Unions

[lineman641]

what do you expect from the union? what does a union expect from you?....what do you think a union can do??

[just say no]

i expect the union leadership to have a spine..quit giving in to company threats,get out to the membership if the membership can't get to the hall.stop worrying about the cush position they have, being at that level.most of all start being concerned about the WHOLE membership instead of a select few including themselves......

[CenterPointEX]

I expect the Union to represent the workers in negotiations with corperations in order to aprehend a fair wage and bearable working conditions in exchange for a full days work done with pride quality and skill. As one man we would not stand a chance at negotiating a pimple on a goats arse... but United we become a force to reckon with. The Light Company knows before the meeting is over how many folks are in attendance...

[Orgnizdlbr]

I expect the Union to represent the workers in negotiations with corperations in order to aprehend a fair wage and bearable working conditions in exchange for a full days work done with pride quality and skill. As one man we would not stand a chance at negotiating a pimple on a goats arse... but United we become a force to reckon with. The Light Company knows before the meeting is over how many folks are in attendance...

Well said CP.

[Lizzy Borden]

The union will try to protect you........if they want or how much money will it cost the local or who will benefit.

We pay about $16.00 a week right now for dues. Just got a letter increase of $1.00 weekly every January.

$10.00 weekly assessment for 10 weeks for the purpose of increasing operating funds.

Our other local wants $5.00 weekly assessment for 48 weeks.

We voted in a $5.00 assessment a few years ago and it kept getting extended.

We vote on this next month.

So how high are your union dues..........has the union ever had to represent you?

There must be a better way to cut cost. Does every single union pres, vp, sec or a ton of shop stewarts have to go to every single convention, fly, eat and rent cars and rooms? Consolidate the union offices would save about $4000.00 a month.

Seems we are all in the same boat. We need the union. The companies are chipping away at their bank accounts.

Maybe we need planned sick days ........... we have no one left to work now anyway.........start using some of your sick time we need to all have the flu about 10 at a time.

[Illumin8or]

what do you expect from the union? what does a union expect from you?....what do you think a union can do??

The Union is made up of all its members and I would hope that each member does what he/she is supposed to do, attend meetings on a regular basis and get involved as much as possible in the daily operations of their Locals.
To see the importance of whom they elect as their representatives, and take the time to vote, (voice your opinion) at every opportunity.
To be aware of what is happening around them, which you get by attending the meetings.
Take what their contracts entitle them to, NO fractional bargaining with management for personal gain. That does, and will come back to haunt you.
Follow all safety rules and work rules which have been put in place. Most of the rules have been put in place because of an earlier accident that caused a Brother or Sister great pain, agony, and in some cases their lives. Why would someone not follow them?

From my Elected Union Officials I expect Leadership, Integrety, Honesty, Responsibility, etc.
I expect them to do the work that my hard earned dues are paying them to do. I am not on vacation every day and they should not be either.
Lets leave the "ME" era and return to the "WE" era.
I am sorry I did not mean to ramble on, but you asked.

[HighPotter]

If your paying 16 bucks a WEEK..? your gettin hosed big time.

HP

[Red Rooster]

I expect them to represent me weither it is at a contract table,in a meeting,at IBEW "bullcrap" meetings, if I am present or not, act like I am dues paying member and treated as such, they work for me ,I don't work for them, I pull my fair share and expect them to do the same,I am tired of everytime a good 3 phase transfer comes up ,we have "union business",Act like a good tradesman that we have been trained to be, do the work ,compete with rats, but safely............. I am tired of filing bonafide grievences according to the MOA and MOU in my contract book only to get sold-out by someone on the SCU4 committe just because fpl fed them steak lately, I keep hearing ....."A Union Is Only Strong As It's Members", well I think after the last few contracts, the membership "HAS" been onboard...........How about you System Council?-IBEW SCU4



"Still Scratchin For Better Corn"

[edski104]

amen red. i expect my union to stand behind us when the brothers are right, listen to what we say and take it to the council, don't roll over when the company wants to scratch their belly.the worst part is the company wants to go to arbitration on greivances all the time because they feel they have at least a 50% chance of winning. at worst they've drug the thing out over a year in most cases and still don't give a rats ass. but we still have to keep filing all we can to keep them in line. if we don't,who will? the kids just get used to new ways of doing things 'cuase thats how we do it. fight the good fight.

[Floridian]

In fact we are the union and the union is us only through being more unified can we get anything. We need to become a brotherhood again. Get rid of the me attitude sometimes a person or group of people have to take a hit for the betterment of all. I am willing to take the hit if need be we need to get tight!!! That's what the last guy said

[Stinger]

I think most of the brothers and sisters are on the right note here. We are the union, our elected members work for us and have an obligation and a duty to represent us fairly. We as members need to be involved in every aspect of OUR UNION such as meeting attendance, supporting our members etc. A union is only as good as we want it to be, because we control it. Here in 104 we have good elected officials who work many long hard hours for us. In return we live up to the days pay for a days work. We work hard to obtain our goal of safe, quality production. We have that obligation not only for our self pride, our union but also to our member contractor employer's who have to compete against non-union companies whose overhead is a lot less than a union contractor. We have to show that on a daily basis, we may be more expensive then non-union, but our safety and quality of work and production are worth the money. AS I have said in some of my other postings, I was non-union for a long time. Since I have become union, I am prouid of it and only wish I had gone union a lot earlier in my life.

[loadbreak55]

:) One thing is for sure and proven time and time again.UNION is by far a better way to be.I wouldn't be enjoying my job nearly as much if we were non-union.I tried that route many moons ago and found that if you don't enjoy kissing A$$,working long hard hours for little pay and hardly any or NO holiday's,you won't like being non-union.At least with the union you have the right to protest any thing that you feel is unsafe or is demeaning to you as a man,without the threat of being fired or repremanded.And you get fair pay for the work you are asked to preform.I'm sure there are some non-union outfits that treat their workforce with respect and pay them well,but they are few.And for the most part,the lack of training is SPOOKY to say the least. :eek: