I got into my car to go to work earlier, started the thing and took off. About 2 miles down the road I was looking at the radio to change the station when I noticed the time said it was 4:05 am. ???? I definitely remember my alarm clock showing the "correct" time this morning, no clue. What's a person supposed to do in such a case, turn around, go home and go back to bed? Not. I just went right on to work and here I am, with another hour to go before work actually starts.
I was reading an op-ed about why unions are so great. This guy writing this article apparently thinks unions are right up there with the invention of the wheel. I am making the money I am making, working the hours I am working, enjoying this that and the other benefits that I am enjoying because of unions, whether I belong to one or not, so says the author.
Whatever. If you belong to a union, I'm happy for you. I do not. I live in a "right-to-work" state, unions have very little power here. The fact of the matter is, I have the wages I have because I open my mouth and speak up for myself. My company gives out good benefits to everyone, nationwide, regardless. It's originations are in Europe, not America.
Regardless, once I started seeing the benefits these workers that are protesting in Wisconsin were receiving, any shred of sympathy I might have had for them disappeared completely. I don't get any such benefits - pensions that go on for eternity, in which the worker pays almost nothing and health care coverage that the worker pays very little into.
My question to these unions is simply this: if they are so great, why are people forced to join them? ??? The people that are in many of those unions do not have an "opt-out" choice, it's either union or nothing.
Same goes with their ideology. It's all or nothing. Either they get their way or - what - lose your job? That's exactly the road they were headed down before the Wisconsin senate bypassed the lack of Democratic senators present. They didn't care. The governor said he would have to lay off, initially, 1,500 people if they didn't agree to the terms. These unions think they are god-like in their "powers".
I am sure there is still quite the battle left to go, since, obviously, this action in Wisconsin sets a precedent. Other governors and lawmakers in other states are undoubtedly looking to see how this pans out and whether they might be able to do the same thing in THEIR states as well.
An epic battle, perhaps not, to say that collective bargaining is a "civil right" is laughable at best. But, I am just an outsider looking in. I have never been in a union, couldn't care less one way or the other. I could try to get a job at one of the companies in these parts that do have trucker's unions, but I have no desire. I have seen how they treat each other - don't want any part of it.
I did a temp job several years ago at Safeway. Union guys were taking vacations, it was holiday time, they needed drivers to get groceries to the stores. I remember this older "dude" walking around as if he were Adidas. Asked me who I was, I asked him the same thing back. He didn't like that stance. I am not a part of his club, I am not going to be condescended to. "Well make sure you don't trash out the equipment" and other such lovely words. I responded that I had probably been driving trucks longer than he had, but even if I had not, I was quite sure I am a better driver than him.
Yeah, I was pushing his buttons, but only because he was trying to push mine. That was my only experience with unions - going in there and hearing people with egos as big as hot air balloons walking around spouting off at the mouth at every turn.
I'm sure they are making good money, I doubt that kind of working atmosphere is worth the aggravation. Since I wasn't part of their deal, I didn't feel the need to subjected to their BS. In fact, I am quite happy with the accomplishments of pay raise that I have acquired, on my own, without collective bargaining.
Well, anyway, that's enough of that. Weekend is almost here. I am 6 hours over on my hours - but I doubt I will get off too early today, there is a bunch of junk to do in the truck routing system. Deliver some fire hydrants and then running around picking up materials for other deliveries next week.
I want to work on my "pond" entry, so, this one is over.
I think workers need advocates sometimes. Back in the day when unions were formed, industry was draconian. In many instances Unions have outlived their purpose. I do not have a clear answer. As a percentage of the population it is interesting that there are more unions in the public sector as a percentage than the private sector.
Apparently government workers have figured out the government will screw them any way they can...
I do not have too much sympathy for the folks in Wisconsin. Teachers do work very hard for the pay they receive...
I don't have sympathy for them because they have been skipping school in favor of protesting. I don't doubt for a minute that they work hard - that is not what is in question here.
4 comments:
Friday
I got into my car to go to work earlier, started the thing and took off. About 2 miles down the road I was looking at the radio to change the station when I noticed the time said it was 4:05 am. ???? I definitely remember my alarm clock showing the "correct" time this morning, no clue. What's a person supposed to do in such a case, turn around, go home and go back to bed?
Not. I just went right on to work and here I am, with another hour to go before work actually starts.
I was reading an op-ed about why unions are so great. This guy writing this article apparently thinks unions are right up there with the invention of the wheel. I am making the money I am making, working the hours I am working, enjoying this that and the other benefits that I am enjoying because of unions, whether I belong to one or not, so says the author.
Whatever. If you belong to a union, I'm happy for you. I do not. I live in a "right-to-work" state, unions have very little power here. The fact of the matter is, I have the wages I have because I open my mouth and speak up for myself. My company gives out good benefits to everyone, nationwide, regardless. It's originations are in Europe, not America.
Regardless, once I started seeing the benefits these workers that are protesting in Wisconsin were receiving, any shred of sympathy I might have had for them disappeared completely. I don't get any such benefits - pensions that go on for eternity, in which the worker pays almost nothing and health care coverage that the worker pays very little into.
My question to these unions is simply this: if they are so great, why are people forced to join them? ??? The people that are in many of those unions do not have an "opt-out" choice, it's either union or nothing.
Same goes with their ideology. It's all or nothing. Either they get their way or - what - lose your job? That's exactly the road they were headed down before the Wisconsin senate bypassed the lack of Democratic senators present. They didn't care. The governor said he would have to lay off, initially, 1,500 people if they didn't agree to the terms. These unions think they are god-like in their "powers".
I am sure there is still quite the battle left to go, since, obviously, this action in Wisconsin sets a precedent. Other governors and lawmakers in other states are undoubtedly looking to see how this pans out and whether they might be able to do the same thing in THEIR states as well.
An epic battle, perhaps not, to say that collective bargaining is a "civil right" is laughable at best. But, I am just an outsider looking in. I have never been in a union, couldn't care less one way or the other. I could try to get a job at one of the companies in these parts that do have trucker's unions, but I have no desire. I have seen how they treat each other - don't want any part of it.
I did a temp job several years ago at Safeway. Union guys were taking vacations, it was holiday time, they needed drivers to get groceries to the stores. I remember this older "dude" walking around as if he were Adidas. Asked me who I was, I asked him the same thing back. He didn't like that stance. I am not a part of his club, I am not going to be condescended to. "Well make sure you don't trash out the equipment" and other such lovely words. I responded that I had probably been driving trucks longer than he had, but even if I had not, I was quite sure I am a better driver than him.
Yeah, I was pushing his buttons, but only because he was trying to push mine. That was my only experience with unions - going in there and hearing people with egos as big as hot air balloons walking around spouting off at the mouth at every turn.
I'm sure they are making good money, I doubt that kind of working atmosphere is worth the aggravation. Since I wasn't part of their deal, I didn't feel the need to subjected to their BS. In fact, I am quite happy with the accomplishments of pay raise that I have acquired, on my own, without collective bargaining.
Well, anyway, that's enough of that. Weekend is almost here. I am 6 hours over on my hours - but I doubt I will get off too early today, there is a bunch of junk to do in the truck routing system. Deliver some fire hydrants and then running around picking up materials for other deliveries next week.
I want to work on my "pond" entry, so, this one is over.
G'day.
ben
I think workers need advocates sometimes. Back in the day when unions were formed, industry was draconian. In many instances Unions have outlived their purpose.
I do not have a clear answer. As a percentage of the population it is interesting that there are more unions in the public sector as a percentage than the private sector.
Apparently government workers have figured out the government will screw them any way they can...
I do not have too much sympathy for the folks in Wisconsin. Teachers do work very hard for the pay they receive...
Cheers,
Bobby
I don't have sympathy for them because they have been skipping school in favor of protesting. I don't doubt for a minute that they work hard - that is not what is in question here.
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