I work for a non-union company. I get a decent wage, 3 weeks paid vacation, $5200/yr allowance for continuing education, and I pay zero (yes, zero) dollars out of my paycheck for health, dental, vision insurance.

My stepdad has been a union worker at a Welch's plant for 15 years. He makes $4/hr less than I do, gets 2 weeks vacation, pays out the azz for his insurance, and can be forced to work 16 hrs a day during grape season. Unions are NOT what they used to be.

borndead1 wrote:

Seams to be a lie from the conservative biased media,

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57544237/ala-utilities-our-crews-not-turned-away-from-n.j/ 

RWhisenand wrote:

I guess your situation and locale are different than mine.

I don't march in union parades, and shout from rooftops " go union ". It's fair to say, after 40 years on this planet, owning a construction company (non union), and working for a union company, I found what works for me. Where I'm at, I work my 40-60 hours, and get time with my family in a better proportion than anything else I've tried.

Everyone should do what works for them, and not bash the other.

sd72 wrote:

Seams to be a lie from the conservative biased media,

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57544237/ala-utilities-our-crews-not-turned-away-from-n.j/ 

RWhisenand wrote:

Yeah TJ but you don't have drive through margaritas next door anymore.

ZRX1200 wrote:

From the CBS report:
"Upon arriving at a staging area in Virginia, crews were held in place pending clarification of documents received from IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) that implied a requirement of our employees to agree to union affiliation while working in the New York and New Jersey areas. It was and remains our understanding that agreeing to those requirements was a condition of being allowed to work in those areas."

Even IF the initial "stand down" reports were exaggerated, it seems to me that this is nothing short of bureaucratic red tape during a time of dire emergency.

Bravo, IBEW.
You embody all that is wrong with unions.

tailgater wrote:

I'm glad they verified qualifications prior to going to work on public utilities. It's dangerous work, and should never be done by unqualified persons. It would seam that they were also held in order to determine where they would be best utilized as some of the areas they were comming to help already were comming back online. If workers refused to affiliate, it's on them not the IBEW.

RWhisenand wrote:

FU.


Tell that to the people without power. They drove utility trucks all the way from Alambama. You think think some Hicks stole a truck and thought "hey bubba lets go volunteer".

Jackass.

ZRX1200 wrote:

I'm glad they verified qualifications prior to going to work on public utilities. It's dangerous work, and should never be done by unqualified persons. It would seam that they were also held in order to determine where they would be best utilized as some of the areas they were comming to help already were comming back online. If workers refused to affiliate, it's on them not the IBEW.

RWhisenand wrote:

... It's disgusting how lazy, unionized government employees engage in such frivolous behavior as going up high rise buildings in a hurricane to check on the condition of a failing crane..

pdxstogieman wrote:

I'm glad they verified qualifications prior to going to work on public utilities. It's dangerous work, and should never be done by unqualified persons. It would seam that they were also held in order to determine where they would be best utilized as some of the areas they were comming to help already were comming back online. If workers refused to affiliate, it's on them not the IBEW.

RWhisenand wrote:

So, if professional utility workers belong to the IBEW they are "qualified", but if they choose not to join, the exact same professional workers are "un-qualified". Do you realize how ridiculous that is? It only makes sense to folks brain-washed in "Union-think".

Both my BILs work in the Trade Unions at Temple University. One is a plumber. He carries a union card, so I guess that makes him a "qualified" plumber. News for you. I'm a better plumber then he is, and I wouldn't let him touch a pipe in my home.

My other BIL tried to recruit me for a Union General Maintenance position over there. Read the booklet. I was allowed to paint 4' of trim, but not 4'1". Have to call in the painters for that extra inch. Could replace 2 floor tiles. Three required the flooring guys. Could plunge a toilet, but not snake it. That required a Plumber. Was allowed a 16 oz. claw hammer. I'm a contractor and use a 22 oz. ripping hammer most efficiently, but no, on this job, I would have to use a less efficient 16 oz. claw hammer. Had a 5-1/2" American made battery saw. Rule book stated 3-1/4" battery saw only. So, by Union rules, I'd have to retire my American made saw, and buy one from Japan. Rules on sizes and lengths of screw drivers, files, tape measures, etc. etc. Every possible tool I was permitted to have on the job site was spelled out and specified in detail in the book, and no deviations where permitted. Most union folk see this, and think it's normal. The rest of us see these kinds of rules and requirements, designed to increase the cost of labor, and decrease efficiency as "insanity". Just say'n.

dpnewell wrote: