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Thread: Thanks a lot, unions

  1. #61
    Feeding the Peanut Gallery Senior Member Redleg's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thanks a lot, unions

    For those that think unions are weak in the United States do a little checking into the craft unions for the railroad. The union efforts are not as weak as you would like to think.

    Now the interesting part is that the unions are working together with the carrier companies to insure profitablity of the company. This is probably one of the most important aspects of the union environment. Negotations with the company to insure not only the worker is taken care of, but that the company remains in existance so that the worker can continue working, and that the pension funds for the Union continue to grow so that the craft members can draw a decent retirement income.

    A labor union has no business telling the elected government to sit down and shut up. Even if its an elected collective - primarily because its not an representive collective. That is a labor union that has gotten out of control and has lost its most important function - that of collective bargaining. It also forgets the main principle of keeping their members employed - that the government must have tax revenues to collect which requires companies to have a profit marigin of some sort to re-invest into capital to maintain the company.

    While strong unions are an execellent benefit to the wage earner - one must be careful of allowing the labor union's collective bargaining to circumvent the ability for the company or the government to survive. Because with out the income source the labor union does not have anything to bargain for.
    O well, seems like 'some' people decide to ruin a perfectly valid threat. Nice going guys... doc bean

  2. #62
    has a Senior Member HoreTore's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thanks a lot, unions

    Quote Originally Posted by drone
    One question for the Euros here: How do unions and their contracts mesh with the social security and health care systems of the nation? Unions here negotiate for pensions, health plans, and other benefits, as well as salary. Do European unions add to existing national health care benefits, or do they mainly negotiate salary? The most publicized complaint from the auto industry is the burden of the retirement/health care costs that manufacturers in other nations don't have to worry about. Are they just blowing smoke, or do they have a point?
    We have our oil to pay for pensions. Oh, and the cash we've used as toilet paper....

    Seriously though, pensions, health care and most other benefits are free here, and paid by the state and handled politically. The unions, and the employee unions, like to stick their nose in it though. Last fall for example, our government thought about tinkering with some health-related thingy of some sort(I just can't remember it now...), and both the workers union and the employee union forged an alliance to whack our work-minister. It worked brilliantly, btw. We've managed to turn him away from the dark side of market liberalism too...
    Still maintain that crying on the pitch should warrant a 3 match ban

  3. #63

    Default Re: Thanks a lot, unions

    For those that think unions are weak in the United States do a little checking into the craft unions for the railroad. The union efforts are not as weak as you would like to think.
    Woohoo
    But of course the craft unions must keep it real in their negotiations , no profit=no jobs .
    The silly Limerick idiot we have down here forgot about that an screwed the union , but the developers (those that went for the short term fix)in screwing the union have irreconcialably screwed themselves .
    Unionsare a funny ting , you need a strong leadership , but youndon't want a leadership that thinks its strength can push anything throuigh .
    Sensibkle compromise is the key on both soides

  4. #64
    The Usual Member Ice's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thanks a lot, unions

    Quote Originally Posted by HoreTore
    . We've managed to turn him away from the dark side of market liberalism too...
    Luke, the dark side calls...




  5. #65
    Praefectus Fabrum Senior Member Anime BlackJack Champion, Flash Poker Champion, Word Up Champion, Shape Game Champion, Snake Shooter Champion, Fishwater Challenge Champion, Rocket Racer MX Champion, Jukebox Hero Champion, My House Is Bigger Than Your House Champion, Funky Pong Champion, Cutie Quake Champion, Fling The Cow Champion, Tiger Punch Champion, Virus Champion, Solitaire Champion, Worm Race Champion, Rope Walker Champion, Penguin Pass Champion, Skate Park Champion, Watch Out Champion, Lawn Pac Champion, Weapons Of Mass Destruction Champion, Skate Boarder Champion, Lane Bowling Champion, Bugz Champion, Makai Grand Prix 2 Champion, White Van Man Champion, Parachute Panic Champion, BlackJack Champion, Stans Ski Jumping Champion, Smaugs Treasure Champion, Sofa Longjump Champion Seamus Fermanagh's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thanks a lot, unions

    Quote Originally Posted by Tribesman
    Woohoo
    But of course the craft unions must keep it real in their negotiations , no profit=no jobs...
    You'd think that would be pretty basic to the whole thing wouldn't you.

    While a number of unions in the USA do function as Redleg outlines (hopefully a majority), we also have others who negotiate while almost completely clueless as to the specifics of cost/profit margins of the company with whom they are negotiating. They look at the raw profit number and say we want more -- and sadly don't have any expertise beyond that to bring to the table.
    "The only way that has ever been discovered to have a lot of people cooperate together voluntarily is through the free market. And that's why it's so essential to preserving individual freedom.” -- Milton Friedman

    "The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule." -- H. L. Mencken

  6. #66

    Default Re: Thanks a lot, unions

    You'd think that would be pretty basic to the whole thing wouldn't you.
    yeah thats what strikes me about Goofs post .he talks of the union getting a worse deal than he gets .....the union deal sets the minimum deal ,after that it is up to the individual and the emplyer . I am getting at the moment 4X union rate

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