unions was Re: [Shotimes] Re: (OT) How to avoid the pitfalls of pricing Former Porsche boss: There's no 'right price' for a car

[Ian Fisher]

I find the outrage over the NY MTA strike to be a bit
humorous. SEPTA strikes in Philadelphia at least once
a year and people around here don't get as upset.

I feel that unions are necessary for protecting
worker's rights. I wish I had one in my previous job.
I was abused by my manager, humiliated and forced into
situations that I felt were unethical and
unprofessional. Our Human Resources rep was usually a
joke so I had nowhere to turn. I actually investigated
the possibility of unionizing but it would have been
difficult. Thank god I am no longer with that company.

I agree that some unions seem to have questionable
interests in mind and I feel that these  particular
few give a bad name to a lot of other unions out there
that do make a positive difference. With so many jobs
being outsourced overseas, tight budgets and stressful
work environments, it's nice to have the power of
unity  whenever possible. I have learned that a 
single worker by him or herself is powerless to affect
change or stand up for their rights by themself.

I am working part time at the moment; I had the option
of joining my particular union but I'm going to hold
off until I am full time next year as it will be more
beneficial to me at that time. I'm happy with my
current job but I can't wait to finally be part of a
union.

Ian

--- Peter Chase <pbchase@gmail.com> wrote:

> Yeah, with the NY MTA strike going on right now (god
> bless any of y'all who
> work in NYC), it makes me wonder (even more) why we
> still have unions.  I
> totally understand how during the industrial
> revolution, unions allowed
> workers better bargaining power for REASONABLE
> wages, better safety in
> plants, and keeping limits on # of hours worked per
> day, week, etc.  Now
> that we have federal minimum wage rates, OSHA, and
> other labor laws, aren't
> unions kind of unnecesary these days?  (Leaving
> myself wide open for
> enlightenment if I seem ignorant, here)
> 
> 
> Pete
> 
> 
> On 12/20/05, Mark Nunnally
> <marknunnally@joimail.com> wrote:
> >
> > >Remember one of the major issues with the
> "employee pricing". The Big 3
> > are
> > >saddled with the "pay me anyway" UAW contracts,
> so they don't save squat
> > >when they shut down a line.
> >
> > That and the obvious healthcare costs (at least
> for GM), are what are
> > killing them (or have already killed them).  That
> and the endless line
> (save
> > a few) of ho hum cars that nobody cares about
> anyway!
> >
> > The '98 convention plant tour of the 3.0L and 2.5L
> duratech motors was a
> > real eye opener for me.  The little 5th grade
> reading level charts (with
> > pictures!) at each of the various work stations so
> they could just swap
> > workers around and "learn" a new skill and fill in
> at any station.  I will
> > never forget the connecting rod station, where a
> box of 6 end caps and rods
> > would come floating down the line at 1/2 mph while
> 6 workers (3 on each
> > side) sat on cushy stools dropping bearings in the
> caps and rods.  A stupid
> > 5th grader could do that, was 7 yrs ago, and they
> were probably making
> close
> > to 2x then what I make now in 2005!
> >
> > mark
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