Four Unions Agree to Boycott AFL-CIO's Annual Meeting

[W*GS]

Interesting.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aZRZiwndvw7A&refer=us

[Spider]

If the Teamsters pull out the AFL -CIO union , that will be a huge hit .... But we all know the teamsters are the best union , and ran the best out of them all .......... So if the teamsters say adios , the others should to

[Bronco_Beerslug]

If the Teamsters pull out the AFL -CIO union , that will be a huge hit .... But we all know the teamsters are the best union , and ran the best out of them all .......... So if the teamsters say adios , the others should to
The International Brotherhoods of Boilermakers, Ironworkers, Electricians, Pipefitters and Millwrights (industrial trades) are all fairly strong, well organized unions and I don't foresee any of them pulling out of the AFL-CIO anytime soon but that may change. Sweeney is the focal point for the pullout. If he stays in more might drag up.

I know a lot of people don't think they are getting the bang for the buck they ought to. The AFL-CIO did just secure (all union agreement with Xcel) the new power house in Pueblo. Work for 800-1000 men for around 3 years.

[Rascal]

Personally I think unions have grown to powerful but they are still needed to protect the american worker although I think even their voice gets silenced due to all the political BS that goes on.

[enjolras]

Unions, as a rule, do nothing but hurt the American economy. Look what they've done to the major airlines. They are a force that does nothing but subvert the free market, which requires the involvement of government (which makes strikes and other disruptive behavior possible). The aim of a union is noble (who doesn't want to make life better for workers?). The end result is a collage of minor victories for the worker, but a literal graveyard of businesses who have fallen victim to the inherent expense and inefficiency a union creates. In the end the very workers the union was supposed to protect simply end up out of work altogether.

[Rascal]

I agree and disagree to an extent.

You can't blame the unions solely for the collapse of the airline industry. They were fat and happy to begin with and then couldn't adapt when things changed. Although dealing with the unions who wouldn't compromise didn't help that's for sure.

They have helped, and they have hurt the American economy. I don't fault workers who join unions. Otherwise they would often have no protection from companies that would not give them a fair shake. At the same time the unions have become so powerful that their hard stance will often lead to their own demise (company folding).

If anything I think unions and companies are an example of the host (company) needing the parasite (union) and vica-versa. If one dies so does the other. I just think they need to recognize it and I think some have begun too (company and union).

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Unions, as a rule, do nothing but hurt the American economy. Look what they've done to the major airlines. They are a force that does nothing but subvert the free market, which requires the involvement of government (which makes strikes and other disruptive behavior possible). The aim of a union is noble (who doesn't want to make life better for workers?). The end result is a collage of minor victories for the worker, but a literal graveyard of businesses who have fallen victim to the inherent expense and inefficiency a union creates. In the end the very workers the union was supposed to protect simply end up out of work altogether.


Yeah, lets all move to a service economy with no benefits of any kind so corporations can improve their bottom lines ASAP.

And we need to let all these companies that promised fair wages and benefits for American workers claim bankruptcy since they no longer can pay their management 7 figures every year.
Stupid American workers, who do they think they are wanting fair wages for fair work and decent and safe working conditions

Shouldn't be too much longer before ultra rich in this country get their wish and turn our country into a third world cesspool.

[Spider]

Unions, as a rule, do nothing but hurt the American economy. Look what they've done to the major airlines. They are a force that does nothing but subvert the free market, which requires the involvement of government (which makes strikes and other disruptive behavior possible). The aim of a union is noble (who doesn't want to make life better for workers?). The end result is a collage of minor victories for the worker, but a literal graveyard of businesses who have fallen victim to the inherent expense and inefficiency a union creates. In the end the very workers the union was supposed to protect simply end up out of work altogether.
:saywhat: Unions have nothing to do with how piss poor the airlines are ran ...without Unions ......
Maybe you would enjoy working for .75 cents and hour , and no benefits ...
Get hurt on the job . oh well next time if there is one, you will be more carefull ..
A day is 24 hours long , no reason why you cant work 16 hour days ....
We will give you sunday off though ......
I wonder why the trucking Industry is full of teamsters union yet they are in fine shape .....

[W*GS]

I have no problem with unions as a principle - however, over the last few decades, American unions seem to be more interested in making sure their members get jobs at good wages. That's fine, but unless the unions work to get more members, unionizing jobs outside of the industrial sector (granted, there are service job unions, but not many), and working with all employees to assure them their rights, unions will be seen as just another special interest group. They've made strategic mistakes over and over again - which is a big reason why they're far less powerful than they used to be. They've tied themselves too closely to the Democratic Party as well.

As the political and economic landscape has changed around them, unions just haven't kept pace.

[Spider]

I have no problem with unions as a principle - however, over the last few decades, American unions seem to be more interested in making sure their members get jobs at good wages. That's fine, but unless the unions work to get more members, unionizing jobs outside of the industrial sector (granted, there are service job unions, but not many), and working with all employees to assure them their rights, unions will be seen as just another special interest group. They've made strategic mistakes over and over again - which is a big reason why they're far less powerful than they used to be. They've tied themselves too closely to the Democratic Party as well.

As the political and economic landscape has changed around them, unions just haven't kept pace.
Flip it around ....... after the blood fued between Hoffa and Kennedys , the Democrats latched on to unions ......
thats the thing though W*GS , Unions have tried to reach , Unions are even trying to get into Wyoming ( it is a Bítch ) but we do have a couple here ..
The Unions would love to have the service sector , seriously they would .....
the Unions realy havent made mistakes , the decline of the unions over the last 40 years are due to Companies hiring consultants , to figure out a legal strategy to keep unions out ..... Remember the big Union busting companies went on ? in fact is was made so east to bust a union by the right .. All a company had to do was "shutdown " for x amount of Days , Reopen under a Different name , example hipwaders was now hipwaders inc.. .. If Unions did make a mistake it was not fighting fire with fire ....... If all Unions would have been able to support their members better $$$ they could have survived Union busting .......

[Garcia Bronco]

Unions suck....enough said. Their time has passed.

[clarker]

I think unions had there time in history when they were needed, but with min. wage and all the fedral regs on companies they have pretty much accomplished what they were for.

As for them dealing on wages now, the problem I have them is that they deal for the large group. So a worker who is a slacker gets the same amount as a worker who will put in extra hours, do over and above what is asked of. I don't think that is fair.

But I'm no union expert, so I could be wrong. But with min. wage and the saftey standards we have now, I would rather let my work speak for it's self than a union rep, IMO.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Unions suck....enough said. Their time has passed.
You do too although I'm not sure if your time ever was here. :thumbsup:

I guess it would be too much to expect any kind of reply from GB that contains reasoning or substance to argue his stance.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

I think unions had there time in history when they were needed, but with min. wage and all the fedral regs on companies they have pretty much accomplished what they were for.

As for them dealing on wages now, the problem I have them is that they deal for the large group. So a worker who is a slacker gets the same amount as a worker who will put in extra hours, do over and above what is asked of. I don't think that is fair.

But I'm no union expert, so I could be wrong. But with min. wage and the saftey standards we have now, I would rather let my work speak for it's self than a union rep, IMO.

Yeah, that's the prevailing feeling now-a-days from the younger generation and people who really don't know exactly what unions do for American workers. Not all unions are created equal either just like not all companies want to screw workers just to pad their bottom line.

Throughout the years government regulation of union pension, annuity and health plans has basically made sure that everything is on the up and up.
To remain competitive the last 25 years we've had to negotiate individual jobs at up to 20% off the current collective bargaining agreements to help union contractors secure their bids. Giving up things like subsistence and travel pay to secure the work. And the thing is the companies would rather have us in there anyway than non-union companies because of our safety records and training (4 years classroom and 4 years OJT).
We negotiated company friendly rights during these times also. If a hand doesn't show up for work the company can run him off. If a hand is insubordinate a company can run him off, etc, etc... All hands are drug tested with a yearly physical provided by the union.

The really good hands eventually move up to company positions if they desire to or move up in the union hierarchy.

I feel I'm very fortunate compared to most Americans having a great pension and a trade that I could work internationally. And having worked throughout the country since the 70s I've met and worked with hundreds of great union brothers and sisters (who would give you all the cash in their pocket, or a place in their home to sleep, if you needed it,) and am a better person for it.

[clarker]

Yeah, that's the prevailing feeling now-a-days from the younger generation and people who really don't know exactly what unions do for American workers. Not all unions are created equal either just like not all companies want to screw workers just to pad their bottom line.

Throughout the years government regulation of union pension, annuity and health plans has basically made sure that everything is on the up and up.
To remain competitive the last 25 years we've had to negotiate individual jobs at up to 20% off the current collective bargaining agreements to help union contractors secure their bids. Giving up things like subsistence and travel pay to secure the work. And the thing is the companies would rather have us in there anyway than non-union companies because of our safety records and training (4 years classroom and 4 years OJT).
We negotiated company friendly rights during these times also. If a hand doesn't show up for work the company can run him off. If a hand is insubordinate a company can run him off, etc, etc... All hands are drug tested with a yearly physical provided by the union.

The really good hands eventually move up to company positions if they desire to or move up in the union hierarchy.

I feel I'm very fortunate compared to most Americans having a great pension and a trade that I could work internationally. And having worked throughout the country since the 70s I've met and worked with hundreds of great union brothers and sisters (who would give you all the cash in their pocket, or a place in their home to sleep, if you needed it,) and am a better person for it.I'm glad it has worked out for you. I was just giving my opinion, not making a case for or against them.

I'm sure there are alot of great unions. I mean they can't all be ran by the mob. ;)

Just kidding with you.

[Garcia Bronco]

You do too although I'm not sure if your time ever was here. :thumbsup:

I guess it would be too much to expect any kind of reply from GB that contains reasoning or substance to argue his stance.


Dude...I'm trying to get some work done....besides...naything I'd say has already been said by E in the second or third post.

[W*GS]

The count of unions planning to leave the AFL-CIO is now 8.

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/c2b4d9c2-fd31-11d9-b224-00000e2511c8.html

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Unions have a much different role than they did 50 years ago. Due to the current world economy and the instant availabiltity of information and resources, companies need to be able to respond very fast to changing conditions and changing markets. The biggest problem with unions these days is that they tend to slow that process, allowing non union and foreign competitors an advantage. GM is a perfect example of this. Due to union rules they have only very recently been able to build plants that rival the foreign car makers in efficiency. In doing so they have cut the labor component of the manufacturing cost significantly, but have been able to increase the quality of the cars they produce. In some of their plants they can now go from concept to showroom in 9 months instead of the 3 years it took just 5 years ago.

[Spider]

I would be for reforming unions ......
I do think they need to change ...... streamline the paper work ...... Pensions are non negotiable issue , but Wages , Benefits , discounts ie , would be on the table as to the market and the company's bottom line ..... with in reason of course , 5-10% flux would be a consideration .....
The main focus of the Union was to keep GM on pace without losing workers ......
A Union is a great Idea , done alot for american workers , but a Union is only as good as those that run it , ego's , power trips , greed all get in the way ........