Z06Vette.com - Corvette Z06 Forum

proexpert · 08-14-2003, 09:20 AM

What is your opinion of labor unions, good or bad.

Locally several union disputes ended with the business moving out of the area. If these businesses were not forced to find cheaper labor, they might still be operating here. Is it the union or is it the business conditions that caused the move? I don't know.

Verizon's union is going to strike, and they are encouraging customers to switch their phone service. Oh yeah, if you can't get what you want, then ruin the entire business. How dumb is that?

As a business owner, and life long white collar worker, I don't like them.

What do you say?

2k3ElectronZ06 · 08-14-2003, 09:36 AM

I'll be waiting for the results of this poll. Does anyone actually work for a union?

-Chris

Wingnut · 08-14-2003, 09:44 AM

Personally don't see any use for them. Years ago yes but now...no.

Ironic how they can strike to get what they want and maybe even deserve but if a company locks them out like Peterbilt...they cry and cry to get back in.

case2307 · 08-14-2003, 09:48 AM

I worked for Kroger for a year or so. They forced you to join the Union. I didn't like being forced to join if I wanted the job. I see both sides of the coin on this issue but, I voted no. I think they do more harm than good.

JMHO.

Case

IM4A2Z · 08-14-2003, 09:56 AM

I believe they have out lived their usefulness.

Penforhire · 08-14-2003, 10:52 AM

Unions were needed before labor laws and OSHA existed. Now unions exist to suck the life out of your wallet. Could I be any clearer on this? I despise unions. Yeah, my grocery bagger should make enough money to consider it a career...

Silver Ghost · 08-14-2003, 11:07 AM

I think they were good at one time, but now I think they just let a lot of lazy people who would be fired from a non-union job keep their jobs. Just my $0.02

z62jag · 08-14-2003, 11:10 AM

I don't know how the group demographics of forum members vary but I would guess the views will vary along the blue/white collar line. Personally, I have always thought that unions were started to protect employees from being abused by their employers. Child labor practices back in the early 1900's for example. I also feel that the need for organized labor has passed and that labor unions have taken on a life of their own. Unions are so powerful that at times it seems the union & management roles have been swapped.

Now that I have declared myself strongly on the anti-union side of this discussion let me add this. Yesterday I read a thread talking about a growing trend in which foreign workers are replacing U.S. workers, not because they possess some skill that is in short supply, but rather because they will work cheap! Its this sort of B.S. that is going to once again demand that all U.S. workers unionize to protect themselves from heavy handed corporate leadership. I am all for free trade & "globalization" but this crap has got to stop before the U.S. worker goes the way of the goonie bird.

Great question - sorry I couldn't give a simple Yes/No response

2k3ElectronZ06 · 08-14-2003, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by z62jag
Now that I have declared myself strongly on the anti-union side of this discussion let me add this. Yesterday I read a thread talking about a growing trend in which foreign workers are replacing U.S. workers, not because they possess some skill that is in short supply, but rather because they will work cheap! Its this sort of B.S. that is going to once again demand that all U.S. workers unionize to protect themselves from heavy handed corporate leadership. I am all for free trade & "globalization" but this crap has got to stop before the U.S. worker goes the way of the goonie bird.

Great question - sorry I couldn't give a simple Yes/No response

I stand on the opposite side of this issue. I'm a strong proponent of free-market capitalism. If someone is willing to work for $5/hr doing a certain job thats the value of that job If someone else is being paid $6/hr to do the same job he/she is overpaid. I agree with setting a minimum wage fixed at what we consider the poverty level, however unions artificially inflating the cost of labor which can be found cheaper elsewhere will just cause companies to move factories to countries where labor is more reasonably priced.

-Chris

TheDuke · 08-14-2003, 11:31 AM

Goes the way of the Goonie Bird. Well, I was reading not too long ago about some people that were scared of a group coming in and taking all of their jobs away. They worked in factories and such up north in New York and such. The people they were trying to keep from coming and taking their jobs.....They were slaves in the south. They weren't considered Americans either. Now you want to apply the same to a different group, but the argument is the same. They will work cheap and take our jobs. Ever think about how inflated salaries are these days. Why we have inflation. Guess what, deal with it, become better, or work cheaper. Unions had a purpose once, but it is gone. There is no need to have a union anymore. The one group out there that deserves/needs a union will never get one, the US Military. You want to look at under paid and over worked, take a look at them. So stop complaining about people coming and taking your job. They don't take them, we just don't fight for them.

Jerry Velders · 08-14-2003, 01:06 PM

Unions are a good thing, but they don't always or necessarily do the right things, or for the right reasons.

There has to be some kind of balance between the people who manage and profit, and those that do the day-to-day work of a business. The union is an equalizer in those circumstances, by giving workers, basically, power. Without unions, there would be nothing to stop companies from screwing their employees. It's an uneasy balance, but one that has to exist.

Zoomin · 08-14-2003, 01:31 PM

The problem with unions is that you must not only pay the worker, you have to pay for all that administrative overhead too. And the worker gets to chip in on that as well. It is sooo much more expensive to use union labor, it's a small wonder that companies relocate to get away from it - whether moving to another state or another country.

These days the margins are so thin because companies bid the living hell out of even a box of paperclips, you have to be able to compete. Unions often deny a company that ability to compete.

Wingnut · 08-14-2003, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zoomin
The problem with unions is that you must not only pay the worker, you have to pay for all that administrative overhead too. And the worker gets to chip in on that as well. It is sooo much more expensive to use union labor, it's a small wonder that companies relocate to get away from it - whether moving to another state or another country.

These days the margins are so thin because companies bid the living hell out of even a box of paperclips, you have to be able to compete. Unions often deny a company that ability to compete.

yep

Lady West · 08-14-2003, 01:36 PM

When unions were started to protect employees, they were a good thing. Now, I believe they have out lived their usefulness. (Hope my Dad & brother don't read this)

From what I have seen, the Unions no longer protect the workers, they are now more of a political platform....if a candidate for office has the backing of a Union, there is usually a hidden agenda on the part of the Union.

All to often big Unions seek out candidates and "get them elected to office".......but at what price?

**wvphoto** · 08-14-2003, 02:32 PM

unions are a policitcal (democrat) machine..
if you do not believe in their politics ...too damn bad
thats how i feel LOL

i think they had a place a long time ago ..when workers would get fired for age ... or injury
now with all the lawyers..
don't need the unions..
they just suck the workers dollars. !!

my .02