I am a real union musician worker. In my profession there are no featherbedders anymore, I can't get up and go to the can when I want, I don't have a steady paycheck, and I can be fired on a whim. What my union does for me is makes sure I receive my pay, provides me with a pension, and puts my name in a directory for employers to find me. Yes, there are some unions that suck, but in my profession, without a union I would not get paid at all (this is the main reason why we have a union. Ask some musicians in rock bands how many times they've been stiffed by club owners) and I would be asked to perform in extreme conditions. The union has set a standard of pay for my industry (which is modest), makes sure we get hotels (super 8) when traveling, makes sure we get a day off when on tour and gets us home when the producers of the tour walk off with all the money (bus ticket insurance). Another way to look at a union is that a union is a co-op legal fund for when things don't go well on a job (discrimination, harassment, etc.). Without the union, your on your own finding and paying lawyers to protect you rights.
BTW, I also the guy that gets put out of work every time someone downloads music without paying for it (this is crippling the music industry more than most people think). End rant -- Richard Hotchkiss http://www.hotstrings-inc.com 215 382 8706 On 3/18/04 12:33 PM, "Andrew Gentsch" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > RE: i'm curious who you think these "real" workers are. > > ------ > > A real worker is someone who REALLY works. > > A real worker is someone that employers (me) hire and they can make money > with. > > A real worker is someone that customers (the rest of you) are satisfied with > and served by. > > A NON real worker is a union worker. I grew up (18-28) in a steel mill. I > was a union officer there and I know the game well. Our claim to fame was > that we had more "fat people" (people who didn't work) in our area than any > other place. > One "fat" guy took six thirty minute trips to the can every day. Another > took a piece of paper out of his drawer everytime the boss looked at him and > threw it out when the boss looked away. > That is not a real worker. > > A real worker gets things done. It doesn't matter how much he/she is paid. > What counts is what happens between their arrival and their departure. > People who get things done, people who want to work, people who want the > company they they work for to make money will get ahead. > Cream rises to the top. > > Regarding the observation that unions determine our standard of living, this > is true. The non union states have more job growth. This why we live in the > Rust Belt. > > One final note to those of you who cheered the exit of this employer while > you cashed your steady paychecks... > > What do you compassionate inclusive and diverse people say to the people > that your approval, tacit and written, helped put out of work? > > Just Wondering, > > Andrew Gentsch > >>> own self interest - not the interest of "Real" workers and >>> [...] >>> and "real" workers will bear the brunt of the backlash. >> >> i'm curious who you think these "real" workers are. >> >> $7/hr wal-mart employees with no benefits? or maybe you're referring to >> any of the other 40 million americans lacking health insurance. "real" >> workers like that couldn't possibly benefit from union representation. >> >> mark >> ---- >> You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the >> list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see >> <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. > > ---- > You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. > ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
