If you want to see inefficiency at work then by all means organize your company. Unions have been responsible for many companies relocating to other regions of the country and in many cases have resulted in some moving their operations abroad. Unions take away personal responsibility from the individual to produce. It also makes the union organizers rich. Unions are a major reason this country doesn't have much of a steel industry any more. They have also been instrumental in killing the U.S. auto industry. Unions promote inefficiency and protect the inefficient and unproductive. Just visit any of the union steel plants that are still around. Japanese and German automakers who have U.S. plants and are not unionized are making a profit and selling cars whereas their U.S. counterparts are broke and laying off workers. That should tell you something. I hear about companies intimidating workers to not join unions, but I can tell you some real horror stories about unions intimidating workers and management in an effort to organize these companies. I hope this bill doesn't pass but with these weak minded so called representatives we have in congress it is likely to pass. If people want to organize a company they should not mind things being above board and open. They should not want to be part of anything that would force them into servitude to the union. Frankly, I think if people are not happy with their wages they should either find another company to work for or start their own company rather than attempting to shake down their employer. Contrary to what is being promoted by the unions, this bill actually takes away workers rights to decide for themselves whether to organize or not.

 

I will say that I never liked unions, as it is protection for slackers and people who do not like to work.

I agree that it promotes inefficiency and slacking on the job.

Lots of money wasted.

If you are in a union and you work to fast, watch out as your buddies will come down on you.

You may be let go because your screwing with the program.

Some won't see it, but you will become insensitive to those you serve. Some don't care.

Some people enjoy the power to do nothing and get paid for it.

I've said enough.

 

I have to say, I am a little surprised at the anti-union sentiments voiced in these initial replies--but I don't know why I would be surprised, I've heard the same feelings expressed for years, especially coming from the South, where authority is mistrusted--but we also have to remember that our personalities, as truckers, leans toward the independent side. I know that and accept it.

But these times we're living in now are hard-times and I don't think they just a passing thing--I think we are going to have to do things differently in the future.

In the past, people started-out at those big companies knowing they were going to be slaved, but they endured the time in order to reap the rewards of being able to graduate to being an OO, or getting a better Union job, or non-Union job if that was their desire. The difference now, is that these big companies are no longer a stepping stone--they are a job. They are a real, long-term, one and only J-O-B. There is no more upward movement in trucking. The OOs out there now are barely surviving and there are no new OOs coming on board. So something has to change.

Agreed?

 

G-man the union did not kill the US auto company's. Just to let you know only 10% of a new cars price is labor. I saw on CNN even if the workers worked for free the US Auto company's would still be in trouble. Just my 2cents.

I also like how all you guys think union workers are lazy bums. Come on a job-site and look at union labors in the ditch laying pipe they work harder in one day then most drivers work in a week.:thumbsup:

 

I will also like to point out. If these OTR company's treat their drivers so good they shouldn't have to worry about going Union cuz the drivers will not vote it in.

The septic company i worked for we try to go union and couldn't get enough votes cuz allot of the guys thought they had a good deal and didn't want to mess it up. So not all company's that try to go union go union. But I'm sure most OTR driver will vote union if they can cuz they know the deal they have ain't that great.

 

Unions were not the only problem that has plagued the auto industry, but they have been a major source of the problem, at least with the U.S. automakers. Government regulations have also played a part. However, it was the unions who would order strikes and shut their companies down costing their employers millions of dollars per day in lost revenue. Labor is usually the largest single expense for most companies. I would want to take a closer look at the numbers quoted by CNN. They are too easily manipulated. Benefits should also be counted in labor costs as well as retirement contributions. The percentage they mentioned was probably the retail price which is not what the manufacturer receives but the dealer which includes his mark up and may include items installed at the dealer which may not be included in their calculations. I also know that there have been more problems with the U.S. made autos than many of the former imports as far as quality control. That requires additional costs to the manufacturer in having to correct poor workmanship.

I know what unions did to the steel industry in the 1970's in Ohio. Youngstown used to have a strong steel industry presence. I have also seen first hand how little many union workers do their jobs. I was talking to one of my drivers the other day. We were discussing the big U.S. Steel plant in Gary. The last time I was there the plant wasn't doing all that much for a facility that large. In fact, it was all but shut down. I had one guy loading me and 5 watching. If I go into a non-union plant there is usually no one supervising and one guy who either loads or unloads my truck. I have been to many construction sites. One in particular stands out in my mind. I delivered a load to a power plant that was under construction. There was 1 guy operating the crane, two guys unloading the truck and at least 3 managers watching. It is no wonder it costs so much to build a nuclear power plant.

I have been to many steel plants over the years. I have received better service and been treated better at the non-union plants. I have been to very few plants where there was a strong union presence that they worked as they should to get the job done. Most try to do as little as possible. I understand some of you like to work in a union environment. I won't put you down for belonging to one. I prefer to be paid on performance. I know this industry could not survive with a strong union presence. We are having enough of a difficult time without having to pay workers for sitting around. I know what it would be like if otr drivers were paid by the hour. We would see much less productivity but much higher labor costs.

There is an attitude of entitlement with many union workers. Just look at some of those who have posted who want to be paid for going to the toilet, taking a shower, eating and sleeping. I have never heard any of these unions or their members discuss how much more they will produce if they get the extra pay and goodies they want when it comes to negotiations or contracts. I have known of some who have been penalized by their fellow union workers for actually being productive. By their very nature unions are anti capitalism and pro socialism. That goes against the free enterprise system we enjoy in this country.

 

Mackman:

There are plenty of union guys that work hard.

I also have friends that work very hard on road construction crews.

But,

I have been in two different unions. I have been told to slow down, not work so hard and where to hide out to avoid working.

I like to work, I can not work like that. It actually makes the day last longer.

I have also waited time and time again for a union guy to finish his coffee before he would even speak to me. Let alone try to help me get my load off the truck.

The majority of the time it is the I'm better then you attitude. Go scatch I'll get you when I'm good and ready.

 

From here:

Silver Pen Letter: EFCA ensures companies do right thing | Postcrescent.com | Appleton Post-Crescent

 

I've said it here before and I'll say it again, I'm a member of the Teamsters union and I bust my f'in as$ every day, if I didn't, I wouldn't be working there, union or not.

I appreciate the superior wages and benefits that result from working union.

These comments about all union workers f'ing off or being lazy just pis$ me off no end.

WTF, should we all just go and work for f'in minimum wage while the corporate bigwigs continue to line their pockets with the fruits of our labor?

And don't give me that f'in sh*t about performance based pay. Union workers are generally more skilled than non union workers, and can command higher pay due to higher productivity.

That "performance based pay" sh*t assumes that every employee is going to f*ck off on the job unless you dangle the carrot on the stick in front of them to make them work.

I feel sorry for any employer that thinks such tactics are necessary to get his or her employees to give a good days work, and I feel even sorrier for the employees that work for that type of boss.

End of rant.

:hellno::hellno::hellno::hellno:

 

I never said that all union workers are lazy. I did convey my experiences with some of them. My experience is more like that of Sidman. I have seen first hand how little many of them want to work. You may be a good worker, but not all union workers like to work. With performance pay you don't need anyone to represent you if you are a good worker. You produce, you make money. Performance pay is fair for both the worker and company.