05-10-2011, 01:53 PM
cbelt3 wrote:
Grace-
As I noted, there is symbiosis and there is parasitism. When the union saps the strength of the company, it's a parasite. I would, of course, put overpaid "C" executives in that classification as well.
I have worked in three separate union shops in my day, admittedly as an Engineer and as "Management". In all cases the 'rank and file' union members will happily tell you that the 'damn union isn't worth spit' and 'just takes our money and doesn't do nothing for us'.
I can tell a few stories about the difference between bad union attitudes and good union attitudes. My favorite bad union attitude was in an armored vehicle factory. The union was the UAW.
I was working on a prototype tank turret as a designer. We had the prototype turret out of the tank and were checking wiring runs. A union electrician was under the turret operating the equipment... I was not allowed to touch anything. The chain hoist started to slip, and would have crushed the electrician. So I took one of his tools and jammed it in the hoist, saving his life.
He filed a grievance against me for touching his tools.
THAT is a parasitic / oppositional attitude.
Sorry but I don't see what that has to do with relationships between labor and business. Individuals behave all kinds of ways, union or none. We're talking about the legally protected rights of workers to organize, to bargain, and to strike.