SmokingTarpan

Companies treat people like trash because they're either a) too weak-willed to stand up for themselves, b) too lazy to put in the effort of getting what they want or c) to uneducated to do anything about their lives on their own. Personally, I think that all of these points fall into the hands of the people; no blaming the system, the "Man", Kermit the Frog or anything else. I think if someone wants something enough, they'll take the appropriate steps to get that thing, however rough the road may be.

When unions were created, big business had the power to basically treat people like slave labor. Unions were good then because they helped turn business around and force them to treat people with some modicum of respect. That was yestercentury, though, and the world has come a long way. Hell, even McDonald's, that which I refer to as the lowest of the lowly jobs, has options for you to move up in the system and make something of yourself. As far as I'm concerned, unions of today are the safe harbor of the weak, lazy and greedy, and I will dance when they go away. An example of unions doing bad today:

My official classification is Visiting Academic Professional (VAP). The only difference between myself and a regular Academic Professional is that my contract lasts only 3 years (can be renewed, though), and I can be terminated on the end of my contract with no warning; APs get x many weeks of termination warning depending on how long they've worked here. Other than that, VAPs and APs get the same benefits, same raise structure, everything. I knew this and agreed to it when I signed my contract. A year before I was hired, a bunch of VAPs got together and decided they wanted a union to protect them from the "unfairness" of the University- that "unfairness" being the 3 year contract that they all agreed to. Voluntarily. So, out of 400 VAPs, 100 people voted on the union, and 60 were pro-union, thus the vote went through that the majority wanted to unionize. Not sure about anyone else, but 60/400 certainly doesn't seem like a majority. The University fought it and lost, so now they have to negotiate a contract. However, the University is being vengeful, and the VAP Union doesn't even see it or realize what they've done. The Univ. has forbade raises to any VAP until a contract gets negotiated, which has been going on for a year now with no end in sight. Also, until a contract happens, all current individual contracts stand. That means within 2-3 years all VAPs will be terminated, and the Univ. has no reason to ever hire another. Good job VAP Union, you destroyed lots of lives because of stupidity and greed. I didn't even know I was in this union until I was told I was supposed to get a raise last month, but the Univ. forbid it. I contacted the union and told them of my displeasure and that I never wanted in in the first place, and after a week's wait they sent me back a message that basically said too bad, so sad, and didn't even answer my questions. They did let me know that if I didn't want in the union I wouldn't have to pay dues, but I'd have to pay a monthly "fairness" fee because, even though I don't want them to, they're working to benefit me.

I've always been anti-union, and now that I've taken a hit personally due to these rediculous organizations, I'm even more stalwart in my stance. Every person has the ability to decide what they're worth, and if they think they're getting a raw deal, they have the power to change it. All it takes is motivation and hard work, something that far too many people lack these days. I'm very tired of the people that want to be handed everything, and that believe they should be worth more than the person standing next to them without the need to do anything extra.

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[squadl]
"I am the prettiest african-american, vietnamese..cong..person." -SugarNCamo

Pistos

I'm all for people being able to earn a decent wage, but unions often prevent just that. In St. Louis (the city government is 99.9% Democrat) the unions lobbied to have Cat5 wire labeled as high voltage so no non-certified electricians can run phone wire in the city limits. And in order to become certified you have to become an apprentice. Of course the only way you can do that is to, you guessed it, join the union.

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Gigan - Shaman (Resto)
Pistos - Semi-retired Shadowpriest
...and other distractions of various levels.