• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Unions: Thumbs Up, or Thumbs Down?

Depends, but there's a reason people like Wal-Mart or fast food corporations would rather shut down a franchise than let the employees unionize. 😉
 
Originally posted by: Fausto
Depends, but there's a reason people like Wal-Mart or fast food corporations would rather shut down a franchise than let the employees unionize. 😉

And theres option sto work for an employer that allows unions. 😉
 
Depends on the union and the industry. Thumbs up overall, but there are many places where it's a big thumbs down. Also, in many areas unions are TOO powerful, to the point where it's no longer about protecting people from harm as much as forcing incompetent people into the industry. I guess it's better for the union to be too powerful than to be not powerful enough, though.
 
I could see their point in the past, but these days they are one of the major factors that send our manufacturing jobs overseas. I think it is a disease on our manufacturing sector.
 
Well.. I guess I just dont "understand the point of one"

I am not part of a union, (nor would I ever be) and I do just fine. I cover my own ass, and I dont have to pay any other scumbags to do it for me.
 
Originally posted by: torpid
Depends on the union and the industry. Thumbs up overall, but there are many places where it's a big thumbs down. Also, in many areas unions are TOO powerful, to the point where it's no longer about protecting people from harm as much as forcing incompetent people into the industry. I guess it's better for the union to be too powerful than to be not powerful enough, though.

Agreed. Unions have their good and their bad, but without them, employers would be able to exploit workers, pushing down their pay, getting rid of benefits, etc etc. Unions aren't just about the big steel industries and things like that, where some reform probably needs to take place to save jobs from going overseas. It's about nurses and teachers too.
 
Originally posted by: Specop 007
In todays market? Thumbs down.
100 years ago? Thumbs up.

But, I dont live 100 years ago so.....

Yes! And that officially concludes this poll. 😀
 
Originally posted by: torpid
Depends on the union and the industry. Thumbs up overall, but there are many places where it's a big thumbs down. Also, in many areas unions are TOO powerful, to the point where it's no longer about protecting people from harm as much as forcing incompetent people into the industry. I guess it's better for the union to be too powerful than to be not powerful enough, though.

:thumbsup:

This has been my experiance as well. It's more about keeping the lazy and incompetent employed than doing good for the workers.

 
:thumbsdown:

I think unions could be a good thing (and some of them probably are).

The unions I have dealt with have always seemed to be in a power struggle with management for control of the company. It gets to the place that the union, not the company, begins to dictate company policy. Where I work, if the union folks don't agree with company policy, they simply ignore it. A while back our company had mandatory training classes that were on the subject of workplace harrassment. Most of the union people either didn't show up, or they intentionally were disruptive.

Union people seem to get really anal about things. Case in point, if I'm cleaning out my office, and I fill my garbage can to overflowing, I'm not allowed at my current company to empty my own garbage. I have to call a union person to schedule getting my can emptied. Similarly, I can't carry virtually anything (i.e. a box of paper) from point a to point b on company property without fear of being reported for a union infraction.

And finally, this is a petty gripe, but both of the major companies for which I have worked since college have been strangled by unions to the point that union folks with no education or skills can come in from the street and immediately make nearly what I and my college degree make.
 
Originally posted by: torpid
Depends on the union and the industry. Thumbs up overall, but there are many places where it's a big thumbs down. Also, in many areas unions are TOO powerful, to the point where it's no longer about protecting people from harm as much as forcing incompetent people into the industry. I guess it's better for the union to be too powerful than to be not powerful enough, though.



Agreed. Union member here.
 
Originally posted by: torpid
Depends on the union and the industry. Thumbs up overall, but there are many places where it's a big thumbs down. Also, in many areas unions are TOO powerful, to the point where it's no longer about protecting people from harm as much as forcing incompetent people into the industry. I guess it's better for the union to be too powerful than to be not powerful enough, though.

That pretty much sums it up for me.
 
In theory and before federal laws were beefed up to protect workers: :thumbsup:
In practice and today: :thumbsdown:

There is nothing a union can do that is good for workers, that the workers couldn't do on their own. Crappy work experience? Demand a change or leave. There is no reason to unionize for that. Unions just go far beyond their original intent and in the end are more harmful than good. Its like communism: great in theory, but in practice the power goes to the heads of the leaders and it just doesn't work.
 
I guess people who are vehemently against them have never been heard of the crap that goes on in companies, and would quickly begin happening again were it not for unions. Some organizations probably wouldn't have the problem, especially state, federal, or local government. But you can pretty much guarantee that the jerkwad corporations out there would treat people like crap again.
 
Originally posted by: dullard
In theory and before federal laws were beefed up to protect workers: :thumbsup:
In practice and today: :thumbsdown:

There is nothing a union can do that is good for workers, that the workers couldn't do on their own. Crappy work experience? Demand a change or leave. There is no reason to unionize for that. Unions just go far beyond their original intent and in the end are more harmful than good. Its like communism: great in theory, but in practice the power goes to the heads of the leaders and it just doesn't work.

Does the CEO of the average corporation deserve to be paid oh, say 100 times (just a random number, no idea what the average amount is) the amount guy who fits pipes all day?
 
Originally posted by: torpid
But you can pretty much guarantee that the jerkwad corporations out there would treat people like crap again.
If unions disappeared, and this happened, their employees would all quit. That company would go out of business and others would learn a lesson to treat the employees well.

 
:thumbsdown:
1. Unions outlived their purposelong time ago. There are plenty laws protecting the rights of the working people.

2. I am an adult and prefer to make my own decisions. No need for third party to get involved.

3. Union's demands of excessively high wages and benefits for the unskilled workers have known to drive many companies out of business, downsize, or close local operations and move elsewhere, including outside US.
 
Originally posted by: PingSpike
Does the CEO of the average corporation deserve to be paid oh, say 100 times (just a random number, no idea what the average amount is) the amount guy who fits pipes all day?
The CEO deserves to be paid more yes. How much is up to debate. Unions have nothing to do with this. If the pipe fitters are paid poorly, they go to another company. Then the first company must raise wages or go out of buisiness. Free markets and competition are good things.
 
Ugh. Don't get me started. There is no place for unions in todays marketplace. They cause far more harm than they do good.
Take a look at United Airlines. The union mechanics turned down the wage decrases that United wanted to impliment. The union FA's and Pilots took the decreases. Mechanics.....nope. They would rather have United liquidate and then have NO job (zero pay) instead of taking a pay cut (and have a paycheck and job). It's not like the airline industry is booming and there are a ton of replacement jobs available......
(oh, and they cited outsourcing as the reason - which would have a beyond minimal impact on them)
 
Back
Top