[BigDawgInLakeDenham]

Originally Posted by GoRedSox!

Yet there is a strong correlation between states with the lowest union membership, and highest number of people on some kind of government program, the lowest salaries, the lowest life expectancies, the worst health coverage, the highest rates of uninsured, and the highest poverty rates.

This is indisputable. The numbers don't lie.

So you believe it's solely union membership related and not the demographic makeup of the population? Would you expect these populations to be conditioned to actually work for a living after Johnson's Great Society Program??? I'll answer for you..absolutely not. They get paid to stay home and the more babies they make, the more they get paid to stay home. This leads to multiple fathers that don't raise the child which leads to misdirection and a life of crime and a vicious cycle...need I go on?

[JustSomeGuy]

Originally Posted by Boomer

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

Publix has given employees ownership since the very first store was opened. Even ******* get stock after a year as a bonus. Stock has made most very comfortable at retirement. Today employees or ex-employees own over 50% of the company. Must work there to buy Publix stock. Sell it and you sell it back to the Publix.

[dadcat]

This country was founded by a union. 13 colonies, remember? Organized labor. Or do you prefer self checkout while the person who was at a register is now unemployed? Union Ironworker for 40 years, I have what I have because of it. Proud of it!

[mkjelenbaas]

Originally Posted by Boomer

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

I have held jobs that were unionized and not unionized - unions are a way to stifle midernatiin because they only think of having more members so the union. Oases can suck the life out of the members!!!

[TheWarriors]

Originally Posted by 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.

Why don’t the Unions ever start a Company? After all, they know best how to make and share profits.

[kamal]

Originally Posted by 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.

The monopolies in unions, specially the public unions where the customer has no alternative choices is a big issue. In private company unions at least you have a choice, if for example a car made by GM gets too expensive you can buy another brand. In public unions such as schools or federal workers unions there is a lot of unfunded liabilities in many States due to the defined pensions that decades ago the private sector also offered but not anymore switching to 401K contributions.
It is the one reason that the public unions vote 95% for the democrats as they pat each others backs. Basically the public unions don’t want themselves and their jobs and compensation be subject to market forces as much as in the private sector. The same market forces of outsourcing blue collar and then white collar jobs by both parties egged on by Wall Street.
That’s what led to the 2016 political shakedown by Trump on the right and Bernie Sanders on the left.

[MandoMan]

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’ve been a union member since 1986. I paid 1% of my salary in union dues. My union is responsible for getting me the investment options that allowed me to retire comfortably and move here. I only needed union representative help once, but it was there when I needed it, and it helped me get treated fairly.

If you read scholarly books about the history of labor unions, you can see that they came about because so many company owners treated workers as little better than slaves. They didn’t care if their workers were in poverty. Collective bargaining is responsible for generations of poor workers leaving poverty behind, getting better housing, sending their kids to college.

A lot of us in The Villages are here because labor unions fought to get us or our parents or grandparents health care benefits and pension benefits and higher wages. If not for unions, the many thousands of us who are here because we have pensions or were able to invest part of our salaries wouldn’t be here. We’d be trying to scrape by on Social Security.

Lots of factory workers from past generations saw their jobs disappear—from the mills of New England and Pennsylvania to North Carolina and Georgia, but then off to China and Mexico and other places. Union membership didn’t stop that, but it helped forestall it for a few years and get better treatment. Sometimes, though, the union managed to keep the factories running.

[bark4me]

Originally Posted by Dusty_Star

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

Can you say Mafia!

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by BigDawgInLakeDenham

Values that you have established and no one will change your minds. Those who are union members are easily identified and those who worked for a corporation that actually paid and provided benefits and no fear of lay-offs can be identified. I grew up in Baltimore near Sparrows Point Bethlehem Steel Mill and the Dundalk Marine Terminal. Everyone around me worked there.Think Francis Scott Key Bridge getting knocked down. Was there and could hear the collapse from my house. Everything was good until blue gave away American know how. Unions quickly became unnecessary and only a minority cling to unions because they don't want to or can't get a job with an actual company. Drug testing comes into play for many in my "neighborhood" nowadays. Speaking of my "neighborhood" I can say without hesitation that the Longshoremen are terribly overpaid and work second jobs or ride one of their motorcycles while they are on the clock. Unions provide their workers with too much protection that they routinely abuse their system and brag about it. No longer the people I grew up with, but all diversity and equity hires. Of course they demand more money to not work because that is exactly what Unions represent. Many collect welfare while getting paid 6 figures. I know this for a fact. Unions are selfish and not for America. Unions are the modern Mafia. You know where I stand

LOL, sounds more like a public sector union in NYC or Chicago.

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by GoRedSox!

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.

Wow, they did do a great job. Trying to remember when the last time I got a raise even close to that large....Oh, ya, NEVER. So either they were previously grossly UNDERpaid (Did the union bosses not do their job previously?) or they are asking for an exorbitant raise which no one else in the work force anywhere sees.

[elevatorman]

Unions have played a crucial role in securing many of the rights and benefits that workers enjoy today. In addition to paid holidays, paid vacations, and health care, unions have also been instrumental in advocating for and achieving:

The 8-hour workday and 40-hour workweek: Unions fought for limitations on working hours, leading to laws that standardize working time and establish the weekend.
Overtime pay: Workers receive higher compensation for hours worked beyond the standard workweek, thanks to union advocacy.
Minimum wage: Unions have been a driving force in the establishment and increase of minimum wage laws.
Child labor laws: Unions helped bring about laws that restrict child labor, ensuring children are not forced into exploitative working conditions.
Workplace safety regulations: Unions have fought for better working conditions, leading to the establishment of organizations like OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and regulations that ensure safer workplaces.
Family and medical leave: Unions have pushed for policies like the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which provides employees with unpaid, job-protected leave for family or medical reasons.
Pensions and retirement benefits: Many pension plans and retirement benefits are the result of union negotiations.
Protections against workplace discrimination: Unions have supported laws like the Civil Rights Act that prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, religion, and more in the workplace.
Collective bargaining rights: The right for workers to negotiate as a group with their employer for better wages, benefits, and working conditions is a foundational union achievement.
Job security and grievance processes: Many union contracts protect workers from arbitrary dismissal and provide clear processes for addressing disputes or unfair treatment.
These are just a few of the additional contributions unions have made to improve labor conditions and workers' rights over the years.

[Skunky1]

Fear keeps the masses in check

[LoisR]

Nonsense. Where is the data?
No unions? Less pay, less benefits, less job security for the employees. But, it certainly puts more money in the pockets of the owners.
Sounds like you have never benefitted from a union. What a shame.

[ehonour]

Administrators:

Please remove this political thread.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by elevatorman

Unions have played a crucial role in securing many of the rights and benefits that workers enjoy today. In addition to paid holidays, paid vacations, and health care, unions have also been instrumental in advocating for and achieving:

The 8-hour workday and 40-hour workweek: Unions fought for limitations on working hours, leading to laws that standardize working time and establish the weekend.
Overtime pay: Workers receive higher compensation for hours worked beyond the standard workweek, thanks to union advocacy.
Minimum wage: Unions have been a driving force in the establishment and increase of minimum wage laws.
Child labor laws: Unions helped bring about laws that restrict child labor, ensuring children are not forced into exploitative working conditions.
Workplace safety regulations: Unions have fought for better working conditions, leading to the establishment of organizations like OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and regulations that ensure safer workplaces.
Family and medical leave: Unions have pushed for policies like the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which provides employees with unpaid, job-protected leave for family or medical reasons.
Pensions and retirement benefits: Many pension plans and retirement benefits are the result of union negotiations.
Protections against workplace discrimination: Unions have supported laws like the Civil Rights Act that prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, religion, and more in the workplace.
Collective bargaining rights: The right for workers to negotiate as a group with their employer for better wages, benefits, and working conditions is a foundational union achievement.
Job security and grievance processes: Many union contracts protect workers from arbitrary dismissal and provide clear processes for addressing disputes or unfair treatment.
These are just a few of the additional contributions unions have made to improve labor conditions and workers' rights over the years.

Good post.

SOME of your points are true............but the ones true are very old and unions are living on 50, 60, 70 year old accomplishments. Unions "have delivered nothing lately" (I know that's extreme).

But read history, don't make it up............Henry Ford created 40 hour weeks and overtime long before unions were around.

The things unions "pushed for" as you say is true, but there is no proof the items would not have happened anyway.