Unions
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
Time to put a stop to the B.S. about union dues going to so-called union bosses.
I belonged to a union for 34+ years, 27+ years as a union steward. In all of those years I never once met a so-called union boss. I met a whole lot of hard-working union officers dully elected by the members not only to represent them but conduct the union affairs as frugal and in a responsible matter. The truth is I know of and saw more corruption and dishonesty by our public elected officials, both local and state, then I ever saw in the unions.
The union dues go to pay the expenses of contract negotiations in lost wages, hotel-motel and meals and incurred travel as well. These negotiations can be as short as a couple of weeks to several months, and depending on what the issues are may entail between five or more member negotiators plus expenses.
Mr. Editor, when was the last time you stayed overnight or several nights at a motel-hotel? It becomes quite expensive when paying $100-plus a night plus meals at (depending what the members say is allowed) maybe $20 to $30 for each and every one of the negotiators. Then there are the grievance and arbitrations expenses, just as the negotiations there are lost wages, motel-hotel, meals and depending on location travel expenses.
The arbitrator’s expenses, motel-hotel travel (fly time) meals and any other expenses they include are normally divided between both the company and the union. This can run into several thousands of dollars.
As for the union officers getting paid, this depends on the union, but for the ones I am aware of they may get their union dues paid, and if there is an office then there maybe a secretary to answer phones and to do all the necessary secretarial work as well as office rent and expenses.
I have to laugh at the political big money, this may be as little as 5 to 25 cents per individual per month set aside for political use, and this may be used to support candidates at both political parties. The law states the union has to represent those who don't want pay dues or go to jail so lets stop the B.S. of the lies that not only the paper tells but The Chamber of Commerce as well. It costs just as much for the union to have to represent these free loaders as it does every one else, only they want all the benefits but don't want to pay for it. These costs are passed on to the other members and it may result in higher union dues.
Marvin Gunter
Warsaw, via email[[In-content Ad]]
Time to put a stop to the B.S. about union dues going to so-called union bosses.
I belonged to a union for 34+ years, 27+ years as a union steward. In all of those years I never once met a so-called union boss. I met a whole lot of hard-working union officers dully elected by the members not only to represent them but conduct the union affairs as frugal and in a responsible matter. The truth is I know of and saw more corruption and dishonesty by our public elected officials, both local and state, then I ever saw in the unions.
The union dues go to pay the expenses of contract negotiations in lost wages, hotel-motel and meals and incurred travel as well. These negotiations can be as short as a couple of weeks to several months, and depending on what the issues are may entail between five or more member negotiators plus expenses.
Mr. Editor, when was the last time you stayed overnight or several nights at a motel-hotel? It becomes quite expensive when paying $100-plus a night plus meals at (depending what the members say is allowed) maybe $20 to $30 for each and every one of the negotiators. Then there are the grievance and arbitrations expenses, just as the negotiations there are lost wages, motel-hotel, meals and depending on location travel expenses.
The arbitrator’s expenses, motel-hotel travel (fly time) meals and any other expenses they include are normally divided between both the company and the union. This can run into several thousands of dollars.
As for the union officers getting paid, this depends on the union, but for the ones I am aware of they may get their union dues paid, and if there is an office then there maybe a secretary to answer phones and to do all the necessary secretarial work as well as office rent and expenses.
I have to laugh at the political big money, this may be as little as 5 to 25 cents per individual per month set aside for political use, and this may be used to support candidates at both political parties. The law states the union has to represent those who don't want pay dues or go to jail so lets stop the B.S. of the lies that not only the paper tells but The Chamber of Commerce as well. It costs just as much for the union to have to represent these free loaders as it does every one else, only they want all the benefits but don't want to pay for it. These costs are passed on to the other members and it may result in higher union dues.
Marvin Gunter
Warsaw, via email[[In-content Ad]]
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