[DaveMcLain]

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_28/b4186048358596.htm

 

[AKB]

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_28/b4186048358596.htm

We don't need more jobs. What we need is smarter people, and people that are willing to work hard, and appreciate what they are fortunate to have without being too greedy. Let me give an example.. People are being put to work around here doing various construction jobs (highway resto, etc.,) because of the American Reinvestment Act (or whatever it is called.) They should be happy to have a job, and be able to pay their bills right? And one that pays fairly well at that. But no.. They, along with all of the other union construction workers have gone on strike because they are greedy. I mean.. C'mon. These people should be happy to have jobs at all. I'm sure there are thousands of people right now that would kill to have a job like theirs. But I guess it isn't good enough for them. I don't mean this in a disrespectful way to any on here that are involved in unions, but I personally believe they are outdated. The days of Standard Oil, etc., are gone and done. Most local laws, around here at least, do a very good job of protecting workers rights. I think the unions played a big part in forcing work out of our country, by pricing American workers right out of the market. Think about it.. If you could have something built in the U.S. by a union worker for $30/hr, or by someone in another country for $1.00/day, which would you choose? And think from the standpoint of a large corporation, not from the standpoint of a patriotic individual. It just pisses me off when people ask for more than they need because they think they are better than everyone else. <end rant>

 

[Harold]

We don't need more jobs. What we need is smarter people, and people that are willing to work hard, and appreciate what they are fortunate to have without being too greedy. Let me give an example.. People are being put to work around here doing various construction jobs (highway resto, etc.,) because of the American Reinvestment Act (or whatever it is called.) They should be happy to have a job, and be able to pay their bills right? And one that pays fairly well at that. But no.. They, along with all of the other union construction workers have gone on strike because they are greedy. I mean.. C'mon. These people should be happy to have jobs at all. I'm sure there are thousands of people right now that would kill to have a job like theirs. But I guess it isn't good enough for them. I don't mean this in a disrespectful way to any on here that are involved in unions, but I personally believe they are outdated. The days of Standard Oil, etc., are gone and done. Most local laws, around here at least, do a very good job of protecting workers rights. I think the unions played a big part in forcing work out of our country, by pricing American workers right out of the market. Think about it.. If you could have something built in the U.S. by a union worker for $30/hr, or by someone in another country for $1.00/day, which would you choose? And think from the standpoint of a large corporation, not from the standpoint of a patriotic individual. It just pisses me off when people ask for more than they need because they think they are better than everyone else. <end rant>

Sounds like you can't get a union job, was you black-balled?

 

[CarsByCarl]

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_28/b4186048358596.htm

Too wordy. How bout a synopsis?

 

[AKB]

Sounds like you can't get a union job, was you black-balled?

No.. I've just had a problem with union people in the past. And considering the economic circumstances, I don't think they have the right to be greedy.

 

[bottomland4x4]

We don't need more jobs. What we need is smarter people, and people that are willing to work hard, and appreciate what they are fortunate to have without being too greedy. Let me give an example.. People are being put to work around here doing various construction jobs (highway resto, etc.,) because of the American Reinvestment Act (or whatever it is called.) They should be happy to have a job, and be able to pay their bills right? And one that pays fairly well at that. But no.. They, along with all of the other union construction workers have gone on strike because they are greedy. I mean.. C'mon. These people should be happy to have jobs at all. I'm sure there are thousands of people right now that would kill to have a job like theirs. But I guess it isn't good enough for them. I don't mean this in a disrespectful way to any on here that are involved in unions, but I personally believe they are outdated. The days of Standard Oil, etc., are gone and done. Most local laws, around here at least, do a very good job of protecting workers rights. I think the unions played a big part in forcing work out of our country, by pricing American workers right out of the market. Think about it.. If you could have something built in the U.S. by a union worker for $30/hr, or by someone in another country for $1.00/day, which would you choose? And think from the standpoint of a large corporation, not from the standpoint of a patriotic individual. It just pisses me off when people ask for more than they need because they think they are better than everyone else. <end rant>

you are exactly right! look at what the autoworkers union did to gm. thats part of the reason for their economic bailout! i too think unions are outdated and end up costing the company more than a non union company would have.

 

[CarsByCarl]

you are exactly right! look at what the autoworkers union did to gm. thats part of the reason for their economic bailout! i too think unions are outdated and end up costing the company more than a non union company would have.

Yea, cause $12.50 is too much.

The answer is to quit making American workers compete with third world labor. (even though $1/hr buys an apartment in the city and a house for the family in the country in China ). Trickle down economics are in full effect. The wealth is trickling down to other countries. It's about damn time we start taking care of our own. Seal the borders, bring the troops home and provide for ourselves!

 

[cool40]

Yea, cause $12.50 is too much.

The answer is to quit making American workers compete with third world labor. (even though $1/hr buys an apartment in the city and a house for the family in the country in China ). Trickle down economics are in full effect. The wealth is trickling down to other countries. It's about damn time we start taking care of our own. Seal the borders, bring the troops home and provide for ourselves!

AAAAAAAmen!

 

[Rampage815]

I am not anti union but neither am I pro union they are nessesary in their own way. Without them working conditions will deteriate but too many have gotten greedy. I drive a truck OTR delivering to factories and such and really hate to goto a union shop. I remember last year delivering to a GM plant I was the only truck there 10 docks, 6 forklifts with operators refused to unload because they had unloaded their quota of trucks for their shift. I had to sit there for 3 hours till the next shift came on. 6 guys sat there and shot the bull for 3 hours and got paid for it. I want a job like that!!! Once went into a PPG plant as forklift was backing out of my trailer with last pallet someone said "Hey you got a brake light out on that forlkift. Operator stopped 1/2 way out and we had to wait almost an hour for a mecanic to come from other side of plant to replace a light bulb!!!!

 

[bottomland4x4]

I am not anti union but neither am I pro union they are nessesary in their own way. Without them working conditions will deteriate but too many have gotten greedy. I drive a truck OTR delivering to factories and such and really hate to goto a union shop. I remember last year delivering to a GM plant I was the only truck there 10 docks, 6 forklifts with operators refused to unload because they had unloaded their quota of trucks for their shift. I had to sit there for 3 hours till the next shift came on. 6 guys sat there and shot the bull for 3 hours and got paid for it. I want a job like that!!! Once went into a PPG plant as forklift was backing out of my trailer with last pallet someone said "Hey you got a brake light out on that forlkift. Operator stopped 1/2 way out and we had to wait almost an hour for a mecanic to come from other side of plant to replace a light bulb!!!!

that is what makes unions a bad deal for the company. the only unions that i feel are necessary are the ones where safety and workers well being are involved. such as working in mines and such.

i totally agree with taking care of our own people. think of how much money all the celebrities raised for haiti! and think of all the people in the USA that doesnt have jobs or are going hungry! thats what needs to be fixed!

ps if there is anyone on here in haiti with a big block ford and i offended you, i apologize!

 

[Diggindeeper]

Unions are not the problem.

Greed is the problem.
Both by Producer, and consumer.

Until we ACT as though we care about each other and not ONLY with our own personal wealth, things will not change for the better.
We are all guilty, Myself as much as anyone else.

I know I want to make the most amount of money I can, and spend the least amount of money as possible.
so i can have the most or best stuff.
And millions share the same thought

As long as we have this mentality things will never change.
I know i'm trying to make a conscious effort to reduce this mentality. Its very hard to do when no one else shares similar interest.

 

[thecustommuffler]

Unions are not the problem.

Greed is the problem.
Both by Producer, and consumer.

Until we ACT as though we care about each other and not ONLY with our own personal wealth, things will not change for the better.
We are all guilty, Myself as much as anyone else.

I know I want to make the most amount of money I can, and spend the least amount of money as possible.
so i can have the most or best stuff.
And millions share the same thought

As long as we have this mentality things will never change.
I know i'm trying to make a conscious effort to reduce this mentality. Its very hard to do when no one else shares similar interest.

We all share the same interests. But I am still gonna want alot of stuff for no money and make alot of money.

 

[bigblok86ranger]

I am a union truck driver and I am happy as hell about the reinvestment act if not for that I would have not worked for last year and a half but I do understand some of the bitches about how things need to be done. I will explain some issues with the situation.

1. There are conditions with qualifying for the money; The work must be done in a very short time frame to have the work paid for!

2. The government has very strict tolerances and procedures that must be followed to a "T"!

3. Getting plans submitted and approved is being delayed because of the budgets and other constraints.

4. Because of everyone else involved in the beurocratic side of it the short time frame and strict policies the result is the contractors and suppliers are the ones left holding the ball. ie; We were given 6 months to complete a job to get it paid for, it took 3 months of planning and revisions, now a job that was a tight timeline has to be done in half the time, leading to employees working double shifts and a month straight without a day of rest.

I have personally had to work a 20 hour day driving a cement truck which is 8 hours over the legal limit but this was overlooked because the job had to be completed by a certain day and have refused to drive any longer becasue of exhaustion. Luckily because of our union contract they could not force us to work on Sundays or we would have worked for 2 months straight with 14-20 hour days and no rest.

PS I started at 12/hr and have worked my way to my current payrate over the years.

 

[747JETMECH]

Dave, good article

It's amazing how our goverment is dancing around hoping everything will come back without making any fundimental changes to the JOB market. They just don't want to give a penny back to the middle class.
For those who blame unions for our situation, look at it like this. The chinese guy working for .50 a hour doesn't care whether your union or not union. He is going to take your job because they are willing to live in a steel roof hut and **** out back. I suppose they say the same thing about you non union USA workers " They ask for too much money and now I have their job"
The issue here is not whether your union or not, its about protecting the standard of living that our country has now. I like running water, sleeping in my own house and eating safe food, heath care for my children.
I don't blame the american worker for this mess, it's wall street. They will sell you out union or not, it's a fact. Proven fact.

Just my opinion.

 

[bigblok86ranger]

Just read the article and it looks like some idiot just figured out what everyone in the middle class knew was gonna happen when N.A.F.T.A. passed. The people who are profiting the most from NAFTA are the ones who made the bill. So either people need to start being more involved with politics or just wait until everyone starts to say "I will only buy American". This is a big reason I refuse to shop at Wal-Mart, Sam Walton founded the company with the idea to keep jobs in America and he did a good job then as soon as he passed away his benificiaries decided that Wal-Mart needed to be about making a PROFIT and screw American companies if they can't provide the cheapest prices. The local Wally world had a pizza party for all the employees when they put the local K-Mart out of business. My mom had worked at K-mart for 15 years and lost her job while idiots were celebrating.

 

[thecustommuffler]

Damn dude, that sucks. Did she apply at Wal Mart?

 

[CarsByCarl]

This is a big reason I refuse to shop at Wal-Mart, Sam Walton founded the company with the idea to keep jobs in America and he did a good job then as soon as he passed away his benificiaries decided that Wal-Mart needed to be about making a PROFIT and screw American companies if they can't provide the cheapest prices.

Interesting. In several cases, I've found Wal-Mart carries American made products while big box stores carrying chineese made crap at twice the price.