Something I Don't Understand
Florida is a "Right to Work" state. That means that unions generally aren't very strong here and it is easy for management to keep them out. Florida is also an "At Will" employment state meaning an employer can fire an employee at any time for any reason or for no reason at all. What I have a problem understanding is why more workers don't band together and unionize. I know many working class folks who are anti-union. I suspect there are one of a few reasons for this.
One would be that they buy into the anti-union garbage that they have had preached at them over the years (unions are pricing themselves out of the market, unions are communistic, etc.). Those are all lies. Another is that they have never belonged to a union and therefor do not understand what a union really is. The last is that they blame the union for some unfortunate event in their past.
For anyone out there who doesn't truly know what a union is let me offer a few examples of what a union can do. One of the things everyone seems to latch on to is the higher wages. This is generally true. I worked for a telecom company from 1991-1994 and was a member of the IBEW. When the office I worked in closed I made 9.86 per hour as a directory assistance operator. (in 1994 in Florida that was outstanding pay for that job.) By contrast in 2002 I worked for an outsourcing company taking customer service and billing calls for a natural gas company (much more complicated work) and made 9.00 per hour. So the wage benifit was definitely there. But there is more than just cash. Job security was another. Yes I eventually lost my job when they closed the office, but before that the union contract averted a major layoff. Also it was good to know that my boss could not just walk in and fire me on any given day because he had an argument with his wife that morning. Another benefit was fairness. Rules in the union contract enforced the equalization of overtime and a grievance procedure if an employee was wronged. All these things and more were worth well more than the small dues I paid to be a union member. The union helped to give me some control over the direction of my work. The union contract is a negotiated agreement between the workers and management. What could be more fair than that? I really wonder why more people don't wake up and realise that they would be much better off with a union. How else do you ever to get your fair share of the money you bring into your company and be sure you get a fair shake from the management?
One would be that they buy into the anti-union garbage that they have had preached at them over the years (unions are pricing themselves out of the market, unions are communistic, etc.). Those are all lies. Another is that they have never belonged to a union and therefor do not understand what a union really is. The last is that they blame the union for some unfortunate event in their past.
For anyone out there who doesn't truly know what a union is let me offer a few examples of what a union can do. One of the things everyone seems to latch on to is the higher wages. This is generally true. I worked for a telecom company from 1991-1994 and was a member of the IBEW. When the office I worked in closed I made 9.86 per hour as a directory assistance operator. (in 1994 in Florida that was outstanding pay for that job.) By contrast in 2002 I worked for an outsourcing company taking customer service and billing calls for a natural gas company (much more complicated work) and made 9.00 per hour. So the wage benifit was definitely there. But there is more than just cash. Job security was another. Yes I eventually lost my job when they closed the office, but before that the union contract averted a major layoff. Also it was good to know that my boss could not just walk in and fire me on any given day because he had an argument with his wife that morning. Another benefit was fairness. Rules in the union contract enforced the equalization of overtime and a grievance procedure if an employee was wronged. All these things and more were worth well more than the small dues I paid to be a union member. The union helped to give me some control over the direction of my work. The union contract is a negotiated agreement between the workers and management. What could be more fair than that? I really wonder why more people don't wake up and realise that they would be much better off with a union. How else do you ever to get your fair share of the money you bring into your company and be sure you get a fair shake from the management?
posted by Carlton Noles at 8:41 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home