From the website: http://www.nbpa.com/cba.php So if you don't want to be a member of the union but the majority accept the agreement can you NOT pay your dues and still play in the NBA?

And from the website: http://www.nbpa.com/cba_articles/article-I.php Looks like to me it is a 5 year contract with possible extension of one additional year.

Anyone can get a written contract, if he/she is in demand, and you don't have to be in a union to get a contract.

I agree trucking companies hold most of the cards because drivers are not in a position to get a contract unless they are leased to a carrier.

I guess I was lucky I have never had a problem like you describe either as a company driver or as a owner operator.

kc0iv

 

I find it interesting that the thread has taken an anti/pro union twist.

I haven't been approached by any union trying to get me interested. That intrigues me because it seems like we are a very large pool of potential dues payers.

If any company Driver has been approached, please speak up.

To the contrary, company Drivers might be interested to know that a large portion of the warehouse network we deliver to/from were and are being built with union pension money. Has anyone else noticed how much new warehouse space is being built? Anyway, we have a close relationship with the union(s) but no one is trying to sign us up . . and it makes me wonder . .

The Teamsters owned a big chunk of Swift stock. In fact they were suing Swift prior to Moyes, etc, buying the shares back and taking the company private. There has been some speculation that the Teamster suit was the reason . . and it makes me wonder . .

I'm kind of suggesting the mega-carriers may have a "hands off our Drivers" arrangement with the union(s) but who knows? Anything is possible, I guess. At the same time, maybe the unions are in the process of building a nationwide feeder system and, once in place, they'll come knocking on the sleeper to try to sign me up.

If you like the mega carriers being in control, don't do or say anything.

If you want the unions to be in control, give them a call and sign your ass up.

If YOU want to be in control, you're going to have to get active and get the law changed.

Be thankful for your freedom! Have a safe and happy 4th!

 

So, you are saying that it OK for drivers to STEAL from their employers and ABANDON the equipment that they have been assigned? :roll:

 

Although the contracts are often multi-year agreements, there is a provision in every contract that states the union can be decertified at any time during the year. The NFL Player's Association was decertified in 1989 and was re-established in 1993. Yes, it does take a majority vote to do so.

Yes:

Article V, Section 1: "Every NFL player has the option of joining or not joining the NFLPA"

OK, then according to that logic why do these players who earn millions and have skills that are obviously in demand agree to join a union and pay dues?

You either trucked 20-some odd years ago or you just didn't realized you were getting screwed or just went along with the screwing thinking you were making big $$$$.

 

Landstar has no company drivers, so their turnover rate is irrelevant to this discussion. But whoever told you they have lost 1500 drivers is wrong. Their total driver count has remained flat this year.


I think you better read what I wrote again. If you rented a house to a bunch of crack dealers, would you really be justified in complaining that they were dealing crack out of the house? The same applies to companies hiring less than desirable drivers to operate their equipment. If they don't want the problems of dealing with lousy employees, they should pay a rate that will attract better employees, or STFU.

 

Well the truth is I first drove about 40 years ago got out and got back in about 10 years ago. Then retired about 3 years ago.

As to getting screwed I didn't think I did. Maybe just maybe I alway what a good relationship with my employers. They treated me fairly and I treated them fairly. For sure I got some crappy runs but I also had some sweet runs. On the balance I'd say got many more of the sweet runs.

Did I make the big bucks? I don't know. I have no idea what the big bucks are. I know I made a good living and when I retired I didn't go on welfare.

The thing I have seen the last few years is the attitude of the newer drivers. Then again I don't think it is limited to just drivers seems the people of this generation think the world owes them everything.

kc0iv

 

There isn't a good way for carriers to screen everyone to see who will steal from them or abandon a truck. It is difficult to find this information out unless the driver was charged by a previous action. To say that all problems are the cause of the carrier is as wrong as saying that ALL problems with this industry are caused by the drivers. Neither are true. There are problems on both sides. Not all drivers steal. Not all carriers are bad. There is absolutely NO excuse for someone to steal from the company for whom they work. In fact, I see no reason for anyone to steal. I wish more carriers would prosecute those who steal. Unfortunately, it is sometimes cheaper to simply get rid of the driver than go through the process of filing charges. It has the same effect as an insurance company paying off a claim that they know is wrong, but it is less expensive to pay the claim than take it to court. Rather than steal from his company or abandon a truck the driver should quit. That is the right thing to do.

 

While I will concede that there problems on both sides, the side that has the ability and need to take action is the CARRIER. The fact that they don't take action causes those bad apples to continue in the industry.

Many carriers don't even go that far. They let these bad apples mess up time and time again because it is cheaper to fix their mistakes than to put someone else into the truck. When they finally do fire them, they do so quietly.

The right thing to do only applies to the good apples. The bad apples don't give a damn. What the industry needs is more good apples. They will not get them when they are paying substandard wages.

What happens when the airline industry gets a pilot who doesn't cut it? They get fired. Does that pilot immediately go get into another plane and fly for someone else? No. The trucking industry should be no different.

 

If they abandoned their truck...They're probably not coming in tomorrow GMAN! :lol:

 

It would help if carriers could put more specific information in a DAC report. The way it is now, there is only certain information that can be placed in a driver's report. It is too generic. Carrier's are too afraid of being sued. Some of the carriers just don't want to have to deal with litigation. It makes it more difficult for others to get accurate information. That is one reason some of these bad apples slip through the cracks. They need to make a lot of noise about these drivers. If we could get rid of some of these people it would make it easier to justify paying higher wages.

We do need more good apples. We have some good drivers now. It is a shame that there are so many on the lower end of the performance scale. I don't consider $40-50M+/year as substandard wages. That is a higher wage than most people in this country earn.