What’s really going on? These are only my opinions. It’s obvious that we have labor issues. They will continue to be a problem too! Management is the cause of most labor disputes. The reason unions exist weather you believe it or not is to protect the worker. Of course corporations nor unions are perfect. However, a union normally keeps management honest. Without them its a free for all. The real reason companies hate labor unions is due to one reason, it effects the bottom-line (money). CNWY will at all costs use all sorts of tactics to say otherwise. Fear is engineered by perception.
I do hope that I am wrong, however there is an underground issue here that is brewing. For the past few years we have been told that XYZ company has had problems. Everyone has been told that this will cause an influx of work which isn’t exactly false but there is more. Of course the hyena’s are waiting for this to take place. Not just for business but for other reasons. My prediction goes like this: When and if XYZ company closes, and the TU flops, CNW will tell us in so many words “To continue to be competitive in today’s economy we must take the necessary steps to protect the company and its stockholders. To do so we must make some decisions that we don’t want to do. Such as, cut you’re wages, raise your insurance, oh and that 401k we promised we wouldn’t get rid of? (Just remember tough times don’t last, but tough teams do.” By the way CNW stole that line from General Motors circa mid 80’s. Another wonderful Michigan company. I am sure there will be some that will say, “Yeah, look at GM they had their share of union problems. Those workers made to much!” Just remember, not only does the union sign the contract, but so does management.) After it’s all done and everyone will be dazed and confused, CNW will go out and buy the best hamburgers and bottle water that money can buy and we will celebrate. History always repeats itself. People have unbelievable short-term memory. Remember the old days? Cost of living raises, good insurance, a pension, sick-days, vacation accruement that wasn’t a business move to save money, a real bonus (not the 25 dollar after taxes gift card that is a tax write off)?
Okay, so I am sure many think I have totally lost my marbles. I probably have, although we all have, if only you think we have it made. At one time we did. Those days are gone. The BORED of directors are laughing to the bank. With all the stock options, and the endless other benefits that they have. Did you know they have fail-safe contracts that protect them if they get fired? What do we get? It used to be a proud place to work. Now it’s just a paycheck.
I know it’s very hard to give a little money to a union, but if this isn’t seriously looked at our well-being is at stake. I really don’t think that a few people will be able to persuade management to give any if not all our benefits we lost back. It will take a majority. The decision is in your hands. Do you want an insurance policy to protect or do you want to pay out of pocket? Either we will pay. Unfortunately like anything if you pay out of pocket it will be more expensive in the future. The moral of this nightmare is: It all boils down to greed, thanks though to education. If we weren’t educated we would be making $5.00/hr. I would rather trust my fellow driver than someone who is trying to climb to the top doing who knows, what. We know that CNW is full of them.
Final note: The good thing about all this is we aren’t alone. Wal-mart, Fed-ex, and Boeing to name a few. Just remember in the near future when they start to fire people due to the GPS option on the handheld don’t say I didn’t tell you so. Figures don’t lie. Liars figure. Safety, only when convenient.
Good luck and God Bless.
