Is labour unions still a good investment for the working class?

[JLM]

Unions puts more money in a workers pockets and makes the working environment safe

Yes & No. Teachers went on strike here for 3 months last year and they won't gain back what they lost in 10 years. They didn't even gain 1% on what they were offered and the change in working conditions was minimal. The employer just waited them out until they starved. The whole thing was very badly planned, their strike fund was empty in a matter of weeks. When the money being put in workers' pockets comes out of taxpayers' pockets it's an uphill battle as they have no sympathy. Actually they had very little sympathy to start with as they are already in one of the higher paid demographics. Unions' demands also just drive up the cost of living. We've had inflation for far too long, now we need a long period of deflation to get the dollar back to where it's worth something!

 

[Angstrom]

Yes & No. Teachers went on strike here for 3 months last year and they won't gain back what they lost in 10 years. They didn't even gain 1% on what they were offered and the change in working conditions was minimal. The employer just waited them out until they starved. The whole thing was very badly planned, their strike fund was empty in a matter of weeks. When the money being put in workers' pockets comes out of taxpayers' pockets it's an uphill battle as they have no sympathy. Actually they had very little sympathy to start with as they are already in one of the higher paid demographics. Unions' demands also just drive up the cost of living. We've had inflation for far too long, now we need a long period of deflation to get the dollar back to where it's worth something!

Just make the 100$ bill the new 1€. Easy fix

 

[petros]

I'm all for trade unions. Public employees unions can go f-ck themselves.

 

[Liberalman]

I'm all for trade unions. Public employees unions can go f-ck themselves.

Looks like you need an emotional rescue

www.youtube.com/watch?v=piJ0NlfVmpQ

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

I'm all for trade unions. Public employees unions can go f-ck themselves.

Why, just out of curiosity?

 

[petros]

Why not?

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Why not?

Ah, I see. Well, thanks anyhow.

 

[petros]

Training, safety, investments in human capital, readily available labour pool, and a hedge against monopsony.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Training, safety, investments in human capital, readily available labour pool, and a hedge against monopsony.

Which of those should public-sector employees not have?

 

[petros]

safety

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

safety

Can't argue with you there. I just don't see how private-sector workers should have it either.

 

[petros]

What are the odds of tradesman being gravely injured by negligence Vs. someone who works at Student Loans?

 

[JLM]

Just make the 100$ bill the new 1€. Easy fix

It pretty well already is, when I first started working a cup of coffee was 10 cents, now it can be as high as $3.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

What are the odds of tradesman being gravely injured by negligence Vs. someone who works at Student Loans?

What are the odds of office workers being gravely injured by negligence vs. firefighters?

Boy howdy, this "prove your point by non-representative anecdote" game is FUN! Let's do some more! Your turn!

 

[captain morgan]

Training, safety, investments in human capital, readily available labour pool, and a hedge against monopsony.

Monopolies within single-service providers can potentially lead to the tail wagging the dog.

Despite the prevalence of back to work legislation, the cost of disruptions can exact a heavy toll

 

[petros]

What are the odds of office workers being gravely injured by negligence vs. firefighters?

Boy howdy, this "prove your point by non-representative anecdote" game is FUN! Let's do some more! Your turn!

Private or public firefighters?

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Private or public firefighters?

Oh, private, to be sure! Can't have them out fighting fires in public, that'd shock the children. All firefighting should be done behind closed doors, and by consenting adults, by law.

 

[JLM]

I'm all for trade unions. Public employees unions can go f-ck themselves.

I actually partly agree with you although I may not have put it quite that way! There's two groups of public employees bureaucraps (as wage slave would say) and then the group I was part of who actually operated equipment and instruments. By and large Unions have outlived their purpose and have been replaced by other agencies.

 

[petros]

Oh, private, to be sure! Can't have them out fighting fires in public, that'd shock the children. All firefighting should be done behind closed doors, and by consenting adults, by law.

Apparently you have no clue there are both public and private fire fighters.

 

[Cannuck]

Since union dues are calculated on 2 -3 hours of pay a person gets per month it is advantages for a union to negotiate the best hourly wage and benefits package possible from the company and protection from over zealous management that's what union members pay for.

That's pretty short sighted. I care about working conditions and cooperation between labour and management in an effort to make things more efficient, safer and effective. Where I work the only issue seems to be wages. The union wants more and the organization does not want to pay