As a specific example, it is easier for GM to close an entire factory and outsource that product then to downsize the work force at a given factory. How messed up is THAT? And the reason is 100% UAW.

 

well the UAW is digging their own grave.

AT my airline, Expressjet Airlines, d.b.a Continental Express we (the Union) are in talks to give the company around 10% concessions to help the airline stay out of bankruptcy. The Pilots as well as myself are willing to give the company a loan to stay alive, though it is very difficult to get another airline job now and the pay hit we take are huge, eventually we will be able to get another job flying a plane, the UAW employees probably know their days are numbered and they have no other skill so they know its either work at the their present day factory or nothing. <-------a level headed person would recognize this and talk possible concessions to help the companies balance sheet, GM is not making boat loads of money so I dont see why the Union is being so stubborn.......

 

If you'd like the see the effectiveness of unions just look at the default rate on home loans and the economies of the "union" states.

Most of the foreclosures in the U.S. right now are centered on 7 states. 3 of the states had baseless, massive appreciation rates and their market value drops were due to this. The other 4 were all manufacturing states where the industry fled south or overseas to get away from the unions.

As others have said, the laws in place have made the need for unions totally disappear. And as others have said, we need to reexamine our place in the world to see if it isn't time to outlaw them or else we'll end up being a third world soon.

 

hahaha, outlaw them....................get a grip

 

I'm glad your union recognized your industry's problems and is willing to help the company prosper in the good for all, unfortunately the UAW isn't doing the same and most unions don't.

 

agree, I think a lot of that has to do with (this is going to sound bad) the fact that the majority of UAW workers are un-educated (no college) and they either dont understand the economics of the company, or they are just too stubborn and ignorant to care.........

 

Sorry to respond to your comment a tad late, but I am shocked at what I just read...

I don't think anyone should see "serious compromises in education" because of unions. People need to see serious compromises in education because teachers (especially in your home state) get paid far less than what they deserve. I can't think of any other job that is as important that starts in the $32k (annual) range... not even close!

I don't see how anyone could feel shocked that teachers would strike in PUBLIC schools... Because they decided to devote their lives to helping out our youth in a public setting, are teachers expected to be treated like crap and to shut up and tolerate it? They are entitled to a fair wage and compensation for the work that they do, just like we all are, regardless of whether we do this work in a public setting or a private setting.

I totally agree with the general feeling here about most of the unions here in our country, but I would have to say that there are certain fields (i.e. teaching) that still need union representation to avoid being forgotten by the powers that be (i.e. California's teachers and those who create California's budget).

 

I honestly don't think we are all that far from doing just that. The damaging evidence builds and while I don't think it will be an outright outlawing I think it will be a serious curtailing of what a union will be able to control or have input into.

In other words some severe curtailing of powers as they have clearly been seen to be not in the best interests of the country.

 

Well I am against strikes against the public, especially children. I see that teacher unions use collective bargaining to negotiate salary and benefits but feel strikes should be illegal in these cases (they are in some States).

Teachers know full well that they are entering into a profession that does not pay well. (Some of that comes from poor management, but that is a separate subject). It is clear it is a difficult and challenging job and I see many dedicated professionals that do dedicate their lives to the effort

 

I wouldn't be against unions being banned, since they effectively monopolize the supply of labor in union shops.

A friend of mine worked @ Titus Electric, which is a non-union shop. He told me about how union employees would maliciously botch jobs and create some dangerous situations.

I just Googled Titus Electric + union and got the following story. The local union just can't live w/ the fact that they're a succesful non-union shop.

http://www.nlpc.org/olap/UCU3/05_07_13.htm