It's hard to drive a Ferrari if you have to buy someone else a coffee.

I told fellow employees for years we needed a union, 2/3 of them laughed at me or got mad. I predicted all of this was going to happen. Years ago there was close to a billion dollars in that retirement fund and the pay out was coming from the interest. Greedy bastards had to get their hands on it and will continue to do so. The last 4 years I worked mamagements pay DOUBLED while my pay was frozen. You younger guys had better start looking out for yourself. Remember that when you vote. If you vote with the rich man remember he only wants to get richer and he doesnt care who he screws over to get it.

 I worked in an open shop that could not be closed because of a few members that worked in a RTW state. It hamstrung the Union in dues and active membership. But the real cancer came from under the table company screening of new hires, within ten years of layoffs, and rehires, they had whittled the dues paying members of the workforce down to nothing. Plus giving the non-Union leaning employees special treatment, laying the heaviest workloads on Union members, bending contract guidelines (Knowing Union would not fight in grievence), and supervisors watching any paying Union member for ANY screwup, no matter how small..

  I finally had to make a decision, to stay with a Union that left me in the cold, or drop them and throw myself on the mercy of the company stooges.. I had many years of faithful service to the company, and more knowledge of operations, I decided to just shutup and work out my remaining days till retirement. I was lucky, I had a good boss move into my unit and recognized my work ethic, I was able to keep myself invisible. I told my boss of my wishes, he would give me praise in private, but did not want anyone from higher up to notice..

  I guess the message here is, if you belong to a Union, take part in it, do not sit to the side and pregnant dog about the decisions, help make them.. A Union is only as strong as its members, and everytime a contract area is breeched, it is a chunk of every members rearend.. Try to work with the company within reason, remember your a team, it is to both of your best interests to make the company prosper.

   I have worked on both sides of the spectrum, as a supervisor, and as a Union steward. I have also been screwed by the Company and the Union, both hurt.. Happy labor day...

A carpenter's union card doesn't make you a carpenter,I makes you a guy with a carpenters union card.