[dewilson58]

The latest strike is a great example of the lack of value.

Yes they wanted wages but they want job security thru the lack of automation.
That's nuts.
Of all these striking ports, "represented" by the union........none of them are in the Top 50 efficient ports in the world.
What's that light in the tunnel??

Pretty sad the USA labor is not a leader, it's not even close.
The cost of labor protectionism.

The vast majority of people don't want or need union representation.

Don't understand people in unions.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

The latest strike is a great example of the lack of value.

Yes they wanted wages but they want job security thru the lack of automation.
That's nuts.
Of all these striking ports, "represented" by the union........none of them are in the Top 50 efficient ports in the world.
What's that light in the tunnel??

Pretty sad the USA labor is not a leader, it's not even close.
The cost of labor protectionism.

The vast majority of people don't want or need union representation.

Don't understand people in unions.

As the world passes us by.

[Dusty_Star]

I saw Harold Daggett also complaining bitterly about SunPass/EZPass, truly a Luddite thug.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Dusty_Star

I saw Harold Daggett also complaining bitterly about SunPass/EZPass, truly a Luddite thug.

His salary is +$700k, $1mil house in FL & $2mil house in NJ.

& the silly members are okay with this.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

The latest strike is a great example of the lack of value.

Yes they wanted wages but they want job security thru the lack of automation.
That's nuts.
Of all these striking ports, "represented" by the union........none of them are in the Top 50 efficient ports in the world.
What's that light in the tunnel??

Pretty sad the USA labor is not a leader, it's not even close.
The cost of labor protectionism.

The vast majority of people don't want or need union representation.

Don't understand people in unions.

There are companies where perhaps a union is/was not needed. Many years ago I asked someone who worked in the manufacturing part of a huge, well-known company if they had a union. The response was, “We don’t need one.”

Also, said company made a lot of regular people very comfortable through profit-sharing. Can you imagine if companies like Walmart, for example, would have made profit-sharing available to ALL employees. Not only would there have been a lot of loyal employees on those cash registers, etc., just think of the learning experience that would have come from owning stock.

But a lot of companies plan to earn huge profits on the backs of employees and never consider how effective company stock all-around can be in moving a company forward with loyal employees. For companies that do not have stock, there are other ways to keep loyal employees and keep unions at bay. The employers’ choice to exploit is what brings in unions.

I am not saying all unions are perfect. But if unions are stomped into non-existence by those who have motives that risk our future overall economy, we will turn into another country.

This thread is going to turn into union-bashing. I can feel those wagons circling already.

Of course, most of those circling up will be the same people who expect teachers to devote their lives to working for basically nothing.

My point is — the middle class has been the backbone of our economy. Unions were instrumental in creating a strong middle class. If we lose our middle class, we are done. Unrestrained greed is bad economics.

Boomer, former union prez

[Rainger99]

I don’t have a problem with unions. But I don’t think unions should have a monopoly where one union controls all the ports on the east and south coast. We should have separate unions for each port and they should not be allowed to collude with other union in the other ports.

That way, 45,000 workers can’t impact the entire country.

The monopoly laws should apply to business and to labor.

Concentrated power is usually bad whether it is business, labor, or government.

[mraines]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

The latest strike is a great example of the lack of value.

Yes they wanted wages but they want job security thru the lack of automation.
That's nuts.
Of all these striking ports, "represented" by the union........none of them are in the Top 50 efficient ports in the world.
What's that light in the tunnel??

Pretty sad the USA labor is not a leader, it's not even close.
The cost of labor protectionism.

The vast majority of people don't want or need union representation.

Don't understand people in unions.

I disagree. I am here because of a union. I had fair wages and a nice pension because of a union.

[Caymus]

Saw this in my newsfeed. Seems to be an impartial article.

Why the dockworker strike was really an aging-workforce issue | Morningstar

[Battlebasset]

Instead of trying to fly to the dead rock of Mars, Musk needs to create a US deep water port full of automation and non-union labor. This would put the existing stuck in the 1970's ports on notice that their days in the US are numbered. I'm sure he could find a place in Florida he could do this.

Bezos should do it to, as he stands to lose millions if he can't import his Amazon stuff. But he's too beholden to his masters to go up against them.

[GoRedSox!]

The world is not passing us by. That's just plain false. We are by far the most affluent country in the world. We have the best economy in the world, by far.

Unions will always be a target by those who prefer that profits go to corporations, their CEO's and senior management and shareholders, rather than working people. The middle class was strongest in this country when unions were strongest. This is indisputable economic facts.

These workers just got a 61.5% raise over the next 6 years. I think the union just did a great job. This one the heels of the UAW getting 40% increase over 4 years and Shawn Fain doing a great job. The folks who run these ports have seen their profits soar 350% over the last 10 years. I am glad the working man and woman is getting a fair share of that in this latest negotiation.

[retiredguy123]

It's pretty simple. Unions are created to help the union members. If automation hurts the union members, they are going to be opposed to it. If school choice hurts public school union teachers, the union will be opposed to it even if it hurts students. The union exists to represent the union members. Period.

[village dreamer]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

It's pretty simple. Unions are created to help the union members. If automation hurts the union members, they are going to be opposed to it. If school choice hurts public school union teachers, the union will be opposed to it even if it hurts students. The union exists to represent the union members. Period.

the union exists to represent the union members so we don't get screwed over by the company, period. ibew member for 40 years and proud of it.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by village dreamer

the union exists to represent the union members so we don't get screwed over by the company, period. ibew member for 40 years and proud of it.

1/2 of the membership is public...........nothing to do with "the company".

I'm proud of representing myself & not paying dues.

[tophcfa]

Yes, corporations are in the business of making money and maximizing shareholder value. There is nothing wrong with that. Hard working and productive employees, who contribute to that goal, are taken care of and workers who don’t shouldn’t be protected. Corporations aren’t evil and against their employees, they absolutely need good employees. If someone is a good and productive employee and their company doesn’t take care of them, their competitors will be more than happy to hire them. As far as the 61.5% union raises being good for the average working American, how is that? The average working American will be paying for those wage increases since that expense will be added to the cost of the goods they purchase.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Yes, corporations are in the business of making money and maximizing shareholder value. There is nothing wrong with that. Hard working and productive employees, who contribute to that goal, are taken care of and workers who don’t shouldn’t be protected. Corporations aren’t evil and against their employees, they absolutely need good employees. If someone is a good and productive employee and their company doesn’t take care of them, their competitors will be more than happy to hire them. As far as the 61.5% union raises being good for the average working American, how is that? The average working American will be paying for those wage increases since that expense will be added to the cost of the goods they purchase.

I couldn't have said it better.

I also have an issue with some teachers unions in this day and age. I don't like the direction they take. Teachers are invaluable, but one can become a teacher, a good teacher without climbing as difficult an education path as a doctor. It is also a job that is somewhat more flexible than others. Good teachers ARE more valuable than diamonds. I realize because of the behaviors of children that teaching has become dangerous as well. I know so many people that teach for the vocation of teaching and that still makes me so proud.