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The Resident Advisors (RA's) at UMass Amherst are now part of the local UAW. They are unionized. It's bad enough the colleges are a bastion for the Liberal Agenda, now the so called "Leaders" of the resident life buildings are using an outdated vehicle to advance their agenda. I applaud their drive, but abhore their decision. Their individual identities will be lost to a union agenda, and their visions of accomplishent will be replaced by the illusion of entitlements. This is a sad day indeed.

Yes, a hundred voices are louder, but decibel level does not equate to being right or wrong. The unions were once upon a time a necessary element in this great country. But they have become the very symbol for what is wrong in todays' America: Zero Responsiblity. They promote lazyness in the workplace. They handcuff industries from paying the proper wages. They create a feeling of entitlement and disuade individuals from thinking "outside the box". Hell, I've been to manufacturing plants where I wasn't allowed to turn on an overhead light at the machinery I was working on. We had to wait for an Electrician! On another occassion, at a trade show I was literally threatened when I tried to hang a sign at my company's booth. The slimy Guido union leader got in my face and threatened to shut down the whole show if I continued. These are only a couple of examples, and the list is long. Unions Suck. They serve NO constructive purpose in this day and age. And now the commy pinko RA's are part of the biggest offenders. For the record, I was an RA at my University. The job ain't that tough, they're crying for nothing.

I have thought about this alot since I worked a job in the early 80's as a "part timer". I paid union dues if I worked a 40 hour week. This was most of the time. Yet I received no benefits. Were my hard earned bucks paying for the union leaders swimming pool?. Probably. But what if the unions disbanded? Why then should employers offer any benefits? Why not slash wages? Profit sharing? Why share? You get the drift. No doubt there would be some great employers and lots of real as***les. The unions are bloated and corrupt in many cases,yes. But get rid of them and we would be back to the bad old days in short order.

Unions suck! They serve one purpose today, and that is steal money and to make the top dogs in the Union rich! Charlie

Whoops gotta clean the mouse! Unions still suck! Charlie

shakin the bushes boss shakin the bushes!

"What we have here, is a failure to communicate"! Charlie

Ummmm...Whadda they want, bring in a little union muscle if ya plays yer music too loud? Unionized dorm cops...whatta joke

I agree with alot of what you say Tailgater, we are not on opposite sides. However, the reason foreign countrys produce alot of wares for cheap is because their manufacturers pay slave wages and work their people like dogs. Similar to the US before collective bargaining created the middle class in the 30's. Are their underachievers in the workforce? You bet! There are some foot draggers in management too. Enron is a perfect example of management gone wrong. Laborers need some kind of organization to address grievances and keep management honest. If you can do that at your company without a union I say beautiful! You are what's right with America.

Aren't the New England Patriots members of a union? Just wondering!

Good argument....now we can blame the Unions for higher taxes....sure...that's the problem!

As for the Patriots....!? Are you trying to make my point for me? Yes, NFL players are part of a union. Which should prove to you that they are not needed. What the hell does a 24 year millionaire need a group backing him for? So he can make 100 million instead of the paltry 50 million? Or perhaps he needs better health care since he can't afford it? Players Unions have nearly ruined pro sports.

Have Unions outlived their usefullness? A few questions to think about: Would employers provide their workers with health insurance if unions were not there to insist on it? If they did provide some type of health insurance, would it be as good as what the unions have won? Without the unions as the watchdog they are, would the government enforce the Occupational, Safety and Health Act? Without the protection offered workers by union contracts, would a lot of employees end up losing their jobs because they would allow themselves to be abused? Would employees of large corporations get the respect,dignity and security that they have without union backing? Without Unions there to make sure that the law is enforced, wouldn't a lot of employers try to cheat workers by paying less than the federal minimum wage, state prevailing wage, or refusing to pay overtime? Without a Union to turn for help, wouldn't alot of women be subjected to sexual harassment and be afraid for speaking out for fear of being fired..the same for other minorities and racial discrimination? No indeed, Unions have not outlived there usefulness. They are needed now more than ever. Until government truly watches out for the American people,until business takes the view that civilized behavior towards employees and consumers is more important than the bottom line or Tailgater's view, there will be a need for Unions, for the ability of workers to speak and unite as one, regardless of race, gender, religion or capabilities you can count on.

Hogwash. You have been bamboozeled by the Unions! You've been to one too many meetings. For crying out loud, you sound brainwashed! Next I'll hear how the unions are the reason for the sun rising every morning. If you want credibility, don't suggest that "fair" wages are won by unions. And don't pretend that Unions are really in it for the workers. Just like those big corporations that you hate, the Unions are in if for the bottom line: Your Dues. And it's a REAL SHAME that you feel you need for the Government and/or a Union to look out for you. What ever happened to Responsiblity and Self Respect?! I guess there are no dues for that...

Yes! I expect my Government and Union to look out for me without any loss of responsibility and self repsct. For you to question these qualities that I do in fact have, shows simply that you are lacking in these same qualities and quite a few others. According to your omnicient point of view, no one else is allowed to have a belief or point of view contrary to yours. You obviously don't see the sun rise every morning like I do and yes, that is the result of good, hard Union work!

Just curious, Todog: Since you buy only American, which cigars do you smoke, White Owl or Hava-Tampas?

Yes there are good things and bad things about unions. If you know your US history then you know what the industrial workplace was like before unions. Are the majority of workers better off now than their forefathers were then? I must say they are. The unions are largely responsible. I don't know who or what else you can give credit to.

Leave it to Tailgater to nickel and dime for the sake of argument. Yes! I confess that I do enjoy this wonderful habit of smoking cigars payed for with my hard-earned union wage and that there are no union made or sold cigars that I can find....just as I'm sure that Tailgater enjoys the many Union-made and sold comforts of everyday life in the beautiful Democratic state of Massachusetts. John

I agree that there are some bad apples in union membership and some of the Unions themselves are indeed corrupt. You cannot blame all Uions and there membership as a whole for these bad apples! Not all Unions promote complacency by ignoring individual effort. That complacency and individual effort can only be contolled by the individual. There are many more non-union workers on unemployment that your hard earned tax dollars are paying for. The union workers who are unemployed are supported by their unions in this effort. My union negotiates a contract that we ratify. Why is this different than our right to vote for the candidate of choice in an election. I can live with the fact that my candidate might lose but you cannot live with the fact that Unions are a powerful presence in our society! It is obvious that Tailgater and I will never be in agreement on this subject but at least I assume that we can can choose how we want to live our lives wether it be union or non-union. I have lived and grown up in a union family my whole life and graduated from college also, and this way of life has been successful for me and countless other around me. Tailgater has obviously found success his way also but I do not pretend to argue that his way is the wrong way as he has argued that the Union way is the wrong way!

So, in a nutshell: unions are a good thing which are often misused by bad people. Kind of like every other good thing in the history of the world. That will be my last word on the subject. Thanks for the education!

I already told the story of my run-in with Guido at the trade show. But did I mention?: At an automotive injection molding shop outside of detroit, I was not allowed to plug in a drop light. I had to wait over 20 minutes for the electrician to come off of break and do it for me. At another shop, I tossed a candy bar wrapper and missed the trash barrel. I was NOT allowed to pick it up. Apparently, it was someone else's job. Back in high school when my History teacher was known (even by other teachers) to be a waste, the school couldn't get rid of him due to tenure in the union. When an ex-girlfriend wanted to go to work at her new job, she would have had to cross a roudy picket line to do so (she's a nurse). My brother sells natural gas service to residential accounts, and is FORCED to use the union installers even though they cost his customers about 30% more than other licensed installers. Perhaps it's different at your job. It sounds like you earn an honest living. But you'd also earn an honest living even without the crutch of the union. Sure, the events I listed here are only a few specifics, but believe me that's only the tip of the iceburg. And NONE of it would happen if the unions didn't exist.

So, you're saying that ALL union members are well educated? Reread my post. All I did was point out that under the union the pay scale is based on time on the job, NOT by skills or effort. As for "Guido", although that may not be his name, the story is 100% true. You are so caught up in your Union euphoria that you dismiss facts as fiction just so you can sleep better. I'll gladly tell you the story over a nice (non-union) cigar. It's actually quite hilarious. And I know that although it appeared stereotypical it was most likely the exception to the rule. But any organization that could allow that kind of mentality with zero repercussion has outlived it's usefulness.

It is sometimes difficult to make a clear point in this forum, do in part to my lack of ability to properly paragraph my sentences, and also due to my inability to complete a thought without rambling into another one. But my point is the complete opposite of what you are saying. MY point was NEVER that unions were comprised mostly of lazy folks. If they were all lazy then they would deserve the equal pay they receive. My point was that ability is largely ignored, thereby creating a disincentive to work harder. Entitlement (by means of tenure) replaces achievement (by means of effort). And one last thing: Although I do enjoy discussing this subject with someone as knowlegable and passionate as you, there are many places where I can not be so bold. You see, one thing that they don't teach in union-cult school is to be tolerant with those who disagree.

justforfun : although i have never joined a union, i did try to orgnize the aaa in so calif. the sales people were having their production quotos increased every other year. at the end of 8 years i was working about 50% more for the same money. i had 3 of the 20 odd offices 90% signed, but the teamsters wanted at least 60 % of the total offices and the other four guys never did squat to get cards signed from their share of offices. i quit as soon as i realized they would probably dump me and i opened my own office. maybe unions are corrupt now and maybe they always were, but no more children working, no more sweat shops (except foreign labor working here) the demise of the unions by the nasa agreement has screwd up a lot of people. people used to go to work for some company on an assembly line and knew they could buy a home because they expected to have a permanent job with promotions possible. when you guys ask your parents about the american dream, it was in the 40's and 50's, when almost anyone could buy his own home and live a fairly decent life. welfare as we know it was none existent. people didn't fight for the best parking spot like they do now, because they are under so much pressure they bring it home. road rage didn't exist. people wer generally in better spirits. did the unions do that? i think they helped. at least you aren't working for slave wages 12 hours a day with no hope. nasa is the culprit that has changed our lives for the worst. i know it had to be clinton and gore for everything bad and w will fix it, so any mention of these people, i will ignore as the nonsense it is.