My place of employment is on the verge of voting in a Union (Teamsters) and I have no idea what to expect. So I ask you (my Lightning family) if you have any experience with Unions, are they worth the dues (what are the dues)? Thanks in advance for your insight.

 

If your gonna be in a union, that’s the one you want to be in. The Teamsters are still one of the (if not the) strongest Union out there. Are they good, yes and no. I'm not union and I make more money than the union employee's in my place "BUT" at the end of the rainbow, I'll be eating dog food and living in a box on the side of the road, and the union people will be living off their retirement plans. They'll also watch your back and fight for your rights if ever need be. This I know from personal experience, I've had the UNFORTUNATE Job of firing and writing up many Teamsters when I was the manager of a Large NY Plumbing Supply, lets just say they don't like to lose and will DO EVERY THING in there power to win. They did however come a long way from the God Father Days. I never woke up with a Horse Head in my bed

 

I work at a MD nuclear power plant and we had the vote a couple years ago. The NO vote won by a small margin-you know the typical co. pitches like you won't be able to talk to your supervisors anymore, be more rules, high dues, loss of family atmosphere, and all the other B/S that they pay consultants and union busters to shove down your throat like a union is the worst thing since VD. If you don't have a union the company is free to do a lot of things the way they want. I know 'cause I'm seeing it now. All those people who voted to "Represent Themselves" as pushed by the company are seeing their jobs at stake now. We are seeing favoritism, good ol' boy crap, and basically a good picture of what a co. will do when the board of directors decides they want to look better on Wall St. They don't give up their bonuses and perks, cut their own ridiculously high pay, offer to take early outs, etc. They make the employees do it. We are seeing people who should have been fired years ago for drinking, theft, padding time and so on taking jobs from good employees because that's how they set the "Top Quartile Production Costs" goals to work. (Funny-so many people say UNIONS make companies keep worthless people--not so true) The supervisors -up to 25- sit in the "smoke filled room and decide your fate. How can some lower rated employee who has never done your job, which you've done well for ten years, as noted by proficiencies, be more qualified than you for your own job?? Well, I'm very pro union and if you work for a company you don't trust and has proven in the past you can't trust them, then you had better vote yes. If they are fair and treat you well, then you really don't need it. We do, really bad but it's too late. I voted yes and will again if it comes around. I would need an hour to cover all the details but I assure you those that voted no wish they didn't. The ones that voted yes told them they would be sorry, and now they are. It won't fix everything but at least the employees have some say as to how things like layoffs happen. Oh yea, and 80% of the east coast plants make more than we do. Feel free to email me if you want more info. dond@comcast.net

 

I was in the largest Law Enforcement Union ever devised. Theres always good with the bad. however, when it comes to you losing your job, 99% of the time they will back you 100% and you will retain your employment. I wasnt to happy with my monthly $60 dues though. They do get you raises though. Law Enforcement isnt allowed to strike but i know the teamsters like to do it on occassion. What kind of employment are you in?

 

Our plant has lied cheated and practically stolen from us ever since it was taken over by the new owners. Our "President" as he calls himself is foreign and has a serious predjudice against Americans. He is the sole shot caller and has taken the moral of the company straight to hell. We've set production records and never heard a word of praise but let the smallest mishap cost the company a dime and someone's head rolls. Policies are made up on the fly to back the decisions they make and we can't do a damn thing about it. I work in the Lab, the department that has the toughest qualifications but is payed the least. Other departments are over 90% comprised of people with only a highschool diploma, but the lab is over 90% college grads and are making as much as $5/hr less than everyone else. It would take much to long to get into everything but there are alot of issues that need resolution. I wonder how much a union helps these situations.

 

I'm a Lab. Tech at a polypropylene plant. We make roughly 800million pounds of poly a year.

 

I support unions and am a union member Laborers Local 341 in Alaska. Things I love are the retirement, Healthcare and the fact I am looked out for. If you guys get a chance to union-ize the Teamsters will go in and work out a Labor aggreement with management. You should be able to look forward to an increase in pay and benifits. Vote for it and encourage other to do so.

 

Not to rain on anyones parade , but if your foreign owner is really against Unions he may just shut down the plant rather than deal with the Union.

 

Gee. Sounds like a job you want to keep.

BTW, I'd offer my opinion on unions but after reading the thread...

 

you don't work for Glo-Pack or Cadillac products by any chance do ya??

 

I have heard both very good things about unions and very bad things about unions. But I have never dealt with them so my opinion doesn't really count. But:


I do wish that us computer techies had unions though only because they would not stand for this "companies outsourcing to other countries because it's cheaper" cr@p.

 

I work on Aircraft we are union Teamster and i think its worth it Specialy if its a big company, BUT Always remember i UNION is only as strong as its people. If your people fold then it wont work. But i am union and Its got my VOTE

 

I worked at a grocery store for a while, and my dad worked for one most of his life. I don't know about Teamsters, but I know grocery unions kick a whole lot of ****. Good benefits, raises, etc... they fight when the company wants to "cut costs" by cutting benefits. Honestly, I've never heard of a bad union.

 

UAW Local 683 and damn proud of it. I pay 2 hours pay per month and it's the best money I spend on anything.
Also, on transmission parts, i only buy american made and when I can union made parts, and switched my primary shipper to go with a union workforce.

G

 

I'm not in a union, but at times wish I had the choice (down-sized and out of a job...TWICE!) I have mixed emotions about unions. Even though they can be very good for the members, the high cost to produce goods (that they contribute to) have driven mucho-many jobs off-shore. Does "Hencho in Mexico" sound familiar? For the most part, I think their time has come and gone in this country. The trade unions generally produce quality work, but on the other hand, look at the Post Office! Its too hard to get rid of the dead wood. Plus I think that unions such as the "light bulb turners" and "Bread butterers and salad tossers" have no valid place in this country any more.