This is what happens when you make a good product...

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by booger

Just look at the wage scales, cola's, medical, retirements, work ethics, pollytics, costly demands, and other life sucking demands out of a business. I have belong to a LARGE union, have seen how it works. Had to join, did not like it. It was not Henry had in mind. As I see the unions, they have added $$$$$$$$$ to the cost of anything, they can get there hands on. UNAMERICAN.

The unions just see that the wealth gets spread around to the workers, instead of just the owners of the companies that make millions....or billions in the case of the oil companies. The workers of the companies should get some of the rewards for making products or services that are popular.

[Detector]

While I do believe unions didn't help matters, I believe its a little of all the above.

In my opinion there hasn't been a descent American made automobile in ages. America simply got out performed. Now I do believe many of the 2007 models are headed in the right direction. American muscle has no competition.

We should stick to what we do best and quit trying to compete in a market we have never done well.

[TexKan]

Originally Posted by Bubba

The unions just see that the wealth gets spread around to the workers, instead of just the owners of the companies that make millions....or billions in the case of the oil companies. The workers of the companies should get some of the rewards for making products or services that are popular.

You mean you don't think the Unions pad thier pockets first? You don't think the Unions are the most powerful lobby in politics? You don't think the workers are a means to an end for the Unions? You don't think the Unions do as little as they possibly have to do for thier members?

I know they have secured better working conditions, medical coverage, pay, benefits, safety issues and the list goes on and on. They do altho have a dark side like most of us do. They serve a purpose but they are so powerful they really have made lots of enemies.

We are really Union strong down here. I see good and bad when it comes to unions. I don't choose either side since I don't belong to a union. I just hear and see lots of good and bad. I think they have been good for some and the death to others. Just depends on where ya sit.

Won't Dodge go union with the new casino? I think casino workers are union aren't they?

[Army_of_One]

The unions go far, far beyond lobbying for better working conditions etc. The Unions represent...the union and only the union and could give a rats ass less about the company in my opinion. IN a union there is no competition as it is bad. Wage increases are negotiated for everyone despite job performance. There is no incentive to "be the best ____ you can be" because you are going to get paid anyway. Companies spend mucho dollars to unions who bring lawsuites over ever little thing for their members. Here is an example...... A guy working at KCP & L in KC wired up some stuff that injured some guys. The guy was older and had been there awhile. They pulled him off the job and retested him...and he failed. The UNION stepped in and said it was wrong to single him out to be retested (despite the other men being injured) and that the company needs to retrain the guy and pay for that training....the guy went back to work.

Another story. In unions there is a seniority list for overtime. Attempts were made to contact a certain guy about overtime and when he couldn't be reached they called the next guy who took the job...it ended up being several weeks worth of overtime. The guy above him on the list filed a complaint via the union saying that the company didn't make a concerted enough effort to contact him. He was paid all the overtime he missed out on.... I could not be paid for something I did not do..... These are just a FEW of the examples.....if you heard some of the stories. AND people wonder why our jobs are going over seas? At KCP & L a janitor makes double digit money to sweep.......it's a joke.