forgetting the important people - the children.

You are out of your mind if you actually believe that. While note perfect, the teacher unions have done ALOT for education of CHILDREN. Why don't you look up some facts before you type.

 

[Orsorum]

Actually, I'm curious what your take on that is, Jackhammer. My mom's been an elementary teacher for 40 years, senior teacher in one of the largest school districts in Washington state, and she hates being forced to join the WEA and NEA. We've never really talked more in-depth about the issue, though.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: JACKHAMMER

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: mwtgg

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong

Originally posted by: mwtgg

Originally posted by: spidey07
good for them.

unions = teh devil

Yep, I don't see their purpose in this day and age.

they have thier place, but not in retail.

What about in education? Healthcare?

It bothers me that education and healthcare are unionized. It's bad enough that the systems are so bloated with government beurocracy and regulation, and that their funding comes completely from local, state, and federal tax dollars. Then the unions step in and make it worse, while forgetting the important people - the children.

You are out of your mind if you actually believe that. While note perfect, the teacher unions have done ALOT for education of CHILDREN. Why don't you look up some facts before you type.

because it's easier to to type "Unions are bad! Unions are bad! Unions are bad!"

 

[IGBT]

..they've been playing dodgeball with organizers for a long time..working class people loose again..

 

[JACKHAMMER]

Originally posted by: Orsorum
Actually, I'm curious what your take on that is, Jackhammer. My mom's been an elementary teacher for 40 years, senior teacher in one of the largest school districts in Washington state, and she hates being forced to join the WEA and NEA. We've never really talked more in-depth about the issue, though.

I am sure you mom isn't forced to join. The AFT and NEA are the two big education unions. Typically, joining is an option - but if you don't join you still have to pay dues (which go to charity on most cases) b/c you benefit from the bargaining power of the union. I know one of the top priorities with the our local school union is class size - something that helps my child. If you want to know more, just google AFT or NEA - there seems to be plenty of info out there.

 

[Orsorum]

Actually, she is, at least that's what she's told me. The union dues are deducted from her paycheck and she has no choice in the matter.

 

[Brutuskend]

I just can't read this thread title without seeing Daffy Duck in my mind.

Don't tell me I'm the only one!!??

 

[tm37]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: JACKHAMMER

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: mwtgg

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong

Originally posted by: mwtgg

Originally posted by: spidey07
good for them.

unions = teh devil

Yep, I don't see their purpose in this day and age.

they have thier place, but not in retail.

What about in education? Healthcare?

It bothers me that education and healthcare are unionized. It's bad enough that the systems are so bloated with government beurocracy and regulation, and that their funding comes completely from local, state, and federal tax dollars. Then the unions step in and make it worse, while forgetting the important people - the children.

You are out of your mind if you actually believe that. While note perfect, the teacher unions have done ALOT for education of CHILDREN. Why don't you look up some facts before you type.

because it's easier to to type "Unions are bad! Unions are bad! Unions are bad!"

The Teachers Unioun in California has made it nearly impossinble to become a teacher by creating new rtequirements so that "the teacher are qualified to teach" They have raised the standards on all incoming teachers. However when a teacher can not teach they cannot be fired. The new requirements do not apply to the teachers already teaching so how important can it be.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: tm37

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: JACKHAMMER

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: mwtgg

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong

Originally posted by: mwtgg

Originally posted by: spidey07
good for them.

unions = teh devil

Yep, I don't see their purpose in this day and age.

they have thier place, but not in retail.

What about in education? Healthcare?

It bothers me that education and healthcare are unionized. It's bad enough that the systems are so bloated with government beurocracy and regulation, and that their funding comes completely from local, state, and federal tax dollars. Then the unions step in and make it worse, while forgetting the important people - the children.

You are out of your mind if you actually believe that. While note perfect, the teacher unions have done ALOT for education of CHILDREN. Why don't you look up some facts before you type.

because it's easier to to type "Unions are bad! Unions are bad! Unions are bad!"

The Teachers Unioun in California has made it nearly impossinble to become a teacher by creating new rtequirements so that "the teacher are qualified to teach" They have raised the standards on all incoming teachers. However when a teacher can not teach they cannot be fired. The new requirements do not apply to the teachers already teaching so how important can it be.

so lets just keep it the way it is and let more bad teachers get jobs

 

[RabidMongoose]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: sandorski
1 less Walmart to scourge the planet. Now we know the best way to kill a Walmart, Go Unions Go!

Now we have an entire walmart of employees out of work. Yay Unions.

Considering that sandorski is basically 'Mr. Canada', I wouldn't be surprised if he feels that the loss of employment for these people is a worthy sacrifice to 'stick it' to an evil American based company.

 

[JACKHAMMER]

Originally posted by: Orsorum
Actually, she is, at least that's what she's told me. The union dues are deducted from her paycheck and she has no choice in the matter.

Just b/c she has to pay dues, doesn't mean she has to join. I know it sound ridiculous, but I can see it b/c she does beneft from the union, no matter if she wants to participate or not.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: JACKHAMMER

Originally posted by: Orsorum
Actually, she is, at least that's what she's told me. The union dues are deducted from her paycheck and she has no choice in the matter.

Just b/c she has to pay dues, doesn't mean she has to join. I know it sound ridiculous, but I can see it b/c she does beneft from the union, no matter if she wants to participate or not.

Yes it is rediculous. The Union leaders benefit from her dues, not the other way around. Those kind of unions are a mini-communism.

 

[vi edit]

The sad part is that Walmart really *doesn't* have lower prices...at least on *most things*. Sure they have their share of loss leaders, but overall you can get better prices a higher levels of quality elsewere.

It's just that you can't buy a loaf of bread, a case of beer, a DVD of the "Blue Collar Comedy Tour", a case of motor oil, and a shotgun all under the same roof at very many other places.

 

[Brutuskend]

I guess I AM the only one...

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: dderidex

Originally posted by: JACKHAMMER

Originally posted by: timswim78
I don't shop at WalMart because of their businesses practices.

Same here. In fact, I shop at the grocery store that I do b/c it IS unionized. All of the experience I have had with unions is posititve. Better compenated workers = happier workers = better work output (except for some labor unions) IMO

Exactly, same here!

Originally posted by: FoBoT

Originally posted by: meltdown75
WTF, why the hell would the average Joe care whether Wal-Mart was unionized or not?
Would it really affect you if Wal-Marts were unionized?

hello!

my $0.50 two liter bottle of soda would go up in price. of course it would affect me

if i wanted to pay $0.89 for a two liter bottle of soda, i would shop at target or the grocery store instead of walmart

Perhaps true.

But, what would you rather have? A $0.50 bottle of soda that is who-knows-where in the store because they just started remodelling, but haven't finished yet despite weeks of work because the employees are all so depressed - you go to ask someone for directions, and they can barely speak to you with civility because they hate their job so much (but try to put on a "happy face" that's pretty transparent because they know if they sneeze at you wrong and you complain, they get fired immediately)....

Or paying $0.89 a bottle and shopping at a store with a friendly staff who are essentially happy with their pay and benefits, greet you with a GENUINE smile, and really want to help you?

We've got both kinds of stores in town, and I'll pay the $0.89 for a happier shopping experience!

i don't talk to people in stores, especially the people that work there

i know where the soda is in walmart, they are all laid out the same way, so i can find the soda without any help. if they are unhappy working there, they can find another job (see my post about the "at will" employer/employee relationship)