Labor Union shakedown.

[Moses]

My 16 year old son works at Safeway as a courtesy clerk. He works 16 hours/week. Safeway is a "union shop". My son was just given a bill by his labor union for initiation $256.00 then monthly $56.00.

Here's the rub; he earns minimum wage. He has no benefits. No medical, no dental. Safeway pays him the minimum allowed by law.

So what is the value of union representation for my son? The initiation fee is a big chunk for a high school kid working minimum wage.

My advice to my son? Ignore the letter. If push comes to shove, quit the job and find a non-union position elsewhere.

[the]

Sounds like your boy is fixin' to get a visit from Vinnie for little "convincing" about the value of union representation.

[gduke]

Is Colorado a right to work state? If it is your boy can tell the union where to go.

[SLO-BOB]

I had a friend "back in the day" who worked for a Teamsters run grocery store. In his case he was very well paid and had benefgits at 16. An employee paying the union to be a member and not receive benefits defies reason. Your son's situation sounds very strange. Did he just get the job? Was this not explained to him at all at hiring? In any case, he should approach management and ask for compensation to make up the difference. If no go, time to move on.

I'll take this opportunity to jump up on the soap box and bash unions in general. Your story is typical of union greed. What used to be a fine organization that protected the common man has now become big business who's member's interests come in a distant second place to it's own financial interests and self propagation. Union standards for excellence and training have been replaced by - more members=more money. The same mentality that pays a guy $65+ an hour to "drive" an elevator in New York also leeches money from a 16 year old trying to earn some extra coin. Really sad.

[David]

http://www.nrtw.org/rtws.htm

[Moses]

Originally posted by 125shifter
http://www.nrtw.org/rtws.htm

Great website. Sadly we're in California.

[Moneyguy1]

Hate to say it, but management can be just as bad.

With all its flaws, the system seems to come to a balance.

[jjone20]

Balance, huh? Can managers call the union rep stupid to their face? Can managers file ridiculous charges with the FLRA? Can managers go on TV to say that their employees want to "belittle" their employer? Wise up. The rules are stacked in favor of the "poor working man". Don't know about the private sector, but in civil service, don't ask union employees to work 8 for 8.

[Moneyguy1]

I have been moderator in negotiations. Yes. Managers have and do call union reps stupid to their faces. And, the union dishes out as much in return. And yes...management may use different techniques to get their message across including intimidation to keep unions out. And yes...some "public sector" employees can and do put in a full day as well as "private sector" employees doing less and stealing their employers blind. There are different circumstances and neither side hold the high ground. Both have an agenda.

Ask why there is so much rancor between those making a modest income and those making multiples in "management" while selling their company down the river. That may sound harsh, but if one examines why we, in the US are at a disadvantage in manufacturing, one only has to look at the emphasis on dividends to shareholders in lieu of technological improvements and plant renovation. Tell me....where is the steel industry located now?

And yes..there is a "global economy", the advantages of which will only be seen when the playing field is leveled, which will happen over time, and no one has the edge on "cheap labor".

Moses....something is very wrong with your son's situation and it should be investigated.

[legion]

Any minute Supe will be here to tell us how this is a good situation for your son...

[stevepaa]

He should not be part of the union if not full time. This does not make any sense.

[legion]

I had friends who worked part-time in high school as baggers. They were required to join the bagger's union. They had dues and such...though not quite so high. Still, they got 0 benefits and had to pay union dues. How does that makes sense? The only thing I can think of is it is more money for the union bosses with no additional responsibility...

[onlycafe]

moses,
send them a letter telling them, "let my people go."
your son may be too young for any kind of contract anyway, don't you need to be eighteen for signing things offcially w/o parental ok?
besides that , if the union is not offering you their benefits, what are you paying them for doing?

[competentone]

I guess Safeway doesn't want to be attacked like Walmart has been by Human Rights Watch:

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/05/01/usdom15797.htm

It is true madness....

....or a scam by the unions.

[nostatic]

is it a closed shop? I don't know how the grocery stores work, but back when I installed cable I joined the IBEW but Southwestern Cable was *not* a closed shop so you didn't have to join to work there. Fat lot of good it did us...being a member of the union in an open shop just means you pay dues for the privelege of...paying dues. And get to watch guys working for the phone company doing the same job earning 3x or more what we were.

ahh, them was the days...

[HardDrive]

I have to deal with both state and county IT workers, both of which are unionized. They are without a doubt the laziest, most worthless pieces of ***** I have ever come across in my IT career. F*cking unmotivated, surly, DUMB fungi sucking up pay checks comprised of my tax dollars.

And yeah, that how I REALLY feel.

Unions are a pathetic scam these days. The leaders should be flogged publicly.

[air-cool-me]

just ignore it..
go to work for 4 or so months... then they will "let you go" for some bull**** reason..


thats how its worked with all of my friends who didn't join..


then go find a non union job

[Superman]

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
I have been moderator in negotiations. Yes. Managers have and do call union reps stupid to their faces. And, the union dishes out as much in return. And yes...management may use different techniques to get their message across including intimidation to keep unions out. And yes...some "public sector" employees can and do put in a full day as well as "private sector" employees doing less and stealing their employers blind. There are different circumstances and neither side hold the high ground. Both have an agenda.

Ask why there is so much rancor between those making a modest income and those making multiples in "management" while selling their company down the river. That may sound harsh, but if one examines why we, in the US are at a disadvantage in manufacturing, one only has to look at the emphasis on dividends to shareholders in lieu of technological improvements and plant renovation. Tell me....where is the steel industry located now?

And yes..there is a "global economy", the advantages of which will only be seen when the playing field is leveled, which will happen over time, and no one has the edge on "cheap labor".

Moses....something is very wrong with your son's situation and it should be investigated.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

[SLO-BOB]

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
if one examines why we, in the US are at a disadvantage in manufacturing, one only has to look at the emphasis on dividends to shareholders in lieu of technological improvements and plant renovation. Tell me....where is the steel industry located now?

This has to be in the top ten of "most insightful statements" made in OT.

Toyota, arguably one of the biggest success stories in the automotive industry, focuses on reinvesting in itself and product developement rather than catering to share holders. While maybe not the most popular business ethic for those who want to get in low and out high, it has proven a solid formula for long term success. If only the big three would do the same and think about top end instead of bottom line.

FWIW-my comments on the union are directed at the union management in general and not at the union membership. I do not believe that tradesmen are overpaid, more that the union is too far into the tradesmens' wallets. I also believe that here in America, supply and demand should dictate wages, not a picket line or strong arm union intimidation.

[hytem]

I know all about Labor Union corruption and abuses. And how the steel and auto workers unions got too much. Heck, look at the Baseball Players' union--with the agents, extorting all that money from the owners--which ultimately comes from the fans and cable subscribers.

But try to work for a big American corporation without unions. The unions are a necessary leverage. White collar workers without union protection, for example, have been and continue to be more vulnerable to downsizing. They have no leverage--especially white males. Unionized blue collar workers have fared better, in my experience.