I made my bosses head explode the other day.....

[blackbart99]

I work for a large company that is deathly afraid of Unions getting in...in fact if you bring it up
you could be disciplined or even fired. That is the perception they want you to believe. Granted though
we have good benefits and a grievance system if needed so a union would be very unpopular with most
of the employees, even me. We don't think we need one....yet.

So...when my manager said to another employee in my presence that "I think unions should just go away
and die!" I just had to chime in with you realize that unions are responsible for most of the benefits
we have here, and our vacation time and the fact that your daughter is not working here with us, she
just couldn't understand. I said historically speaking the unions of old created the middle class that
we are a part of today, she again looked at me like I was a 7 headed hydra. Then I added the big bomb
that made her head explode...."if you didn't get your history lessons and news from Fox news you
might be able to talk about these subjects more intelligently." She stammered for a couple of seconds
as if trying to find a pre-programmed talking point response but failing to connect the dots in her mind,
then said "I just can't talk to you now" and had to leave the office.

I was merely trying to give a historical perspective of the good things unions have given our great
society and she nearly shut down as if saying "does not compute....does not compute".

Luckily I had my annual review the week before this and got 100% in all categories,
so now I have to see how long her memory is....until next year then..............

[mwb970]

1. A collision between right-wing fantasies and reality can be rough for them.

The general pattern is that when conservatives are confronted with proof that what they are saying is flatly wrong, they "double down", believing the false story more strongly than they did before it was proven false. (They also immediately change the subject.) Your manager apparently had not pickled quite long enough in the Fox "News" brine, and was momentarily aware of the contradiction in her thinking. Walking away is equivalent to changing the subject. I doubt that your statements will have any long-term effect (except possibly on your career prospects!).

[blackbart99]

2. career prospects....

Mostly I just keep my big fat mouth shut...but that day I just threw caution to wind.
So far no blow back.

[Vinca]

3. Facts can be so messy.

[cloudbase]

4. When threatened with termination,

the proper response is

"I was looking for a job when I got this one."

[Scuba]

5. Good for you! We must not let their BS go unchallenged. nt/

[Smarmie Doofus]

6. Rec. But this part's a bit brutal:

"if you didn't get your history lessons and news from Fox news you
might be able to talk about these subjects more intelligently."

It's true; but a bit brutal.

Buy her a donut or something before the next review. They're often mollified by sweet, gooey substances.


Mmmmmmmmmmmmm. Donuts.

[blackbart99]

8. Do they make truth filled donuts?

thanx for the rec's.:hippie:

[brewens]

7. My job situation is similar and any union attempt would be shot down.

I'm a driver for a blood center. A couple years ago I got stopped by the state patrol DOT inspector. We were operating our busses under the assumption that we were exempt from several DOT regulations, as was our competition the American Red Cross. The ARC got nailed and they were looking for us, and I happened to be the one that found the DOT first.

I got a few warnings and my boss got the word that he'd have to get us into compliance. It mainly amounted to making us comply with driver log books and operating hour regulations. Since we drivers had to do more to comply, it upgraded our qualifications. They had to look at the going wage rate for comparable drivers, and we ended up getting a 12% raise! You don't ever hear me whining about the log books. Thank you Teamsters, even though I've never been a member.

[geckosfeet]

9. As you said, if not for fear ot unions your company would probably

not offer the benefits that it does today.

[Sherman A1]

10. Precisely

The best way for a company to remain non-union is to pay better wages & benefits, have better working conditions and alike.

Still I would rather be Union.

[LiberalFighter]

15. Another reason to be union...

is grievance procedure. Meaning mostly that there are steps to be followed for discipline. Can't be fired without cause and going through the steps. Most states have employment at will. Meaning that they can fire you for any or no reason. There are exceptions but as long as they don't fire for those exceptions they pretty much have it their way.

It is usually beneficial for businesses to have a union for both employer and employee. Costs are reduced for the employer when they have a lower turnover. Employees are less likely to leave if they know that they have someone looking out for them and their employment goals are met. They are more likely to leave if the place itself limits their potential and they consider the job just temporary.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

11. It's amazing how the minds of the average American is so easy to manipulate.

I hear even so-called liberals demonize unions. This is from years of brainwashing from conservatives.

The Progressive Movement has done a piss-poor job of fighting back against this.

Good for you! You stood up to the lies. :toast:

[Ilsa]

12. T.U.I.F. -- Thank Unions It's Friday. nt

[XanaDUer]

13. They never think they need unions

until it's too late. By the time they realize that only a union would stand between them and disaster, it is too late.

[Renew Deal]

14. You'll be able to repost this with a new headline in a few days

I made my ex-bosses head explode the other day.....

[treestar]

16. for Republicans, this is a challenge on unions

We have free association - the union makes it more difficult for the employer to strike a bargain with an employee, that's why they don't want it. Which is odd, because that's capitalism. They are literally saying that they want the upper hand in a negotiation in order to "win" in a capitalist system. Aren't they man enough to deal with a tougher negotiation?

[Donnachaidh]

17. I certainly hope you boss doesn't hold grudges

While I applaud you speaking up, bosses THAT ill-informed should frighten you. They have a tendency to wait for a moment of *payback*.

[Odin2005]

18. I'd be looking for another job if I were you.

Because if he's the typical boss you are gonna get fired.

[nilram]

19. ooh, good luck next year...