posted on Apr, 3 2022 @ 10:14 PM
a reply to:
majesticthirteen
Much of that "anti-union rhetoric" is spot on truth. I have seen it with my own eyes. Some is exaggerated whining, but then so are many union claims
of their accomplishments.
All of the things you describe as being the results of union representation are available at non-union shops too. And the things you complain about
from non-union shops are ingrained into the unions and will never be eliminated. That hard working janitor? He may be the only one. I have seen a
union janitor push the same pile of dust around in a circle for hours at a time. Only at the end of his shift did he even try to get it into a bin.
That is what unions create - workers who do as little as they possible can because no one can make them do more and they know it. Some people have a
work ethic, some don't. But this is where the difference is. People with no work ethic don't survive long in the non-union work world. They thrive in
a union because they will get raises and promotions they do not deserve and they get it all just for showing up. That benefits no one, clients,
company, or co-workers. As overhead increases so do prices. We all pay for that lazy janitor. Every single one of us.
I love how your examples of union companies are all big brand name government contractors and non-union companies are fast food. I worked for and
retired from one of the biggest government contractors in the US. No one dared to say the word union in our facility without expecting to hear some
bad news shortly thereafter. I have no doubts there were unions somewhere in the corporation, but not everywhere. People made good money, had
advancement opportunities, 401k, and a pension. We had quite a few high school diplomas making six figures turning wrenches, running machines, all
sorts of labor positions. All non-union. The only union I knew of that ever set foot in our facility was electricians but they were all
subcontractors. We eliminated our in-house electricians, the whole department. Most likely because someone said the "U" word. Now they can work
somewhere else and their services are a write-off for us.
In all fairness I have to say I am from Chicago. If there is a union here - its corrupt as the day is long. Ghost payroll and site-sitters are the
specialty here. And all that expense gets pushed on to the consumer.
Long ago unions were necessary. They served a purpose. Today they are no longer needed. There are at least as many bad unions as there are good.