Unions .... are you for them in TODAY'S society?

They aren't. We submit a bid along with everyone else. The low bid is awarded the contract.

They aren't paying more, in fact they are paying less.

I know you are familiar with the bid submittal / contract awards system, so I am not even sure why you would have asked that question.

 

It's a real simple concept,LOL

 

God forbid you have a low deductible for healthcare

 

Scott:

Something's weird. When we used to build in union markets, we paid (OK, the owner did) on average 15% upcharge for union labor.

Getting back to the auto industry.....

Two companies - One union controlled.....one open shop. Which workforce do you think is compensated more fruitfully?

Does this add to the price of the end product? Why should consumers pay it? Obviously, they aren't.

Do you guys (your constr. co.) bid work outside your area (OH)? Are you successful (non union markets)? Why? Or, why not? Also....how often are you w/out work (%, since you've been there, annually)?

 

Jeff if you do a little research you will fine the workers in non-union auto plants make more compensation the Union guys(cash). I think it was around 2005 they passed them,

Now about the only thing Union guys have better is their retirmnent and healthcare. Yes the healthcare cost more for a number of reasons. Number one is how old the Union car workers are these days. I think on average they around 42 now.

 

http://www.aftermarketnews.com/Item...plants_as_detroit_car_companies_struggle.aspx


Good article, I think you will like it.

 

They're also turning a profit.....and producing a better product at a lower cost to produce.

DUH!....lol

And, good luck with that offering "profit-sharing" to the UAW workers as a "concession"....lol. How much do you think that's worth to a GM worker....when they're losing billions, annually?

Not sure why you wanted me to read that, actually.

 

Ahhh, Mr. Snow!!! He was acting Secretary from 2003-2006 and was caught up in the Freddie and Fanny scandal.

Sadly CSX Executive pay is controlled by the Board of Directors through a Compensation Committee, which is also responsible for periodically reviewing the Corporation’s compensation practices and policies, benefit plans, and perquisites applicable to all employees and executives as a group to ensure that they are consistent with the Corporation’s compensation philosophy.

We are all hating the players here but the game is set by the Board of Directors who are looking out for investors If not John Snow or Michael Ward, it would be another guy lucky enough to win the Board's approval to lead the company. I'm not saying I am a fan of either, but I can't hate a CEO for taking a well paying gig.

 

75k is doing quite well Germo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Chicago

 

A 15% upcharge yields twice the payscale for union vs non union labor in your area? Holy ****, so who is the one really getting rich??? Looks like the non union contractor to me!

Think what you just said... A 15% increase in the clients total cost allows the workers to make nearly double the non union pay scale..... Maybe those union workers are efficient after all....

I am not sure what part of my replies you aren't understanding about how our work is bid?

We work in about a 2 hour radius of where I live. We are a subcontractor, not a general. We do have quite a few companies in my area who do travel although mine is not one.

As for your last question, I would really have to look over my records (they were lost in the fire) to really answer it. Some years I am not off at all, although the last couple years we have seen time off. Our time off is due to the lack of commercial buildings going up because of the economy though.

 

It's a non-issue, where I live. We have NO union constr. labor, here. They can't comptete.

WHO CARES? Why would an ownner pay 15% more for anything.....when the difference in the end--product is NOTHING? You'd have to be under the guise (which would be false) that union labor was "superior". It's not. It's just more expensive.

The construction companies who are staying busy, during the recession, are the ones who are most competitive (price-wise).

BTW.....how much of the construction work in your area is "union" work? I've got a theory on why you're comptetitive.

 

If you pull your head out of Limbauh's ass once in awhile you would know

 

Scary thought. There would be a lot of empty golf courses.

Bad enough I have to compete against state funded golf courses (which pisses me off beyond belief).

 

Human rights? Department of Labor has been contacted and because we have no union we can do nothing. As far as cell phones not being allowed its because 4 supervisors and a maintenance man were fired for showing porn on their cell phones to others at work on breaks. We do have regular phones to use if needed.

We cannot leave for lunch or even leave the building without a super's permission. To be honest we produce various brands of Hershey candy and can't risk cross-contamination of say peanut dust, etc. to non-peanut candies. Its an allergen issue.

Yep, we get sick and are penalized if we stay home yet we are told not to come to work sick........health issue within the food industry.

 

Gary....Stop being a prick. I've told you on more than one occasion.....I listen to Rush...Yes. I also listen to Howard Stern. Funny thing is....I listen to them both for the same reason - entertainment.

That article did/does NOT bolster your argument. Of course....with the tangents you've gone off on......I'm not sure you even know what your point is, anymore. All you know is......there are people making a lot of money in corporate America......and you don't think it's fair.

 

I'm on the wrong side of Lake Michigan. I need to move to Illinois where I can make $36/hour as a painter and shoot 2.5 year old, Pope & Young bucks.

 

Whew that was as lot to catch up on.
1. the gov't is a total abomination when it comes to the misuse of money. But that's off topic here.

I am in the WRONG line of work and evidently much poorer than I realized if $36 is what it takes to be middle class. I will GLADLY quit my job right now if someoen wants to pay me $36 an hour to paint. It is the one "handy" skill I am actually good at and willingly do around my house. I'll even buy my own respirator to deal with the fumes.

 

The problem Ryan......is it's a little hollow to brag about your $36/hour wages in one breath.....when you have to say "I'm currently unemployed" in the next.

 

I really couldn't care more or less about unions. I certainly don't think it's the governments job to apply laws to support or restrict them. If they are able to offer competitive products/services, and survive, great for them. If not and they fail and all end up out of work, well that's fine too.

The only scenario where I really care at all about the matter is when a major corporation fails, and then my tax dollars are used to bail them all out. Sorry, but if the goverment "needs" to bail you out just to keep people employed and keep the economy moving, why should their employees (any of them including execs and labor) make more than the non union based companies? If you aren't profitable as a company and you need government assistance to keep the doors open and people employed..........................................you certainly shouldn't be making more and getting better benefits. Especially when the non union based employees are still making almost DOUBLE the average per capita income for a given area.

Just MHO.

 

Anyone ever been Involved with a strike? It sucks!!!!!!!