Reply #19: You Really Don't Know Much About Your "trade" Or Labor Unions [View All]

[Better Believe It]

"Unless you are an executive there is no such thing as an employment contract."

That's not true. Over 15 million people have employment contracts who are not business executives. Most, but not all, are members of labor organizations

"When the economy is down the company let go of people."

Employers lay-off people who don't have employment contracts even when business is good. If they can get more work in less time out of fewer people who lack employment contracts why shouldn't they do that? They are under no legal obligation to be fair or nice. Frankly, most don't give a damn about their employees. They don't have to care about you. You're an "at-will" employee without any employment contract stipulating your rights and employment conditions. So why should they give a rats ass?

"What do UAW make? $40 an hour? No we have never made more than them."

Since you don't have a clue on what unionized auto workers make let me tell you. A recently hired auto worker makes $13.00 a hour with no pension plan and other benefits obtained by older workers. An old auto worker with 20 and more years of loyal service makes about $25.00 an hour which is $52,000 a year. If you don't make that much with all of your degrees you need an employment contract.

"And most workplace are not union organized. At least, not white collar workers. We are not interchangeable - a welder is a welder is a welder. Or a machinist. We are selected, one at a time, to think. To start a specific project, or to solve a problem, to study the state of the art, to interact with other professionals, as well as regulatory agencies and to come with something new."

It's true that a declining percentage of employees don't have employment contracts because they are not organized. However, many professional employees do in fact belong to labor organizations such as the Office & Professional Employees Association, the Airline Pilots Association, the National Education Association, Federation of Professional Athletes, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, the Writers Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild and many other organizations.

"Why, do you think, only 8% (or is it 18%?) of the workforce is unionized? Because we moved from a manufacturing based economy where many did the same work and could be unionized to a service one where each job is unique. At least, the professional ones."

That's only part of the explanation. The major reasons why 92% of employees are not unionized is massive and effective employer opposition and federal anti-labor laws that favor the employers and condone employer resistance including the firing and other discriminatory acts against employees who wish to be represented by a labor organization.

"Frankly, I would be embarrassed to sit at a "job bank" pulling money and benefits while doing nothing, when the whole world around me collapses."

Have you ever collected unemployment compensation "for not working" and do you think people should receive social security and pensions "while doing nothing"? The amount of compensation some auto workers received from their employers while being laid-off is peanuts compared to the pay, golden parachutes and other perks received by CEO's. And they were not paid for doing good work and they certainly were not worth those vast sums of money.

"I get paid for what I am worth for a good work ...."

Really? And tell me how much pay and benefits do you think you are worth for doing a good job. .... and do you think you should have a real voice at work and power in such matters?