On Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:07:55 -0400, Wizard of Woodstock
wrote:



Actually one of the few Unions that actually does something for it's
membership other than try to scam more money out of ownership for "job
banks" and such.

Only union that didn't get me back 20 times any dues was the
Steelworkers.
They were sweethearts with U.S. Steel.
UAW, SIU and Teamsters dues - smallest paycheck deduction by far.
Didn't have any choice but to be in the union anyway - unless I wanted
to work at a non-union shop for half the wages.
Economically, that would have been very stupid.
But there's always plenty of applicants for stupid, so don't worry.

Their training program is first rate - equal to the various merchant
marine academies.

They had no such program when I got my license.
Probably a way to stay alive. I really don't get, since there's
probably 1/100 of the need for U.S. crew now than when I worked.
Might be getting fed by the feds to keep a skeleton merchant
capability for nat security reasons.

--Vic