Don't Panic RE Port Worker Strike

[cmysix]

How much "buying power" do their wages have compared to 1980 for the same job? These workers are someone's customer, the money will filter to the top. I'm 82 years old with an active Union Card in my pocket, (retired 24 years) that is why I can still afford to buy, shoot and reload with very nice equipment. Union wages and benefits have provided for my family and the community for many years. I haven't had a medical bill in 45 years, very, very good insurance, although I've had over 30 procedures, operations, IgG4 Auto Immune, 2 Whipples ($150 K each) and now high Lactic Acid and now a bum hip. Plus the skill improvement training I've received and passed on to our apprentices. Unions raise the wages for all workers. Remember the United Auto Worker's received a good wage increase, all the non-union companies in the south immediately increased wages. I'm not a left wing commie pinko, I can well afford to be a capitalist, support my community and country with out complaining.

My father and grand father were tool and die makers, union men also my fathers wages in his career were a little better then average but not much, where it shined was the pension he received when he retired that made it worth it.#1 The strike was a set-up trying to make the white house look like they solved a problem. #2 even they realized they made a BIG mistake, You see people are getting smarter and the not so smart union boss making a million a year bragged about how all the stuff that goes thru the port and WE THE UNION is going to choke you. WELL a lot of people woke up to a new IDEA , IF IT"S MADE HERE IT DON"T GO THRU THE PORT! fancy that. My skills as a millwright gets me the same $ non union in AL as I would get in ILL. If your sitting in an air conditioned crane for $250,000 a year or you driving a forklift in the yard for a $150,000 a year . you should keep you mouth shut about how your not making what you think you should, HEY PORT WORKERS THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY $300 CHINESE TV COST $100 MORE CAUSE YOUR WORKING TO HARD! GEE IH workers went out over 10 cents and hour, IH did what they could but in the end no more International Harvester or any of the half million or so good union jobs , because you all got greedy. brilliant!

 

[cmysix]

Their wages have a hellava lot more buying power then my $80.000, I'm glad you can shoot $5-10,000 guns in retirement, where do you think your wages came from? they came from the pockets of people like me, my you thought that the company just took it out of there end and oh yea they just take the tax increases out of there end, you need to take a look at a economics book again. is it your union that just got 80 million tax payer dollars to prop up the mismanaged retirement fund. explain to me why I got to pay for that?

 

[DirtySteve]

Ports will be automated shortly then they will be out of a job..

 

[Kittitas George]

Their wages have a hellava lot more buying power then my $80.000, I'm glad you can shoot $5-10,000 guns in retirement, where do you think your wages came from? they came from the pockets of people like me, my you thought that the company just took it out of there end and oh yea they just take the tax increases out of there end, you need to take a look at a economics book again. is it your union that just got 80 million tax payer dollars to prop up the mismanaged retirement fund. explain to me why I got to pay for that?

I just wish ALL WORKERS had better wages, and conditions. In the early 1990s corporate profits went up 87%, wages went up 4.5%. Workers have never caught up. American companies fight unions tooth and nail, in Europe unions are represented on the board. A southern state lost a VW plant because state government was against unions. I don't shoot $5-$10k guns, but what I have are nice. I've had a lot of very nice toys, nice homes and nice guided trips into the back country. I also helped a number of people with schooling. I could do it because I earned GOOD WAGES and paid attention. With out good wages it is very hard to save or invest, also paying interest will really hurt you!! Be good at what you do, get along and don't be selfish or cheap. "Try A Little Kindness" (Glen Campbell) It will come back in kind.

 

[6.5 forever]

I just wish ALL WORKERS had better wages, and conditions. In the early 1990s corporate profits went up 87%, wages went up 4.5%. Workers have never caught up. American companies fight unions tooth and nail, in Europe unions are represented on the board. A southern state lost a VW plant because state government was against unions. I don't shoot $5-$10k guns, but what I have are nice. I've had a lot of very nice toys, nice homes and nice guided trips into the back country. I also helped a number of people with schooling. I could do it because I earned GOOD WAGES and paid attention. With out good wages it is very hard to save or invest, also paying interest will really hurt you!! Be good at what you do, get along and don't be selfish or cheap. "Try A Little Kindness" (Glen Campbell) It will come back in kind.

Good for you!

 

[ISS]

believe me, those boys are not going out until after New Years, to make sure their wives and kids have a good Christmas...

ISS

 

[Pheasanthunter]

I've worked in 2 different union factories for a total of over 42 years. I've been though a strike (Hormel) . This is my take on unions...... if you're doing your job (properly) they do nothing for you, but if you're a sandbagger they'll do whatever it takes to keep your job.
I also believe that if the company you work for respects their employees there is no need for a union.

So hormel didn’t respect their employees?

 

[Pheasanthunter]

My father and grand father were tool and die makers, union men also my fathers wages in his career were a little better then average but not much, where it shined was the pension he received when he retired that made it worth it.#1 The strike was a set-up trying to make the white house look like they solved a problem. #2 even they realized they made a BIG mistake, You see people are getting smarter and the not so smart union boss making a million a year bragged about how all the stuff that goes thru the port and WE THE UNION is going to choke you. WELL a lot of people woke up to a new IDEA , IF IT"S MADE HERE IT DON"T GO THRU THE PORT! fancy that. My skills as a millwright gets me the same $ non union in AL as I would get in ILL. If your sitting in an air conditioned crane for $250,000 a year or you driving a forklift in the yard for a $150,000 a year . you should keep you mouth shut about how your not making what you think you should, HEY PORT WORKERS THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY $300 CHINESE TV COST $100 MORE CAUSE YOUR WORKING TO HARD! GEE IH workers went out over 10 cents and hour, IH did what they could but in the end no more International Harvester or any of the half million or so good union jobs , because you all got greedy. brilliant!

Unions can be good or badly run just like anything or any company can be. If people are happy with what they make fine. It’s the benefits that unions can get for you that really makes a difference. The company’s make the money and could pay good benefits without outside interference but 9 pot of 19 will not they fill their pockets and retire wealthy. I don’t know what all is involved in the longshoreman negotiations you just hear what the news wants you to hear and a lot of people base their opinions on that. It always seems like people that don’t have a union job or lost one are the biggest critics of the unions and have no idea what is involved with them. But your all correct in saying if your happy with your job and what you make so be it. Awful hard to live off of just social security.

 

[CJ6]

So hormel didn’t respect their employees?

The Union rammed an unrealistic contract down their throat. Then the Union hired an outside consultant Ray Rogers that really messed things up. Paid him nearly $600,000 while the workers were getting $45 a week.
Hormel was a multi generational job in my family. I went to school with the CEOs kids and spent time at their house and vice versa. So I'd say YES Hormel respected their employees. It was in the top 2 paying jobs in the town.

 

[Pheasanthunter]

The Union rammed an unrealistic contract down their throat. Then the Union hired an outside consultant Ray Rogers that really messed things up. Paid him nearly $600,000 while the workers were getting $45 a week.
Hormel was a multi generational job in my family. I went to school with the CEOs kids and spent time at their house and vice versa. So I'd say YES Hormel respected their employees. It was in the top 2 paying jobs in the town.

Well that’s good they thought about their employees. Don’t know if a union can actually ram anything down their throats the employees usually approve and vote on the new contract. I can name two other packing companies that stole their employees retirement funds and people had no pension for the years of hard work they put in and looked forward to.

 

[CJ6]

Well that’s good they thought about their employees. Don’t know if a union can actually ram anything down their throats the employees usually approve and vote on the new contract. I can name two other packing companies that stole their employees retirement funds and people had no pension for the years of hard work they put in and looked forward to.

Frankly Gary Guyette (Union President) was a snake. The contact is coming up and this is what we'll take..No Excuses. The bargaining board was just as bad.
The town still has some effects because of this and the strike was in 1985-86