Why Should They!

[Muler]

Why Should They!

When I visit the various other sites the one subject that really gets the most response is union VS nonunion.
So I just had to start a thread that addressed that subject. Now first off make no mistake I am and will always be a Teamster.

The comment of dues paying always brings a large following. I pay $61.00 a month. For that I have a pension and health coverage addressed in the contract that the Teamsters negotiate for me. I don't have to pay for my health premium policy the company does that.

I am as of today when I reach age 57 entitled to a $3300.00 a month pension because the Teamsters negotiated that cost into my contract.

I drive a tractor that is safe and meets all local, state and federal requirements. I also have added benefits such as interior dimensions and a mandatory replacement of any and all suspension parts that need replaced for my comfort. All this due to my Teamster contract.

I have a grievance procedure in place for when there is a disagreement with my management. I have a contract that shows my wage and it's progression for the life of the contract.

I have an army of over 1 million Brothers and Sisters to assist me if and when the time comes. That also means a voice in the political arena due to my Brotherhood.

But when I read the post of some trying to convince the non union Brothers to become union I can see why it is met with a great deal of resistance.
None of us like to have something crammed down our throats. Nobody likes to read how dumb someone thinks they might be because they are not union.
Not everybody that preaches the union started with a company that was non union and then voted a union in.
You see if you worked today for a non union company would you have the courage to stand up front and proclaim your desire to have union representation?

Now be honest. After all look at our Brothers and Sisters at YRC. this is not a slam on them. It is just a comparison of what the companies can do when applying pressure to force their will on their employees. They were told vote yes or we will close the doors.
There were no figures that showed them the exact financial condition of yrc. They were forced into accepting the company for their word.
Now they for the most part went below some non union carriers in wages and even in the money that the companies put into some type of retirement plan.
They even had their contract reopened and their work rules changed.

All this to make sure their families had a pay check coming in to support them. Were they wrong? Well who are we to say. Only they themselves know how they feel.

But now imagine you are working at one of the big non union trucking company's and you know that if they catch wind you are thinking of voting for union representation you will be FIRED would you be so BRAVE?

If you were them and you see what is going on in the union trucking would you be trying to go union?

I think many if they were being truthful would answer NO to that question.

What I am trying to say is the union has to offer a better product. We all know that many locals lack in their quest to see that the companies follow the contract.
After all were do you think the saying" Be glad you have a job" comes from?

What non union drivers see and hear is Teamsters talking about what we really experience and it is not a pretty picture to them. Do we have it better than most of them? HELL YES! Are we in a perfect situation? HELL NO!

But we can not blame them for their impression of our union. And only we can change it.

This union belongs to us. We are the Teamsters not just the elected officials. They are there because of our voting and in many cases our lack of voting.
When the non union drivers see that only 18% of all Teamsters voted in the election for the President of all Teamsters that speaks volumes about the state of the Teamsters.
No we have to do something to change the union. We are to blame for the mess it is in. I hear people complain about Hoffa all the time but I did not see it in the election results. Has Hoffa done a good job? Well we all have an opinion on that matter. BUT 82% of all Teamsters did not vote on whether or not Hoffa was doing a good or bad job. They did not CARE!

WOULD YOU JOIN A GROUP WHERE 82% OF THE MEMBERS DID NOT GIVE A RATS ASS ABOUT IT?

Let's change that view of us. Let's get involved and make our officials do as we the majority want not as they want. I see many that won't stand up to their own BA. And believe me when I say the companies see that also.

Well if you have read down this far you have just witnessed a Muler Moment. YOUR JUST CALLING THEM AS I SEE THEM BROTHER ALWAYS!

[okeydokey]

dang good spill there muler.....I also work for a union company and the only thing I can think of is representation outside of the company...as you probably know with most people that don't amount to much....

[Muler]

dang good spill there muler.....I also work for a union company and the only thing I can think of is representation outside of the company...as you probably know with most people that don't amount to much....

We do have it pretty good. But it can and will get better. I just wanted everyone to see how different it is depending on which side of the fence you are looking from. YOUR BROTHER ALWAYS!

[sapper]

That post was damn inspiring!!

[Pup Driver]

Why Should They!

When I visit the various other sites the one subject that really gets the most response is union VS nonunion.
So I just had to start a thread that addressed that subject. Now first off make no mistake I am and will always be a Teamster.

The comment of dues paying always brings a large following. I pay $61.00 a month. For that I have a pension and health coverage addressed in the contract that the Teamsters negotiate for me. I don't have to pay for my health premium policy the company does that.

I am as of today when I reach age 57 entitled to a $3300.00 a month pension because the Teamsters negotiated that cost into my contract.

I drive a tractor that is safe and meets all local, state and federal requirements. I also have added benefits such as interior dimensions and a mandatory replacement of any and all suspension parts that need replaced for my comfort. All this due to my Teamster contract.

I have a grievance procedure in place for when there is a disagreement with my management. I have a contract that shows my wage and it's progression for the life of the contract.

I have an army of over 1 million Brothers and Sisters to assist me if and when the time comes. That also means a voice in the political arena due to my Brotherhood.

But when I read the post of some trying to convince the non union Brothers to become union I can see why it is met with a great deal of resistance.
None of us like to have something crammed down our throats. Nobody likes to read how dumb someone thinks they might be because they are not union.
Not everybody that preaches the union started with a company that was non union and then voted a union in.
You see if you worked today for a non union company would you have the courage to stand up front and proclaim your desire to have union representation?

Now be honest. After all look at our Brothers and Sisters at YRC. this is not a slam on them. It is just a comparison of what the companies can do when applying pressure to force their will on their employees. They were told vote yes or we will close the doors.
There were no figures that showed them the exact financial condition of yrc. They were forced into accepting the company for their word.
Now they for the most part went below some non union carriers in wages and even in the money that the companies put into some type of retirement plan.
They even had their contract reopened and their work rules changed.

All this to make sure their families had a pay check coming in to support them. Were they wrong? Well who are we to say. Only they themselves know how they feel.

But now imagine you are working at one of the big non union trucking company's and you know that if they catch wind you are thinking of voting for union representation you will be FIRED would you be so BRAVE?

If you were them and you see what is going on in the union trucking would you be trying to go union?

I think many if they were being truthful would answer NO to that question.

What I am trying to say is the union has to offer a better product. We all know that many locals lack in their quest to see that the companies follow the contract.
After all were do you think the saying" Be glad you have a job" comes from?

What non union drivers see and hear is Teamsters talking about what we really experience and it is not a pretty picture to them. Do we have it better than most of them? HELL YES! Are we in a perfect situation? HELL NO!

But we can not blame them for their impression of our union. And only we can change it.

This union belongs to us. We are the Teamsters not just the elected officials. They are there because of our voting and in many cases our lack of voting.
When the non union drivers see that only 18% of all Teamsters voted in the election for the President of all Teamsters that speaks volumes about the state of the Teamsters.
No we have to do something to change the union. We are to blame for the mess it is in. I hear people complain about Hoffa all the time but I did not see it in the election results. Has Hoffa done a good job? Well we all have an opinion on that matter. BUT 82% of all Teamsters did not vote on whether or not Hoffa was doing a good or bad job. They did not CARE!

WOULD YOU JOIN A GROUP WHERE 82% OF THE MEMBERS DID NOT GIVE A RATS ASS ABOUT IT?

Let's change that view of us. Let's get involved and make our officials do as we the majority want not as they want. I see many that won't stand up to their own BA. And believe me when I say the companies see that also.

Well if you have read down this far you have just witnessed a Muler Moment. YOUR JUST CALLING THEM AS I SEE THEM BROTHER ALWAYS!

Muler , you do know that right now Delta Air Lines is lobbing with the right winged corporatist politicians that when a vote is not cast in this case 82% would count as a no vote to the union when joining a union at Delta Air . So you see Delta's management is using the laziness of the would be members to their advantage . Wonder how they would like it for every vote not cast would be a yes to the democrats.{thats the same principle } This is one of the reasons Hoffa said that we should discontinue elections because its a wast of time and money dealing with people too damn lazy to vote for matters in their best interest.I don't know how we would get them to vote other than have a ballet box at the gate from the parking lot before they clock in . Yellow use to give our union 15 mins. to meet with us for union business and it worked out real well . I am in favor of putting a clause in the union by laws that a fine would be set for those who do not do their duty and vote . Shame it has to come to this but our worst enemies are with in . Really no excuse not to vote then cry how bad things are .

[Muler]

Muler , you do know that right now Delta Air Lines is lobbing with the right winged corporatist politicians that when a vote is not cast in this case 82% would count as a no vote to the union when joining a union at Delta Air . So you see Delta's management is using the laziness of the would be members to their advantage . Wonder how they would like it for every vote not cast would be a yes to the democrats.{thats the same principle } This is one of the reasons Hoffa said that we should discontinue elections because its a wast of time and money dealing with people too damn lazy to vote for matters in their best interest.I don't know how we would get them to vote other than have a ballet box at the gate from the parking lot before they clock in . Yellow use to give our union 15 mins. to meet with us for union business and it worked out real well . I am in favor of putting a clause in the union by laws that a fine would be set for those who do not do their duty and vote . Shame it has to come to this but our worst enemies are with in . Really no excuse not to vote then cry how bad things are .

I agree that we need more members to take part in our union matters. But it is also the duty of the union to see that they feel the need to take part. How much time does your BA spend at your place? Does he return calls quickly. Does he keep the members informed. What does he do with all his time? That's just some of the questions that one has to ask themselves. Why did members at some point in time fill union hall's? Why don't they now fill them? No the union has to give us a better product. I don't think 82% of this union can be all wrong. Something has to change or we will continue to decline. The Teamsters as a whole still has our core values but we have lost leaders that could move us into wanting to sacrifice our free time for the cause. I know the REAL TEAMSTER WAY IS THE RIGHT WAY! But we need leaders that will do the right things. YOUR BROTHER ALWAYS!

[pops11359]

Muler , you do know that right now Delta Air Lines is lobbing with the right winged corporatist politicians that when a vote is not cast in this case 82% would count as a no vote to the union when joining a union at Delta Air . So you see Delta's management is using the laziness of the would be members to their advantage . Wonder how they would like it for every vote not cast would be a yes to the democrats.{thats the same principle } This is one of the reasons Hoffa said that we should discontinue elections because its a wast of time and money dealing with people too damn lazy to vote for matters in their best interest.I don't know how we would get them to vote other than have a ballet box at the gate from the parking lot before they clock in . Yellow use to give our union 15 mins. to meet with us for union business and it worked out real well . I am in favor of putting a clause in the union by laws that a fine would be set for those who do not do their duty and vote . Shame it has to come to this but our worst enemies are with in . Really no excuse not to vote then cry how bad things are .

This is exactly what the law was under the RLA, but it was changed, don't know when, but it was and as long as people are under the RLA those companys will want that to stay in place. A non vote is a = a no vote. Wonder how the polititians would act if a non vote counted a vote against the incumbant, makes ya think huh.

[Pup Driver]

I agree that we need more members to take part in our union matters. But it is also the duty of the union to see that they feel the need to take part. How much time does your BA spend at your place? Does he return calls quickly. Does he keep the members informed. What does he do with all his time? That's just some of the questions that one has to ask themselves. Why did members at some point in time fill union hall's? Why don't they now fill them? No the union has to give us a better product. I don't think 82% of this union can be all wrong. Something has to change or we will continue to decline. The Teamsters as a whole still has our core values but we have lost leaders that could move us into wanting to sacrifice our free time for the cause. I know the REAL TEAMSTER WAY IS THE RIGHT WAY! But we need leaders that will do the right things. YOUR BROTHER ALWAYS!

I would like to add this to the conversation . I have always been union from day 1 and retired with 44 years and never had a serious problem with the union, fact they were a blessing with the good benefits and pension The union I was in stood up for drivers that were being f'ed with when they were in the right and didn't protect the ones that were in the wrong I did see many of drivers get canned because of not giving a damn for what they did like the time a driver hit a guy on a motor cycle intentionally because of road rage and dragged the guy and bike for 2 blocks in front of the terminal . That was a long time ago he never came back he was fired on the spot . I don't think that the new drivers of say the last 20 25 years don't have in them what we did 35 40 50 years ago . The new guys rather piss and complain . I can see were the union is disgusted with the new members . I will fault our union of something that I thought was a no sense thing is when they changed the union meeting to a Sunday morning from a Thursday evening . That could interfere with church services . But then again I would go to a near by church that had services on Saturday evenings once a month so that worked well for me .

[ABFer]

I agree that we need more members to take part in our union matters. But it is also the duty of the union to see that they feel the need to take part. How much time does your BA spend at your place? Does he return calls quickly. Does he keep the members informed. What does he do with all his time? That's just some of the questions that one has to ask themselves. Why did members at some point in time fill union hall's? Why don't they now fill them? No the union has to give us a better product. I don't think 82% of this union can be all wrong. Something has to change or we will continue to decline. The Teamsters as a whole still has our core values but we have lost leaders that could move us into wanting to sacrifice our free time for the cause. I know the REAL TEAMSTER WAY IS THE RIGHT WAY! But we need leaders that will do the right things. YOUR BROTHER ALWAYS!

My B/A wishes I would drop dead. He thinks he is God and "regular" members are not allowed to call him, we are told, "talk to your Shop Steward", he does not return calls except to his friends. And from the looks of things he spends his time at the Old Country Buffet.

[Muler]

My B/A wishes I would drop dead. He thinks he is God and "regular" members are not allowed to call him, we are told, "talk to your Shop Steward", he does not return calls except to his friends. And from the looks of things he spends his time at the Old Country Buffet.

Now that is what I mean about how we have to clean house when and where it is needed.