I am officially in the union.

[Tobin S.]

OPEIU- Office and Professional Employees International Union, an AFL-CIO union.

http://www.opeiu.org/

I just got my first pay stub with union dues deducted from it. They were really sneaky abut it where I work. From what I understand, it used to be customary for the company to give new hires a union card to fill out on their hire date. They didn't do that with me.

I had to sort of figure out what I had to do to be in the union by talking to my co-workers. I requested the card from the union, filled it out and turned it in on 4/29. My hire date was 4/19. I noticed over the past month that they were not withholding union dues from my pay check. I had to call HR several times to get that accomplished.

I think it was a subtle attempt to keep new hires out of the union. Indiana is a right to work state.There are 110 wage earning employees where I work and 94 of them are in the union. That's pretty strong according to the union representative I talked to. I'm sure my employer would like to see that diminished. Of course it should be 100%.

When I was having trouble with HR, I called the union representative and he told me to get back with him if I need some assistance. It was so nice just to hear something like that...to know that someone's got your back. He sounded like he was getting ready to kick ass, too.

[ret5hd]

1. 30+ yr union man here, now retired. Welcome aboard.

[Tobin S.]

3. Thank you.

The difference is absolutely wonderful. There's much more respect and dignity to go around at this place compared to where I used to work.

[femmocrat]

2. Congratulations!

Solidarity!

[Tobin S.]

4. 10-4 on that.

If more people now days had the opportunity to see the difference in non-union versus union, we'd see some big changes in this country in a hurry. We wouldn't have working people at odds with each other so much. I think it would improve things like race and gender relations as well.

[femmocrat]

5. So true! nt

[lunatica]

6. Proud Teamster here!

I'm pro union all the way!

[awoke_in_2003]

7. Great news. nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. I'm so pleased you're in the union, my dear Tobin!

Solidarity forever, indeed!

[flying rabbit]

9. Congrats!

Go union!

[GOLGO 13]

10. 21 year & counting union member. Welcome aboad brother.

4 years till retirement & I'll be in my early 50's when I walk away. Go union Powah Go!

[Laffy Kat]

11. Congrats.

I started my first union job (in health care) about two years ago. I've already been apart of three grievances and have recovered over $700 in wages, in less than TWO years. I love my union.

[Major Nikon]

12. Strong union participation is very good for the union

You can bet that management is very aware of the participation rate. A 90% rate means 90% of the employees are on the union's side and only 10% are on management's side.

[RedCloud]

13. I live in a union hating state

Easily brainwashed people making subsistent wages and bosses too incompetent to negotiate with a union.

[BlueCollar]

14. TWU member here

Welcome aboard.

[Sherman A1]

15. UFCW here

for some 43 years. Welcome Aboard!

[monmouth4]

16. My son (works for Verizon) is going back to work tomorrow (I think) and his union got him a 10%

raise, probably over the next two years or so. Unions are great.