A question for all here

[TAB]

the old school trade unions= good.

99.9999% unions now= crap.





by old school trade unions  I mean the ones whre they provided training and assurance that you were hiring some one that knew what they were doing.  None of this, you can't fire me, or there is no work today, but you still have to pay me crap.

My grandfather was the head of the local painters and tapers union for awhile.  he didn't put up with that crap, and he would violate( kick or suspend) people all the time.  he would also regularly take away people journymern statis and make them apprentices if thier work sucked.    Yes they made alot of money ( infact a couple bucks more a hour then they do now this was the late 70s) but you knew what you were getting and you got production.   I tell a bunch of modern painters about what the qoutas were and what the time frame to do X job was.  They don't beleave me, untill I pull out the old union book.   every thing had to be done with a brush.  even owning a roller waws enough to get you tossed out of the union.

Infact the current union pres was my grandfathers last apprentice.  he is also the guy that signed off my contractors lic. and has the same name as my grandfather.( no relation)  Whne I went to sign up for the union, I put my self down as a journeymen hire.  which requires a skill test, basicly paint a door and a casing.  You then have to get approval by the pres.  After  watching me do the skill part of the test and then looking at my app, he asked me " are you related to jim and john "coonie" gordon?"   "yeah, thats my grandfather and my great uncle"  "you're in as a journeymen, I know damn well he trained you better then anyone here could"

then we had a bunch of great storys to tell  we also talked about my grandfathers partner larry woods for a long time... good times.

[ratcatcher55]

Tom,

As per your excellant research you are wrong. Both unions predated the influence of communist, mobs and the New Deal.
I would be the last person to say that those groups currently don't have sway in labor unions, but they had nothing to do with why they were formed.

It's a fact that today most big big unions are just another large business that feeds the top at the expense of it's workers.  Animal Farm incarnate.

No I do not think unions should be banned.
No I don't think you should mandate closed shops either.

[tombogan03884]

http://www.pjtv.com/?cmd=mpg&mpid=80

http://www.pjtv.com/?cmd=mpg&mpid=349&series-id=89

[CJS3]

There is no reason for public sector employees to be unionized. We are their bosses and have NO representation in collective bargaining negotiations. Politicians work for whoever pays them the most, and union political contributions are massive.

Having said that, unionized workers in the private sector would be just fine if they promoted worker proficiancy in their industries. Does anyone remember the International Garment Workers commercials of the 70s? They wanted you to look for the "Union Lable" in an effort to promote the quality of union manufactured clothing. Unfortunately for them, union negotiators had already killed off the goose that laid the golden egg, and their jobs went to Thailand.

Unionism can be a good thing, but political considerations have destroyed the purpose of the idea. Promoting the wellbeing and compentency of their members.

[tombogan03884]

If unions are so great in the private sector why has membership been dropping for years ?
If it were not for Union only  "right to work, (If you kick back to us ) laws" there would no longer be any Unions outside the Public sector.

[Sponsor]

[Pecos Bill]

I've read through this thread and one poster has answered my question. One has referred us all to some place whose relevance I couldn't figure out. There were a bunch of rants about the usefulness or uselessness of unions etc. but only one vote other than mine. Every time something bad happens in this country there is a plethora of ranting and raving that it's the "unions" fault. That doesn't help anything. Ranting and raving blows a lot of smoke but dumps the problem onto someone else. Come on buck up be part of the solution not part of the problem. Should we work to abolish unions or not? I've stated my position now it's time for all these ranters to state theirs. A simple yes or no is easy to put into a post sign in and VOTE.
 
Come on guys and gals. Let's see a show of hands.

Pecos

[Timothy]

I see no good reason for unions to exist with existing labor laws. 

Abolish them and promote excellence in the workforce rather than mediocrity.  If you don't like your working environment, find another occupation!

[Pecos Bill]

I see no good reason for unions to exist with existing labor laws. 

Abolish them and promote excellence in the workforce rather than mediocrity.  If you don't like your working environment, find another occupation!

Thank you! Another brave soul!

Pecos

[tombogan03884]

Abolish
I thought my posts would have made my opinion fairly clear. Unions are essentially unAmerican and the slide into Socialism can be traced to their emergence in this country.

[CJS3]

There is no reason for public sector employees to be unionized. We are their bosses and have NO representation in collective bargaining negotiations. Politicians work for whoever pays them the most, and union political contributions are massive.

Having said that, unionized workers in the private sector would be just fine if they promoted worker proficiancy in their industries.

I see no good reason for unions to exist with existing labor laws.  

Does that mean you go to the Home Depot parking lot when you need a plumber or an electrician? Habla espaniol? Union certification means you actually get a master plumber or master electrician. No we don't need unionized maids or dishwashers, but a union (guild) is essential for some trades.

If you want to talk about getting rid of manditory union membership, that's a different subject. Then you you need to support "Right to Work laws".