More Union Propaganda

from JoeUser Forums
Well, despite my egress from the mine almost two months ago, I received the Teamsters Union newsletter today (I think they consider me valuable enough to hang on until after the election). Frankly, anything from the union is a slap in the face considering the working conditions we underwent there, despite being union, on paper at least.

Here's the scoop:

--$9 an hour for all positions, with no raises...at least not for anyone within their first two years of employment (remember, this was an underground mine)

--6 day workweek, 56 hours a week ("generously" cut to 48 in June).

--work schedules that often scheduled us to "turnaround" to the next shift 11 hours after leaving (despite the fact the nearest town is 45 minutes away, and most of us lived over an hour away).

--countless MSHA (mine safety & health admin) and Cal-OSHA violations of equipment and working conditions

--a union shop steward who spoke no English

--no union meetings.


Is it any wonder I detest the unions? (these, by the way, were Teamsters)

signing off,

Gideon MacLeish
misc
2,904 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Unions have a lot less power now since the air traffic controller/Reagan thing.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top

and Cal-OSHA violations


was this mine in california?

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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Unions have a lot less power now since the air traffic controller/Reagan thing.


This is true; still, the conditions at NON union mines were far better.

California minimum is $6.75

was this mine in california?


es, Death Valley
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top

Death Valley


yikes! 


there's only one real union left in the us (longshoremen).  sounds like you were dealing with a version of a house union chartered under the teamsters. 


my take on the long decline of both american factories and unions is that it began when management ceded the job of managing to the unions (or unions assumed the job of managing) and channeled their efforts into buying other businesses rather than investing in in their own facilities.

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
I tend to agree.

As I have often said, unions once had their place, but they have become as big a business as the big businesses they set out to fight.