tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post6140384816630975005..comments2024-03-28T13:22:11.101-04:00Comments on Sandra's Place: Unions. Pro or con?Sandra Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-12980811200798491512015-11-15T15:52:31.167-05:002015-11-15T15:52:31.167-05:00Good information. Thanks, Emma.Good information. Thanks, Emma.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-33216596615709285982015-11-15T15:25:23.195-05:002015-11-15T15:25:23.195-05:00As a former union member and union steward I have ...As a former union member and union steward I have some experience on this subject. I must tell you first of all that I became a steward because the union did not help me the way it should have. I wanted to work to help other members get the representation I did not. In theory unions are a good thing. In reality they are only as good as the members make them. Members must get a copy of the contract (which should be available and free from the union) and read it. Become informed about your rights and responsibilities. Attend union meetings to see what your representatives are doing. Vote on issues that need to be voted on. Remember that the union representatives are your employees; they work for you and you pay their wages with your union dues. Treat them as a good employer should. Respect them and expect them to do the job you want done. If you do that a union is a good way to go. It is your tool to use to get yourself the working conditions that you wish.Emma Springfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10543689047463574012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-33215723447173403702015-11-15T10:02:03.527-05:002015-11-15T10:02:03.527-05:00Indeed.Indeed.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-42692982168758190042015-11-14T13:46:03.488-05:002015-11-14T13:46:03.488-05:00Thanks, Yvonne:)Thanks, Yvonne:)Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-7233844766928592632015-11-14T13:40:07.021-05:002015-11-14T13:40:07.021-05:00Wow. That's a pretty darn healthy pension. I c...Wow. That's a pretty darn healthy pension. I could struggle by with that. grin.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-83754836368270023692015-11-13T03:10:53.647-05:002015-11-13T03:10:53.647-05:00The union is square one in government by discussio...The union is square one in government by discussion. So long as there are unions, democracy persists.Geo.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16221314320558128986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-71668517039797393962015-11-12T21:24:43.513-05:002015-11-12T21:24:43.513-05:00I think teachers do a great job educating the youn...I think teachers do a great job educating the youngsters, Lots a patience too.<br />Great read Sandra.<br />Yvonne.nashvillecats2https://www.blogger.com/profile/02326956741209246895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-9114279775595723542015-11-12T20:13:04.229-05:002015-11-12T20:13:04.229-05:00I do think unions help but when they become too st...I do think unions help but when they become too strong they can also hinder. I sound like I am sitting on the fence and I hope the fence post doesn't ram up my butt. We get 2% raise each year which is nice considering we are a small agency and have no union. Teachers here have a very strong union in our country. The teachers make quite a good wage and excellent benefits. Actually the union is one of the strongest and people have a love/hate relationship right now. One thing I disagree with the teachers here in Canada-they don't have to use their sick days (they get a large amount each year) and can convert them to vacation days. One teacher, didn't take sick time for years and she retired early but she was able to convert her sick days to vacation and be paid for it to the tune of 3 years worth! She got full pay for the 3 years, great severance package and a teacher usually has a pension of $3,000 per month not including CPP and Old AgeBirgithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09439720285857050428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-70057511238212475352015-11-12T17:08:39.265-05:002015-11-12T17:08:39.265-05:00That happens at the state govt. level, too--govern...That happens at the state govt. level, too--governors and legislators would slip huge raises in for themselves and their staff as they were cutting state employee and teacher pay. It's so pathetic. And there's nothing the public can do about it. News stations report on it and it blows up for a minute, but they all know that if they just stay quiet, it will blow over. However--I will say that your story might interest one of your local news stations...someone who, perhaps, does one of those I-Team Investigation type things...Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-70531378721537881762015-11-12T14:19:39.131-05:002015-11-12T14:19:39.131-05:00Indeed, Adam. For awhile it seemed like the folks ...Indeed, Adam. For awhile it seemed like the folks at the top realized that if they didn't want their establishment unionized they had to treat their employees fairly. Those days seem to be gone.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-86265615154743394472015-11-12T14:10:06.684-05:002015-11-12T14:10:06.684-05:00not our luck, the costs of living are higher than ...not our luck, the costs of living are higher than elsewhere :) Serbia DEZMONDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14127166104359407763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-47541793597737528222015-11-12T14:03:02.313-05:002015-11-12T14:03:02.313-05:00Thanks:)Thanks:)Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-55999123498586686402015-11-12T14:02:46.368-05:002015-11-12T14:02:46.368-05:00My daughter lives in Philly. And their CC is union...My daughter lives in Philly. And their CC is unionized. Its made it possible for her to get health insurance.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-8994872089441401512015-11-12T13:34:59.468-05:002015-11-12T13:34:59.468-05:00Think they'll be settling soon? My daughter wo...Think they'll be settling soon? My daughter works as an adjunct at a unionized community college and it is great.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-20607584499451686272015-11-12T13:33:05.370-05:002015-11-12T13:33:05.370-05:00I hear and agree, but in this situation the taxpay...I hear and agree, but in this situation the taxpayers weren't saved a penny. An eighteen percent raise on a six figure salary, is pretty darn healthy. The raise itself would take care of a couple of new hires.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-35820835703439739212015-11-12T13:24:05.054-05:002015-11-12T13:24:05.054-05:00Isn't that pathetic. And some of them are pret...Isn't that pathetic. And some of them are pretty high up on the six figure food chain.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-24005339493429965572015-11-12T13:22:19.912-05:002015-11-12T13:22:19.912-05:00That's a good point, Jessica Marie. I guess fo...That's a good point, Jessica Marie. I guess folks looking to unionize need to do their homework.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-3003727337048731272015-11-12T13:02:45.803-05:002015-11-12T13:02:45.803-05:00It's pretty sad, isn't it. Not only are th...It's pretty sad, isn't it. Not only are they not getting cost of living, health insurance is going up.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-24638071906064061592015-11-12T12:44:30.301-05:002015-11-12T12:44:30.301-05:00I've always been pro-union and pro-workers rig...I've always been pro-union and pro-workers rights. We have too many people in America who idolize the rich. The elite have always been against unions because they know the individual worker is powerless. Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08051255914419363819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-30491621644690912502015-11-12T12:39:36.958-05:002015-11-12T12:39:36.958-05:00That is terrible, Dez. I hope you have a low cost ...That is terrible, Dez. I hope you have a low cost of living. <br />Refresh me, what country are you in?Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-22803827899461274472015-11-12T12:30:25.442-05:002015-11-12T12:30:25.442-05:00Thanks for the insight, EC. That seems to be the w...Thanks for the insight, EC. That seems to be the way it rolls, not a lot to do then buried.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-50340226638981035622015-11-12T12:16:11.642-05:002015-11-12T12:16:11.642-05:00I was a government employee for 19 years. I'd ...I was a government employee for 19 years. I'd say I got raises maybe five of those years? Could have been six or seven. In general, government jobs just suck. I think that's the problem with teachers and police officers. There's no monetization and the people who make the decisions are more interested in saving taxpayer money than taking care of workers. I was noticing the quality of state employees was getting gradually worse each year because you can't attract a good employee at $25,000 a year anymore, even if you promise health insurance. Younger workers are drawn to pay and opportunity for advancement, not cushiness. So in that sense, I fear for the future of teaching and police work, but I think the jobs attract a type of person who is in it mostly to make a difference in the world.Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-24301966546996667162015-11-12T10:54:15.380-05:002015-11-12T10:54:15.380-05:00I agree that it's time to unionize. Unions hav...I agree that it's time to unionize. Unions have made a real difference for teachers in the states that have them. Good luck.Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-51055507728281822772015-11-12T09:32:13.371-05:002015-11-12T09:32:13.371-05:00Himself teaches at a community college. They are u...Himself teaches at a community college. They are unionized through the Massachusetts Teachers Association. That being said, currently they have no contract so they are under "work to rule" That is, they do no more than the minimum requirements of their last contract. <br />CJ Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14931779747826558608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4681493665397789843.post-73417687310265719582015-11-12T09:04:44.310-05:002015-11-12T09:04:44.310-05:00I'm sorry to hear that, Val. Sounds like a uni...I'm sorry to hear that, Val. Sounds like a universal problem. We'll pay millions for sports and entertainment while our police, firefighters and instructors are scratching.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.com