I have been told I will be fined if found not picketing. I don't mind it so much now as it is only every third day,but it is still 6 hrs of my life on those days,and isn't any fun. Especially on days like today where it has rained buckets all day. I am glad today is my day off. I would love to get someone else to do my shifts,but it doesn't seem right to pay for it. Maybe I could though.
Mazdax605 wrote: I have been told I will be fined if found not picketing.
LOL. Fined by an optional organization that is preventing you from going to a job you love. I expect I'd be showing them my Will Power impersonation and going to earn some money while they huff and puff.
x605, good luck with it all. No opinion to offer, but here's a joke:
The operators went on strike at one of the Bells back in da day and the supervisors were put on the phones to try to keep something going. One guy was overheard telling someone on the phone: 'I have a green button and a red button in front of me. The green one gives you your money back. The red one makes the booth explode. Which one do you want me to push?'
In reply to Mazdax605:
Just don't be one of the union members I had to "work" with.
The UAW in our plant went on strike in '99. All of us office personnel were expected to go to work anyway.
I had to cross the picket line or lose my job.
For 3 months people would scream at me, hit my truck and throw nails in the road. I had at least three flat tires during that time.
After the strike was over, some of my (union) so-called "friends" tried to shake my hand, saying, "No hard feelings..."
I simply asked one of these fellows if I could hit his car with a baseball bat first.
Some of the more interesting stories came from the married couple who was union (her) and salaried (him.) They were shunned by virtually all their union friends.
It's fairly obvious I didn't like that particular union (The plant moved right after that strike.) but agree some are well run. My apologies if I got too political.
Keith
I thought the idea of the union was to look out for you. From where I sit it looks as though it takes some of your pay away from you and your family then makes it so you cannot go to work at the job you like, then to add insult to injury they want to you to stand around with a sign for 6 hours every 3rd day to make a point to the company that you like working for and which pays you enough money to pay your bills and take care of your family that you don't like to work for them.
Sounds like a lose-lose situation for the company and the workforce to me. The only 'winner' is the union which can claim that they are powerful and doing good work fighting for the worker's rights while taking a portion of their paychecks.
Union or no union, it sucks the position you're in. You're forced to be out on the line, regardless of what you believe personally. IMO if there was a strike, and I didn't believe the cause I'd not protest. I'd sit at home, or go somewhere and mow lawns or do what I had to do to make money. I think the part a LOT of people miss is most striking workers aren't getting paid..... I don't make enough money to go on strike.
If his caught you totally unprepared, shame on you. I'm sure you knew the contract was coming up and if you attended union meetings(as a union member should), it's pretty easy to gauge the general feeling. Yes, being on strike isn't a picnic, but sometimes you need to fight for the greater good of the group to which you belong. Look for a settlement about the 6th week of picketing. In most states, after seven weeks,you're eligible for unemployment benefits and companies realize that they aren't in quite the same bargaining position once strikers have an income, small as it is.
I kept silent....'till now.
If someone on strike, i.e. someone refusing to go to work to do work that is there waiting for them for a company that wants them to come in and do it should NOT get unemployment.
I was unemployed for the better part of two years. I had to FIGHT tooth and nail for the unemployment I did get. I got about 60% of what the law said I was entitled to. I won't get into it right now because I'm trying to keep this from getting ugly. But let's get real folks. The union folks that are striking (good reason, bad reason I don't care) deserve NO sympathy. They have a job, many folks don't. My whole life I've done everything I can do to better myself. I didn't need a union to make things better for me, that came to work ethic and the ability/willingness to do what it took to make things better.
It didn't catch me by surprise. I actually saw this coming a year ago,and prepared for it by saving money as best I could. I was able to save $15k with some help from my totaled RX-3 SP six days after buying it. Thank god i had it insured properly,and in hindsight I guess it was a good thing it happened,and nobody was hurt. I do attend union meetings,and had been telling all of my close friends in the company to get ready as I knew we would be on strike. Most didn't listen to me. Some did.
I called my old boss from before I cam to the phone company this afternoon to see if maybe he needed some help on a day to day basis as I need to picket still. He said he did need some help,and that if I wanted to meet some of his workers locally tomorrow morning at 4 am that I could work on a project at MIT(hello good will hunting,this is my chance). I have readied my tools,told my hockey team I won't be playing tonight,and will be getting a good nights rest. We didn't even speak about pay but I am not worried about it. I am just happy to be going to work. It makes me feel like the bread winner again.
DrBoost wrote: I kept silent....'till now. If someone on strike, i.e. someone refusing to go to work to do work that is there waiting for them for a company that wants them to come in and do it should NOT get unemployment. I was unemployed for the better part of two years. I had to FIGHT tooth and nail for the unemployment I did get. I got about 60% of what the law said I was entitled to. I won't get into it right now because I'm trying to keep this from getting ugly. But let's get real folks. The union folks that are striking (good reason, bad reason I don't care) deserve NO sympathy. They have a job, many folks don't. My whole life I've done everything I can do to better myself. I didn't need a union to make things better for me, that came to work ethic and the ability/willingness to do what it took to make things better.
I understand your position. I didn't mention unemployment benefits at all,and I wasn't so much looking for sympathy. But rather explain the weird position a striking union member is in. The union member on strike is really stuck in no mans land if you ask me. You can't cross the line even if you don't believe in the strike as you will be committing career suicide,and you really have very little to no say in the talks,or if you even want to go on strike. There is a strike vote,but truly it is a formality as if the union didn't get the strike authorization it would really cease to be a union anymore. Just an overall odd position to be in especially for someone who likes to work.
I can offer no advice other than work when you can.
Sound like a truly lousy position to be in. Good luck.
My dad was a union man. Worked for the Electric company. I thought thats what I needed to do. (Die Maker- auto industry-not big three). Got tired of that. I work in a smaller die shop. The only car parts we make are for Model T's and Model A's. My wifes union newsletter actually tell her who to vote for. Good luck.
Due to my opinion of most unions, (not workers) I will refrain with saying more than good luck and keep you attitude up. I think you are the right guy to do what you have to without burning bridges.
redrabbit wrote: My dad was a union man. Worked for the Electric company. I thought thats what I needed to do. (Die Maker- auto industry-not big three). Got tired of that. I work in a smaller die shop. The only car parts we make are for Model T's and Model A's. My wifes union newsletter actually tell her who to vote for. Good luck.
My union tells me who to vote for as well,but that doesn't mean I listen.
T.J. wrote: a point to the company that you like working for and which pays you enough money to pay your bills and take care of your family that you don't like to work for them.
Depends. It's entirely possible that the one of the reasons his job enables him to "pay his bills and take care of his family" has more than a little to do with the union in the first place.
It's also possible it has nothing to do with them of course. There's simply not enough info in the thread to say.
Mazdax, sorry. Hearing unemployment really pushed my button (yeah I know, you didn't bring it up). I understand the position you are in. My dad was in the UAW for my whole childhood. I remember they did go on strike and I think he was in a similar situation. I was pretty young so I don't really know what was going on. But yes, you are caught in the middle. If you do that work this morning, are you in violation of any union contract or anything like that? Not that I'd care, you gotta feed your family.
You don't say why you are on strike in the first place. Maybe you don't want to get into that.
I'll respect your wishes to keep union/non-union discussions out of this, but I must ask this:-
Do you really believe that the issue that you are on strike for is legitimate and worth the cost? You say you can see both sides of the argument, but your ambivalence on that suggests you don't think the strike is worth it.
The Union is supposed to be representing you and your members. If union management has its own agenda and you don't see it worth the financial pain you are feeling, then it may be time to get active in the union rather than just going along. Like virtually any democratic organization/institution, if you don't keep the leaders honest, you'll get dishonest leaders.
At this point, why not tell the union to fornicate themselves with an iron stick and go find another job?
You could be job hunting while you're not picketing, still get the strike pay and tell them to F-O when you find something.
Up here in B.C. Canada, A good electrician is in demand. I don't knwo how it is where you are but a LOT of electricians are self-employed here.
It might be opportunity that's knocking.
Shawn
No strike pay Trans_Maro. Electricians were in demand around here,and may still be but construction is down around here so jobs are not as prevalent as they were a few years ago.
In reply to Mazdax605:
Bummer to hear about all this. I hope it ends soon. I drive by the Verizon picket line up in Dedham.
Basil Exposition wrote: You don't say why you are on strike in the first place. Maybe you don't want to get into that. I'll respect your wishes to keep union/non-union discussions out of this, but I must ask this:- Do you really believe that the issue that you are on strike for is legitimate and worth the cost? You say you can see both sides of the argument, but your ambivalence on that suggests you don't think the strike is worth it. The Union is supposed to be representing you and your members. If union management has its own agenda and you don't see it worth the financial pain you are feeling, then it may be time to get active in the union rather than just going along. Like virtually any democratic organization/institution, if you don't keep the leaders honest, you'll get dishonest leaders.
My ambivalence is due to really not knowing what to believe from what I hear from the union,co-workers,and media. At the core of the strike I believe in the fight,but I am not sure whether the info I am getting is rhetoric,or truth. I know some stuff is sensationalized to rile up the troops,but not all of it. At the end of the day I just want it to be over so I can go back to work doing what I like doing. But I don't want to give up every benefit I had before this strike.
I am active in the union but not at a high level. I go to meeting all the time,and am up on what is happening(part of our trouble is membership is down due to retirements) to the union. I would like a more active role,and may ask for that when,and if we ever get back to work. That way I can be sure of shat I speak on things rather than try to filter what I hear at grab the things I think or know to be true.
gamby wrote: In reply to Mazdax605: Bummer to hear about all this. I hope it ends soon. I drive by the Verizon picket line up in Dedham.
Give 'em a beep for me if you care to. Or if you hate unions and such feel free to flip 'em off or doing nothing would be better.
In reply to keethrax:
Fair enough.
Good luck.
The third big contract the Casinos face is coming up in a couple of weeks. Local 54: H.E.R.E. Hotel Employees, Restaurant Employees.
Not to belittle them, but this is the largest union in the Casinos and covers all the low paying jobs of House Keeping, cleaning, waiters, cocktail servers, and kitchen staff.. their strikes tend to be long, loud, and violent...
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