I just completed orientation at my new job

[Droopy]

What are your thoughts on labor unions? Keep that question in mind as you read this post.

I'm a trucker and I recently got hired on at a company that employs union labor. The pay is above average and the benefits are excellent. The company pays for my health insurance premium. They have a pension. I was told that if I work for the company for 30 years I will have a $6000 a month pension when I retire. I'll be 63 then if I manage to stay on with them until then. That sounds like a good retirement age to me. I don't have to sleep in a truck. The company will pay for my hotel room every night I'm out on the road. In addition to above average mileage pay, I also get extra pay for mechanical labor that will boost my paycheck another 20%-30% a week.

It's really a trucker's dream job. When their safety manager came in to speak at the orientation he said, "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to retirement." Basically as long as the Republicans don't blow up the world and as long as I don't screw up too bad I am set for life. The company has been in business a long time and they aren't going anywhere. I also have the good fortune of being a good match for the job. I like to drive and work with my hands. I'm single with no kids and I don't want to get hitched. It's almost too good to be true.

I've heard a socialist say that unions were originally meant to be a tool that would be used to wrest ownership of the company from the greedy capitalists by the union labor. Basically a tool for the workers to gain control of the company. His thoughts were that now days the unions are only interested in getting a bigger piece of the pie rather than gaining control of the company or the means of production. I'm not a socialist and it won't be hard for me to live with the current arrangement my union has with the owners of the company.

What are your thoughts on labor unions?

[liberaltrucker]

1. Congrats, my friend!!!

You did very well for yourself!

:toast:

Teamsters, I presume? If so, they're good now,
not corrupt as in the past. Nice going!!

[Droopy]

2. Not Teamsters

I'm afraid to give out the name of the company for fear of possibly unveiling who I work for. But it is a big union and they are strong.

Thanks.

[Nikia]

3. I am glad that you are getting a good deal

I hope that the job is as good as it seems. Sometimes there are hidden trade offs for good pay and benefits, but I suppose that truck driving is more straight forward, not like in a big factory where there might be difficult supervisers and other annoyances.
As for labor unions, it depends upon the untion and company. Some unions are about protecting their own (long time workers) and cooperating with management. Others are better.

[Droopy]

7. I've met my union steward

He is a young guy and he's tough as hell. He was recently escorted off company property when he went to war with the terminal manager. He refused to leave the terminal manager's office until the issue was resolved. The way he sounded he will really fight for us truckers.

[The Straight Story]

4. My father in law (just retired) was head of a union

And he worked hard for those under him. Always pushing workers' rights.

The union is only as good as the people heading it up.

Hold them as accountable as you would bush if he was running it :) ie - take the good and look out for the bad.

Congrats! May god see you safely on your journeys across the road.

[u4ic]

5. I'd say it depends on the union

I've known people who've benefited tremendously, and a few who've been right royally screwed over by their union.

Hopefully you'll be the former category. Good luck with your new job. :D

[Redstone]

6. Dunno about unions, but it sounds like you'll be rested and safe

when you're driving. That's what's important to me; I don't need to have a trucker nodding off next to me on the highway.

Redstone

[Droopy]

8. 10-4

I was like that anyway before I started with this new company. I would rather a load be late than hurt someone in a crash due to my negligence. Trucking company's safety manager guys will always tell you that the load you are hauling is not worth your life or the lives of others. I took that to heart.

[Redstone]

9. Good that those safety managers told you that.

No load is worth a life.

Redstone

[Deja Q]

10. Mine's more or less useless.

[Droopy]

11. You are not useless

Don't think that way about your own thoughts. I'm sure there are some good ideas bouncing around in your brain.

[Droopy]

12. kick

[auntAgonist]

13. hiya Droopy!

I'm sure glad it's working out for you. My parents and brother are all union folk (Mother since passed away). My brother is the vice president of a union in Ontario. I've always thought unions have their place and hopefully, your union will serve you well. As an owner-op many years ago I paid a LOT in union dues for nothing! There wasn't anything they could do for contractors (?). Anyway, best of luck my friend, will you be trucking anywhere near us?

aA

kesha :)

[Droopy]

14. I will be based in Springfield, Ohio

which is near Dayton and I will be hauling all over the United States. They want me to run Canada as well, but one of the perks to the job is that I get to pick the loads that I want to take. The only time there will be forced dispatch is when they have more drivers than loads. Then I have to take anything they assign me. I'll do a little write up for the other place as well as post this post there as a part of it.

[auntAgonist]

15. ooh , I used to have a dedicated run to Springfield OH

hauled Navistar Cabs into Chatham Ontario.

Looking forward to seeing your post on 'my' place :)



aA

[Jade Fox]

16. Congratulations....

on getting a job worthy of you!

As for Unions, they are completely responsible for livable and safe working conditions, reasonable work day length, and much much more that Americans now take for granted on their jobs. For history alone, I will ALWAYS defend unions. A study of any non-union or union-busted working situation will reveal where we would all be without Unions.

[Droopy]

17. Thank you

It's been a long time coming. I just wish I would have had the guts to apply at them sooner. They have a type of operation that intimidated me at first. Specialized hauling. I found once I got into orientation and started to do a little hands on training that it was something that I could handle. There were people in the orientation with me that have a lot less experience than I do. I wish I would have applied there 5 years ago.

I share your thoughts on labor unions.

[blue neen]

18. It sounds like a very good situation for you.

I knew a guy who drove truck for years. He worked very hard to get the company he worked for unionized.

The company ended up firing him, and the union didn't get in. He was devastated.

Your company seems like it's a lot more progressive than that. :)

[hfojvt]

19. the current arrangement is good for you

However, it does nothing for the rest of the working class. This is why so many union workers became Reagan Democrats in the 1980s. They got an "I've got mine" attitude. A $6000 a month pension sounds pretty unbelievable to somebody who only makes $2000 a month working full time.

Union management does stand up for working class issues and works to elect Democrats who have concern for the working class, but I am not sure how much of that they have taught to their members.

[Droopy]

20. One thing I've found from working in the trucking biz

is that many working class people detest unions. It is not up to the union to unionize a work place- it is up to the workers.

[blockhead]

21. the people i've met that detest unions

have never worked union and are ignorant.

[hfojvt]

22. I thought it was kinda funny

I worked as a temp at a factory (for three years, some 'temp', eh?) and there was some union agitation. So much so, that the corporate office brought a specialist in to give them a two hour talk. Many of the workers did not feel that a union would be able to do anything for them anyway. Many of us are told when we were hired that the plant is non union and we know that trying to start a union will either get us fired, or in the "best" case scenario, get them to move the plant.

Anyway, it was pretty clear that the union was not going to do anything for the temps, only for the poor 'full timers' who already made twice what I did, plus bennies. Only some workers, those in more skilled jobs, who are already paid better than average, are able to form unions.