Here's why I don't want to be union. Because Conway will never be a union carrier, they will close the doors before they allow that to happen. You don't think so? Go do your homework. In 1991 they shut down Conway eastern who was the only one of the Conway's that was union. Conway refused to sign the master agreement, teamsters threatened to strike, Conway said we will shut the doors. Guess what no one believed they would do it. All the teamster drivers and even I who worked for Conway Southwest thought they wouldn't do it. Too many terminals to much equipment too much of a loss money wise, and sure enough, they did it!!! They didn't bat an eye lash, and they never missed a beat. They locked down the terminals. 5000 people out of work just like that!!!! Sold what they could , assigned equipment too other Conway terminals. Just like that it was over!!!! They made it look easy. In fact we made a great profit that year. Didn't hurt us one bit. Hey ask those drivers who lost their jobs, where the union was when they were standing in the unempolyment line!!! For two years solid, when I started at Conway we were constantly harrassed by teamster drivers from 1989 to 1991, trying to get us to sign a union card. You couldn't leave your truck unattended, they would pull your 5th wheel or slice an airline etc... then in 1991 when Conway called there bluff, shut down the entire upper eastcoast, the teamsters deflated. Never once from that day on did a union driver speak a word to us about going union.Because we all knew the truth about the union. They couldn't lie to us. Because the union failed those boys, worthless waste of time and money, for everyone involved. And that was back when the union was pretty strong, had had a lot assets and money. Now they are bankrupt, with diminishing membership, and a bleak future. They are a leech looking for a host to suck dry. They are a sinking ship, that talks a big game. The snake oil salesman, if you have never heard his pitch before, and you never tried the oil , you'll be talked into a 5 ounch bottle for 3000 dollars. The only thing , they can promise you is a pension, and even that is no real promise. That can't promise you more pay, more benefits, more or better anything. All they can do is promise to ask when they are at the bargining table. If Conway says no well guess what, it's no. Tough :
: boys. But rest assured you'll get the we tried speech,don't be mad at us, be mad at Conway we are on your side, we can try again next time around. Meanwhile you are in worse shape then ever. Because once you voted to be union, Conway took away any benefit it offered you, I mean any and all. Including vacation time, 401k match, medical, dental, sick days etc... and guess what else, if a displaced union driver gets hired on he bumps you down in seniority. So just because you have been with Conway 20 years, that means nothing. Trust me there are hundreds of thousands of union drivers who have been displaced with lay offs etc. So even your seniority is not safe. Their pension fund is bankrupt. Nothing more than a pyramid scheme, in order to pay the exsisting retired members, they have got to get new members. But either way, when they can no longer get loans, and there is no way to pay the pension , they won't. You can take them to court and sue them but you can't bleed a turnip. If there is no money, there is no money. You could win the ruling by a judge and the courts say the union owes you 2 million dollars, but you will go to your grave with them owing you. So that is just a few rresons why I don't want the union.