Should labor unions be disbanded?

Ok....here we go..AGAIN.........I did not start this!

Most definately.

Yes, unions have been good for some workers. Most I know hate them. I think they are bad for the economy as a whole.

Good Day,

Well, it should be no mystery that I am not a big fan of unions. Esspecially the UAW. But there are a few out there that do what I think a union should. Just ensure a safe working environment, benefits, and if need be, the stewards. That is all. Salaries need to be based on merit in my opinion. You do a good job you get a raise, you don't, you don't. See, I have a big problem with the employee who slacks off getting the same raise as one who works their tail off. That to me is patently wrong. So maybe not so much an abolition, but a re-structuring.

Steelie

I work with a guy who retired from GM. Our boss was complaining of losing $500 on his 401k. This GM retiree told us it's all a matter of perspective, and that he felt bad about losing $250,000 in the stock market. Can you imagine how much money this guy didn't lose? Whine to someone else about your salary and benefits. American cars used to be something to be proud of. Now they're a joke.

Steelie wrote:

Good Day,
Well, it should be no mystery that I am not a big fan of unions. Esspecially the UAW. But there are a few out there that do what I think a union should. Just ensure a safe working environment, benefits, and if need be, the stewards. That is all. Salaries need to be based on merit in my opinion. You do a good job you get a raise, you don't, you don't. See, I have a big problem with the employee who slacks off getting the same raise as one who works their tail off. That to me is patently wrong. So maybe not so much an abolition, but a re-structuring.
Steelie

Do you not believe it possible an employee or employees doing a good job would not get a raise because of personality conflicts or bias' with immediate management?

Where I had worked management picked probably the less qualified to be supervision because they were politically savvy. And usually those picked were union committeemen.

Long after I left I heard that that practice was still the usual.

The UAW brought down the big 3 not the price of gas. Too many employees with too high of wages and the ability to strike for more. It is almost as if they are government workers.

There's no need to disban them.

Let them naturally fizzle out, just like they've been doing.

The free market will take care of unions.

Sure, lets take away everyone's legal rights that we personally don't like or don't have the stones to exercise for ourselves. That's the real American way....for fascists.

How come no ever complains about the CEO's and Vice presidents huge phone number size salaries? Its always about the hourly workers. How can anyone justify paying an executive 10 million dollars? You know how much that is per hour?
Come one you people and media are so bloody stupid and ignorant! Disaband unions- you people are so stupid and retarded! break the union and pay the CEO billions in salary instead of millions. But no you stupid ignorant people don't know your rectums from a hole in the ground

Slackers, punching in tardy, come on that retarded!! GM has 40+ vice presidents making 7 figures. Thats got to be at least 3,000 per hour! What is the matter with you stupid idiots??? Union guy gets $35 an hour sweeping the floor- So whats the problem with it?? They are paying $3000 for a vice president to work four six hour days!! Forums like this tell how stupid and back stabbing Americans really are! Stupid backstabbing confidential disloyal people. George Washington's lot would have hung every one of you Bozo's !! You people are Willingly Ignorant! Dumb Donkeys **** would do justice. There is no words in the dictionary to describe the repulsiveness of you union busting people exectutive paycheck lovers.

Ken Luxton wrote:

Slackers, punching in tardy, come on that retarded!! GM has 40+ vice presidents making 7 figures. Thats got to be at least 3,000 per hour! What is the matter with you stupid idiots??? Union guy gets $35 an hour sweeping the floor- So whats the problem with it?? They are paying $3000 for a vice president to work four six hour days!! Forums like this tell how stupid and back stabbing Americans really are! Stupid backstabbing confidential disloyal people. George Washington's lot would have hung every one of you Bozo's !! You people are Willingly Ignorant! Dumb Donkeys **** would do justice. There is no words in the dictionary to describe the repulsiveness of you union busting people exectutive paycheck lovers.

So you admit that union members get 35$ to sweep a floor.....a job that ANYBODY could do. This job is not worth 35$ on the open market. That is the problem with unions. They act as a sort of monopoly withholding employees. A simple lesson in economics: When the supply of labor is held artificially low and people who are qualified for the labor are denied access to said labor, the wages will artificially be held high. These people should be paid their worth.....which does NOT include paying a highschool dropout with very little human capital and general experience 35$ to sweep a floor. This same example can be applied to UAW workers who simply place a screw in a piece of metal.(My mom's friend tells me all about her job detail at GM which is exclusive of this very task.)

Absolutly! Its one of the very reasons any business in the past has overlooked Michigan to move here an set up shop. A close second is knowing the amount of taxes their pay after their here.

I don't think you can make a single answer yes or no on this one.

Some unions do exactly what they are meant to do: protect workers from the whims and tantrums of bad management, represent workers to the management in decisions, work with management to build cohesiveness, etc. Unions are meant to make a business stronger because they should promote fairness and consistency. They should work next to and with the management, not in constant battle.

Other unions are out of control, blocking the way for progress by bully tactics and unreasonable demands. I believe units under the UAW are some of them. I won't say the whole UAW, because their are very different units under that umbrella.

I also won't put the NEA or MEA in either category. They also have units that range in effectiveness and progressiveness.

So now all we have to do is sort out the good from the bad.

I know this is just my opinion . Unions have made it so some things are not affordable . I know there are other factors, but why is it that a pickup truck just a plain old pickup lets say a chevy silverado with no options costs $20,000 add a couple of creature comforts and its suddenly $25,000 or more I say UAW. They have been making pickups for a long time nothing new. in 1970 you could by one for under $3,000 and maybe have 4 wheel drive. Unions may have had there place and this is only one comparison . I could have said Keebler cookies almost 4.00 for a package of chips deluxe ridiculous need I say AFL/CIO. Nothing wrong with making good pay and getting good benefits but now we see even the UAW cant protect GM workers from losing there jobs .

Weatherman wrote:

There's no need to disban them.
Let them naturally fizzle out, just like they've been doing.
The free market will take care of unions.

I agree 100%.The UAW's membership has dropped some 1 million in the last 10 years.More will leave in the next 10 due to buyouts/early retirement and/or plant closings.Look at cases like American Axle.A $10/hr pay cut concession to keep their jobs.The writing is on the wall-Labor unions are like the dinosaur going through it's very own,self-inflicted ice age.

Ken Luxton wrote:

Slackers, punching in tardy, come on that retarded!! GM has 40+ vice presidents making 7 figures. Thats got to be at least 3,000 per hour! What is the matter with you stupid idiots??? Union guy gets $35 an hour sweeping the floor- So whats the problem with it?? They are paying $3000 for a vice president to work four six hour days!! Forums like this tell how stupid and back stabbing Americans really are! Stupid backstabbing confidential disloyal people. George Washington's lot would have hung every one of you Bozo's !! You people are Willingly Ignorant! Dumb Donkeys **** would do justice. There is no words in the dictionary to describe the repulsiveness of you union busting people exectutive paycheck lovers.

That's a typical union response..."Well,HE makes a million a year,WE should too!!".Unbelievable.Most CEOs are very well educated and may have done your job or jobs like yours in the summer while in school,covering vacation vacancies.They have worked their way up and up,not being content to stay at the level they were at.Your mentality?"Well,guess I'll go punch the clock and sweep the floor!".There was a time and place in our country's history when labor unions were needed.That isn't the case anymore.

Mark wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree 100%.The UAW's membership has dropped some 1 million in the last 10 years.More will leave in the next 10 due to buyouts/early retirement and/or plant closings.Look at cases like American Axle.A $10/hr pay cut concession to keep their jobs.The writing is on the wall-Labor unions are like the dinosaur going through it's very own,self-inflicted ice age.

Show me proof that UAW membership DROPPED 1 million.
Guess you flip burgers

Mark wrote:

<quoted text>
That's a typical union response..."Well,HE makes a million a year,WE should too!!".Unbelievable.Most CEOs are very well educated and may have done your job or jobs like yours in the summer while in school,covering vacation vacancies.They have worked their way up and up,not being content to stay at the level they were at.Your mentality?"Well,guess I'll go punch the clock and sweep the floor!".There was a time and place in our country's history when labor unions were needed.That isn't the case anymore.

And yours is typical anti union burger king boy.

Union All The Way wrote:

<quoted text>
Show me proof that UAW membership DROPPED 1 million.
Guess you flip burgers

Ah,yes.Name calling.Be careful-your third grade education is showing through!Are you familiar with the term "Google it"?Nah,I know you won't Google it because the truth scares you.Ignorance is bliss.