Should all jobs be union jobs?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

131. That can change fast. And tax policy as it stands certainly ain't helping.

Besides my example in #105 of a situation that hits very close to home.

My brother is another example of how things change fast. Even in a union shop.

My brother is a union carpenter and has worked for the same family owned company for 20 plus years.

They used to get great profit sharing bonuses. That was the first thing to go after the father died and the shit-heel kids took over the company.

The father was a decent old guy who made a lot of money for himself and his family but he lived a modest lifestyle.

Now that dad is gone, the kids all want to be the boss and all live in 12,000 square foot houses. Cars, boats, airplanes (one died in a stunt plane crash).

The next thing to go after the profit sharing was the quality of work. The kid that finally landed on top started having laborers do electrical and plumbing. He would bid for those trades and then use his guys to do the haphazard work.

Then he started in with the "I can't pay you union scale but I will pay you cash". He started at $25 dollars an hour cash no pension or benefits. My brother was the first to say no fucking way. They got rid of him.

The latest is, now they are down to $15 dollars an hour cash. No benefits. Keep in mind these are people that have paid in to a pension their whole careers.

The only thing that makes sense to me is it is cheaper for this guy to pull money out of the company, pay personal taxes, and kick back his measly $15 bucks than to do things on the up and up. These are all big commercial accounts so there is no cash payments and everything is 1099'd.

The unions used to be a help but even THEY are scrambling and scratching to stay above water. A lot of the locals are closing down. The dick-head has carpenters and bricklayers joining the laborer's union if they want to work. Apparently the LU doesn't care too much if their guys aren't turning in hours as long as they get their dues. Like lobsters in boiling water - no need for a lid.

The union says they can't do anything about it unless my brother wants to work for cash and then turn HIMSELF in to the union. The state and feds could look at him I guess. Maybe the NSA can wire-tap him.