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"Don't unionize, just get a better job." When you unionize, you ARE getting a better job. (lemmy.today)
submitted 4 days ago by to c/workreform@lemmy.world
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[–] 19 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Unions can be a problem if it's just another set of bosses who are seeking to profit from the system. So like being in a HOA where you let the dipshit homebodies with nothing better to do get in charge and start fining everyone.

You have to stand up and be involved. It's not easy, but it means that instead of being you against HR by yourself, it's you and all your buddies against HR on your behalf.

In the best case scenario, it provides a way for the company managerment to hear ideas from the employees - because a good company listens. Treat your people right and they will look for ways to make things work better and increase your profits. So it's in your best interest. Treat your employees like shit and that is what you'll get out of them.

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  • [–] 12 points 3 days ago (1 child)

    It takes a long time and a concerted effort to morph a healthy union into what's basically organized crime (see: police "unions").

    Otherwise, unions are just groups of people. People can be corrupt, and healthy unions have mechanisms and safeguards for excising that corruption.

    The F.O.P. isn't created overnight. It's built on generation upon generation of corrupt cops covering for each other. That is not a union, that's a gang.

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  • [–] -3 points 3 days ago (1 child)

    It is not just corruption. It's laziness. Every union I have worked with (2 I worked in, 1 I managed union workers) has been in favor of the lowest common denominator. They spend time squabbling about the worker that barely get by doing the bare minimum but knows the rules. Meanwhile the really hard workers get fired for one time mistakes and the really good workers don't make as much as they should because of the guys that are barely skating by.

    Unions don't do what they used to. They used to make management know that they needed to cooperate. Now it is not how they work together.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 days ago* (1 child)

    They spend time squabbling about the worker that barely get by doing the bare minimum but knows the rules. Meanwhile the really hard workers get fired for one time mistakes

    I don't believe you that this is a thing that you have personally experienced in a union.

    Meanwhile the really hard workers get fired for one time mistakes

    Usually literally contractually impossible based on the contract that was negotiated by the union's collective bargaining bloc.

    Unions are ultimately groups of people. If you don't like the priorities and direction of the leadership, then you vote for new leadership.

    Everyone gets paid more, including the ones who work really hard. They just don't get to steal their coworkers job because they had a rough month at home and didn't meet some bullshit made up quota. No, you support that coworker, because they deserve a living wage too, even if they're going through something.

    Even if that thing is opaque and is appears to others as "laziness". Shit ain't your business beyond ”i hope things get better for them, and I am so glad that the leave they need to take will not permanently ruin them financially and force their family to move back with their inlaws in goddamn India" or wherever.

    Like Jesus, have some common fucking decency for your coworkers.

    News flash: working harder than you need to does not get your more money in non-union positions either. You just end up with more responsibility and less free time.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 days ago

    So I'm lying for fancy Internet points? How fucking dumb are you?

    I speak my experience. Take it or don't. I don't care if you want to hear it or not. Union reps are just employees with different departments. They do not represent the workers. They represent the companies and only posture with egregious abuses of powers.

    They hold zero weight in leverage. Simply because they cannot effect change. They no longer can intimidate or change management's goals. It's an archaic use of power. Management can find reasons and hire someone cheaper.

    I absolutely don't think it's right. But it's what the unions are in any capacity that I have experienced.

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