The Tonight Show ( Jay Leno) fired the writers that were striking and now

[mrplunkey]

are they even allowed to hire "non union" writers? I know alot of hollywood is starting to move to Canada because they don't have these union problems. Yet the union guys make more money in Canada on average.........so wtf? I don't get it.

Its usually not the wages that are an issue in union problems. It's unrealistic benefits, featherbedding, work slowdown/stoppages, violence or the threat of violence, and other indirect expenses.

 

[myway]

My dad deals with labor disputes like these. I have heard some good stories.

 

[mrplunkey]

My sentiments exactly, if they dont like the current conditions or wages change careers... The Unions are the most worthless organizations in the US. Granted when they first came on the scene in the 60.s it was a much need entity due to no gov regulation on hours, benefits and chain of command.. however in this day in age they pay the union for nothing more than to protect the deadbeats that belong to the unions, that do not want to work and want to complain about everything...

Unions are businesses -- nothing more. Businesses exist to make a profit and provide for their employees. The funny thing is that union workers aren't "owners" or "managers" of the union business -- they are the product. The union is always trying maximize revenue (raise union dues and recruit more people) but just like any other business, its also going to try to minimize costs (do as little as possible for its members).

Unions are an obsolete throwback from the early industrial age that are doing untold damage to American workers. Sure, a few guys get to sit-around doing nothing for $30/hour but all it does is insures that product (and the job associated with it) will get shipped overseas.

So enjoy! It's all part of the forces driving jobs out of the US and destroying the middle class.

 

[rnch]

Its usually not the wages that are an issue in union problems. It's unrealistic benefits, featherbedding, work slowdown/stoppages, violence or the threat of violence, and other indirect expenses.

yeh, unions are responsible for "unrealistic" benefits like: paid vacations, sick leave, 40 hour, 8 hours a day work weeks, time and a half wages after 8 hours a day/40hours a week, liveable straight time hourly wages, healty working conditions, 15 minute breaks, uninterrupted lunch breaks away from your job.......


does anyone think that management would give workers these benefits out of the bottomless goodness for their Cold Coporate heart?

 

[rnch]

...So enjoy! It's all part of the forces driving jobs out of the US and destroying the middle class.

WHATTTT???


unions and union wages CREATED the middle class of this country.


GOPers like our current temporary occupant of 1600 penn ave are doing their best to bust the unions, "outsource" jobs to abba dabba and destroy the middle class while they increase and enrichen the upper class of this country.

 

[redguru]

The Steelworkers union created the Rust Belt by pricing themselves right out of the business. My father was a member and they would strike just to make a three day weekend into a four day weekend.

 

[mrplunkey]

The Steelworkers union created the Rust Belt by pricing themselves right out of the business. My father was a member and they would strike just to make a three day weekend into a four day weekend.

Yup... same can be said for cars (just look at GM's situation)

and textiles...

etc. etc.

Unions have destroyed a ton of US-based industries that now do well overseas.

 

[mrplunkey]

yeh, unions are responsible for "unrealistic" benefits like: paid vacations, sick leave, 40 hour, 8 hours a day work weeks, time and a half wages after 8 hours a day/40hours a week, liveable straight time hourly wages, healty working conditions, 15 minute breaks, uninterrupted lunch breaks away from your job.......


does anyone think that management would give workers these benefits out of the bottomless goodness for their Cold Coporate heart?

Management gives those benefits in order to recruit and retain talent. Do you think for a SECOND that those benefits would just disappear if unions went away?

Now lets look at all the unrealistic "benefits" out there -- like "oilers" that sit in the passenger seats of pickup trucks at construction sites who hop-out and grease-up the pickup truck once a week and spend the rest of their time being chauffeured around for $30/hour.

 

[mrplunkey]

WHATTTT???


unions and union wages CREATED the middle class of this country.


GOPers like our current temporary occupant of 1600 penn ave are doing their best to bust the unions, "outsource" jobs to abba dabba and destroy the middle class while they increase and enrichen the upper class of this country.

Riiiiiight.

Keep believing that. Lets just make sure that when the last manufacturing job in the US is shipped overseas that somebody turns-out the lights. Energy prices here are soaring and God knows we don't need the unnecessary expense.

 

[rnch]

i don't disagree that SOME unions have gone too far in their demands.



BUT....



if we did not have unions we would be back to 60-70 hour work weeks with pay cuts and benefits eliminated.

how many managers/CEO's have had THEIR pay and benefit packages slashed in the last few years????

do you really believe that all the dick chenny's and corporations like "hell-a-button" would continue to pay high salaries if they didn't have to?