Locals need to care more about their members

Yellowbird · Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 1

Sad story in our paper today. http://www.tdn.com/articles/2006/12/29/area_news/news06.txt

Hourly Macy's workers in Kelso are voting today on a proposal to decertify their union, according to workers and a company memo.

Workers say the United Food & Commercial Workers local 555 hasn't done a good job winning them better pay hikes and benefits, and the benefits of union membership are not worth the $25 month dues.

There is a REAL PROBLEM in the locals. The union locals do not take care of their memberships. They actually trash grievances. Let them die on the back burner. This story/complaint is not about a single local... it is about most unions operating in our area.

My own son was set up and fired from a union job (SEIU Longview WA Fred Meyers Store) in a union busting tactic and his union did NOTHING about it. They table your problem and slack on calling you back until your issue is over dated and goes to the waste bin.

And you wonder why union membership is faltering in the U.S.A. Businesses are still winning because UNIONS are not careful enough about WHO runs the locals.

There has GOT to be a follow up on the locals. The members should file ON LINE and the local stewards should have to ANSWER TO SOMEONE for what they do in the field.

Unions are STILL in trouble... which upsets me greatly. I no longer have ANY union workers in my household. Everyone is working w/o union... at the whim of the scrooge (oops) employer.

nerp · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 6

ITS CALLED "BROTHERHOOD" THERE IS NONE !
THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE BROTHERHOOD THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN STICK TOGETHER REGARDLESS THE CONDITION OR THE TIME AND THATS THE IRONWORKERS !!! EVERYONE SHOULD STOP AND LOOK SOMETIME HOW THEY COLLECTIVELY WORK AS A WHOLE ! IT IS TRUELY AMAZING . THERE IS NOTHING ONE PERSON CAN DO BUT WITH A BROTHERHOOD WHO BACKS THAT ONE PERSON HE WILL MOVE MOUNTAINS

screwed2 · Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 2

boy this site sucks as bad as afsme. Just replied to this post and I lost everything...said I took too long. But yes...friggin unions aern't worth crap... never mind $30 a month

OrganizingAdvocate · Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 1:38 am Post subject:

Hi Screwed2,

I apologize for the difficulties you experienced when initially replying to this post, I can identify with that frustration as well as I've also had to resubmit my responses on occassion.

I do disagree with your assessment that Labor Unions aren't worth anything; the Department of Labor's statistics prove you to be incorrect, there are quite a few tangible benefits (in addition to the intangible benefits) [ie, on average, 30% higher pay and much higher chance of having decent health insurance, respect at work, etc.] to having Union representation.

Fraternally,

Dustin
OrganizingAdvocate
Unions.org