Since this has escalated, and I have experience unique in the world, let me tell you my story....
I work in a power plant. We had a great benefits plan, annual bonus and pretty good working conditions. Over the course of two years, my benefit package was reduced 4 times. The first change occurred between the day I signed my offer letter and my start date. The business started to collapse thanks to Enron and others doing business just like them. Coupled with alot of cheap credit and overextended cash flow, our corporate entity went bankrupt. With the restructuring our VP pulled down a 13 million dollar bonus. We lost most of our bonus opportunity, and got a cheaper health plan. Then, the company decided that they were just going to let the banks repo the plant. How's that for job security? The banks decided that they were going to hang onto the asset and got an operating company to run the facility. Subsequently, we were all hired by the operating company. The operating company,yet again, cut benefits, and bonus opportunity. In addition, they (made an attempt) at reducing overtime by leaps and bounds. Problem is, to do this, they need to hire more people;They choose not to and things go to shit. Then, they go ape shit because nothing gets done and they expect the whole f***ing world to drop what their doing to pick up their mess. But I digress, the CEO of this company decides he's going to pull the "there's a new sheriff in town" BS and tells everyone that they will work more than ever, do more than ever, and make less than ever. To that we said "bite me" and voted to organize. Mind you, we regularly made fun of union labor and had no desire to be like them. We did realize this- (and so should every other non-union worker)-we had it good to keep the union out and that's why you got it good. We organized with over 80% of the vote (mine included) and I was unanimously (and very reluctantly) voted to be steward and negotiator. A year and a half later, I had put all I could into the contract and stepped aside to allow some others to try and close this deal, which they did shortly thereafter. They closed it quickly because they wanted to get the deal closed, and failed to look at the contract as a whole. They ended up with a less than equitable contract, one I voted against and refused to sign (at first-I later signed at the request of the BA-still a good friend)
Shortly thereafter, the operations manager left for a promotion at another plant. 6 months later, I find myself (inadvertently) performing all the duties thereunto pertaining. After several offers, I accepted the promotion and now find myself enforcing the very contract I helped negotiate, with the guys I helped vote a union in with. You would be hadr pressed to find another in my shoes-I haven't met that person.
In all-this is my take on it. I do not regret voting in a union for the fact of the solidarity it proved on the part of my team. I am proud as their manager that they had the sack to do what is right. Motivated properly, there is nothing they cannot accomplish. I also believe that there is still a place for organized labor in our workforce, because there are still plenty of companies that will not treat their employees fairly.
Also-
I will never willingly negotiate a first union contract ever again-on either side. That is an experience, while priceless, that ill suits my principles. I accepted the challenge of negotiating with the intent that 1) Everyone (both sides) would be reasonable and 2) That I could keep the good things and fix the bad ones. I found that both sides are out for themselves and both sides lose.
Mr. Speaker-I reserve the right to revise and extend my remarks.
![[laugh2]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/014.gif "Laugh at above [laugh2]")
![[rolleyes]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/042.gif "Roll Eyes [rolleyes]")
![[shocked]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/007.gif "Shocked [shocked]")
I am amazed at how many of you independently wealthy antiunion billionaires there are on this forum. If you are not in a union and you think your not at the mercy of your employers whims you are delusional. Unions don't aim to drive up the cost of anything, they work for fair and competitive salaries, affordable healthcare, safe workplaces, and retirement plans so that workers are not relying solely on the already bankrupt social security program. If that is communism/socialism then paint me red. And before any of you get the bright idea to point out that I previously stated that I was a union official, mine is an unpaid elected position so the only benefits I gain are the same as my unions membership.
