[Shotimes] (OT) Unions

[David Rosicke]

One of these days, some major US company is going to shut down all of the US based manufacturing and move it to the "Globalized" sites overseas.  Why?  

1)  Most Unions demand that companies still pay for ALL medical benefits.  Until the US Government reigns in the perscription drug companies and looks harder at Insurance companies (Look at the estimated earnings per share of these newly merged companies! http://www.anthem.com/jsp/antiphona/nav/ilink_pop_native.do?content_id=PW_A033912), I doubt companies will be able to continue doing business as-is.  Hard costs (Metals, plastics) are WAY up - not to mention Transporation costs due to increases in fuel costs!

2)  ISO 9001/9002 certification can happen ANYWHERE around the world.  It takes the right kinds of workers, that's all.

3)  Union dues appear to increase in proportion to the salary increases.

I do agree Unions have their place and have helped certain industries.  They should pay more attention to the realities around them instead of fighting a loosing battle nowadays.  They should be fighting (and paying!) to improve the average worker so that the import of skilled labor goes down instead of keeping mediocrity alive.  Union dues should not be used just to improve the managment at the Union, but to help the average union worker do a better job to contribute to the pool of workers (That's what unions were supposed to do in the first place!)

My $.02.

Dave R.