My funny experience with a Union.

[ddavidson]

This was my schedule when I worked as a contractor in a union plant:

7:00 - arrive and wait for escort
7:10 - escort shows up, follow him to where they're finishing their coffee
7:15 - go to work area and let them "get ready" to work
7:30 - work
8:45 - go get ready for break
9:00 - break
9:15 - back after getting ready to work and begin work
10:45 - get ready for lunch
11:00 - lunch
12:15 - finish lunch, on the way to get ready to work
12:30 - work
1:45 - go get ready for break
2:00 - break
2:15 - back from getting ready to work and begin work
3:00 - go get ready to leave at 3:30
3:30 - leave

If I wanted to work late, I'd wait from 3:30 to 4:30 for the next shift guy to show up after getting ready to work.

I didn't dare touch anything while no one was there. I wouldn't look at something too long.

 

[IndyDave1776]

In the end, it is human nature to take advantage of others when afforded the opportunity to do so. This is why, barring the relative few who truly operate on principle, management will treat employees as slaves less the overhead cost of keeping them 24/7 and unions will protect bums who should be fired with a firearm, not a pink slip. It also explains why our nation has been run into the ditch by politicians who are too busy pandering to interest groups to effectively run the country in a sound manner.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

The next time some union bozo at a jobsite stops me from doing my job, I'm getting his name and make sure his company knows that it's costing them $150 an hour for the delay. And, when the job doesn't get done in the required time because of the delays, I'll let the company know it's the union's fault and they can bill the union for all the delays and extra costs.

They know (the folks at the level you'll be dealing with), it's not that they dont care, it's that there's probably nothing they can do about it.

 

[Stubbleducker]

Can't make this stuff up. Last july, due to no reason whatsoever, my office was moved from one cubicle across the cube farm about seven cubes down. I boxed up all my cra..,err, stuff, and moved it to the new place.

I was then told, "You can't move those boxes".
Umm, I just did.

"No, you're not allowed to move those boxes cuz you're not Skilled Trades".
So, enlighten me...What training does it take to develop the skill to move a box?

then the kicker... "Move them back before a grievance is filed"

What? I'm not skilled enough to move them west a few cubicles, but now I have the authority and skills to move them back east a few cubicles so that somebody who is obviously more highly skilled at moving them can move them to where they now sit? Are you kidding me?

 

[ATOMonkey]

This was my schedule when I worked as a contractor in a union plant:

7:00 - arrive and wait for escort
7:10 - escort shows up, follow him to where they're finishing their coffee
7:15 - go to work area and let them "get ready" to work
7:30 - work
8:45 - go get ready for break
9:00 - break
9:15 - back after getting ready to work and begin work
10:45 - get ready for lunch
11:00 - lunch
12:15 - finish lunch, on the way to get ready to work
12:30 - work
1:45 - go get ready for break
2:00 - break
2:15 - back from getting ready to work and begin work
3:00 - go get ready to leave at 3:30
3:30 - leave

If I wanted to work late, I'd wait from 3:30 to 4:30 for the next shift guy to show up after getting ready to work.

I didn't dare touch anything while no one was there. I wouldn't look at something too long.

Hey!! I know where you were working!

 

[ATOMonkey]

Can't make this stuff up. Last july, due to no reason whatsoever, my office was moved from one cubicle across the cube farm about seven cubes down. I boxed up all my cra..,err, stuff, and moved it to the new place.

I was then told, "You can't move those boxes".
Umm, I just did.

"No, you're not allowed to move those boxes cuz you're not Skilled Trades".
So, enlighten me...What training does it take to develop the skill to move a box?

then the kicker... "Move them back before a grievance is filed"

What? I'm not skilled enough to move them west a few cubicles, but now I have the authority and skills to move them back east a few cubicles so that somebody who is obviously more highly skilled at moving them can move them to where they now sit? Are you kidding me?

The trick is to move a few things at a time in your computer bag.

 

[davedolli]

I worked for a company which was union all my life. The company and the union worked together to keep the doors open, which they were successful at doing. They never laid anyone off unless it was volunteer. Everyone did there job and pitched in where needed. There was always plenty of overtime for those of us who wanted it. The benefits were great. A lot of us both union and management hung out together, partied together, and took vacations together. I agree that most unions are different, and have different rules to go by, some good and some bad. I was never a union officer, rarely went to union meetings, and never voted the way the union wanted me too. I know the union topic comes up a lot now, I guess I am neutral on the subject, I retired a long time ago, when the company and the union made me a deal I couldn't refuse.

 

[actaeon277]

I know this seems to be an anti-union thread, and there are problems. But...

Companies can have stupid rules also, sometimes it's just due to size, and beaurocracy.
Right now, my companies position on working on electrical equipment near liquid steel is:
1) Working near the steel, requires an aluminized outfit. The outfit only protects from sparks of steel, not a steel accident. If I don't wear the outfit, I will be given 5 days off.
2) Working on energized equipment requires no metal on my person. Even snaps on the clothes are taped up. If I work on energized equipment with the aluminized coat on, a different company safety person told me I will be given 5 days off.
3) A third safety engineer informed me I can't wear the rubber electrical gloves near the steel. Same punishment.
4) If I don't want to get written up, then I can't do the job either way. But, if I refuse the job, the production boss will write me up, time off depends.
5) I asked the maintenance boss for clarification. I want to do my job, but I do not want to get 5 days off. I asked for a Safe Job Procedure, which all workers are supposed to ask for when they have a question. He shrugged and walked away mumbling there was no way he was getting involved.

So basically, here at the steel mill, I view the union as a necessary evil. The company sees it's employees, and even managers, as enemies.
About a year or so ago, a boss fell off a crane and died. 2 bosses at home were fired, they weren't even here. Really had nothing to do with the accident. But they had no Union to go to.

I've worked for some companies with no union and had no problem, because the companies treated employees like people.

I worked for the Navy, with no union, no problem.

I work now at a mill, and can't see how it would work without one.

Just my 2 cents. Go ahead and rip my comment to shreds, I'm sure you will anyway.

 

[indysims]

Don't read this as a pro-union statement but the idiot behavior in the opening post is not limited to unions. That kind of thinking is present in many large corporations. My dad has worked at refinery for a large oil company for the last 30+ years and he has story after story of things just like that post. Entire buildings torn down and new ones built because some accident that was a coincidence at another plant. Most recently all the chairs in their unit (brand new chairs) were removed and replaced because someone fell out their chair. Lawsuits scare corporations and ridiculous knee-jerk reactions that cost big money save the day

 

[ipswervy]

Man, I don't know what unions you are ragging on or making up, but I'm a union electrician, IBEW 481, don't see this kind of crap on the jobs I work. I can tell you this, my friend and neighbor across the street, an open shop carpenter, when the economy started tanking his boss/owner came to the job and told him, didn't ask, that he was taking a 30% wage cut or he would be unemployed there were a lot of people that needed work and would work for less than he was making. Guess what he did, i'll give you a hint, he's making $14 now instead of $20. When your married with two kids and a house hold depends on you, your open shops will be there for you because they know they can play that game, kind of like they have you by the BALLS! At least when i'm not needed I go, when I am needed again I come back to the same pay and benifits that I had when I left. See if you can find that at an open shop, i'm sure you will, have fun looking.

 

[churchmouse]

Hmm...didnt realize the local represented workers outside the plant.

I worked out of the 440....I was a service tech and worked on the portable chillers that supported the lathes and mills for the manuf. I was also called in to rebuild some of the larger production support chillers in several plants around the state. The EPA was getting on them for extensive refrigerant loss and they did not have the in-house staff to do this work. It was a constant battle with the maint. Staff to get anything accomplished. They were "Always" trying to push into overtime. I just like my 8 and out the door.

 

[churchmouse]

This was my schedule when I worked as a contractor in a union plant:

7:00 - arrive and wait for escort
7:10 - escort shows up, follow him to where they're finishing their coffee
7:15 - go to work area and let them "get ready" to work
7:30 - work
8:45 - go get ready for break
9:00 - break
9:15 - back after getting ready to work and begin work
10:45 - get ready for lunch
11:00 - lunch
12:15 - finish lunch, on the way to get ready to work
12:30 - work
1:45 - go get ready for break
2:00 - break
2:15 - back from getting ready to work and begin work
3:00 - go get ready to leave at 3:30
3:30 - leave

If I wanted to work late, I'd wait from 3:30 to 4:30 for the next shift guy to show up after getting ready to work.

I didn't dare touch anything while no one was there. I wouldn't look at something too long.

This is exactly what I was facing in these places. Most often they wanted to stretch it into the next shift.

 

[inlineman]

I can not believe that I am wasting my time with you foolish uneducated nevermind Iam not wasting my time except to state that whoever posted this is full of it.

 

[K_W]

I can not believe that I am wasting my time with you foolish uneducated nevermind Iam not wasting my time except to state that whoever posted this is full of it.

Upon what experiences do you base this statement? Are you a train worker?

 

[atvdave]

I can not believe that I am wasting my time with you foolish uneducated nevermind Iam not wasting my time except to state that whoever posted this is full of it.

Don't hold back.... say what you really mean.. I may not agree with some of the posts, but people do have a right to there own opinion.. Like it or not..

 

[K_W]

I will add to this story in that when the train companys reps would come tour the factory and meet the workers, guess who was with them... The Union Reps.

My story is based on information obtained first hand from experience and from a one on one conversation with a supervisor of mine who worked directly with the train companies and the train crews at the Avon Train Yards, Chicago, Detroit, and others to improve the radios.

Edit: And the CEO of the company.

And you?

 

[dhnorris]

I want to be a train guy, I've carried oxygen bottles up stairs many times. Anyone want to guess how they come down?

 

[Tactical Dave]

Crazy how people have a bad experience with a union or two and then throw all of them under the bus.

On the point of having to call someone else to move something... Last job I had I was hired to do x tasks, after two years that amount doubled with no pay raise for it. I have worked at other places were the same thing happend. Ya know I am not a fan of that, granted telling someone you can't move a few boxes is a bit much but you get my point.


It is the bad and very lazy unions out there that make the good ones look bad.... Come work with me for a day and last thing you will call any of us is lazy..... Go to a few other unions and be on a coffe break most of the day.

 

[churchmouse]

I can not believe that I am wasting my time with you foolish uneducated nevermind Iam not wasting my time except to state that whoever posted this is full of it.

Full of what, are you in a union. Have you experience around unions. I have and I am only full of myself. State your thoughts and experience. Do not be a sound bite and name caller, that is so childish. Foolish, how would you know. Not cool,
not cool at all.

 

[churchmouse]

Crazy how people have a bad experience with a union or two and then throw all of them under the bus.

On the point of having to call someone else to move something... Last job I had I was hired to do x tasks, after two years that amount doubled with no pay raise for it. I have worked at other places were the same thing happend. Ya know I am not a fan of that, granted telling someone you can't move a few boxes is a bit much but you get my point.


It is the bad and very lazy unions out there that make the good ones look bad.... Come work with me for a day and last thing you will call any of us is lazy..... Go to a few other unions and be on a coffe break most of the day.

Not sure I am lumping all of the unions into one box. Not my intention. I have belonged to a few in my 47 years working. Non were worth much IMHO. If you are OK with yours then good on you. I hope it lasts.