snip
The unions leach off the capitalists. Why should they change?

BTW: What is union membership down to, about 13% of the total US
workforce? Take
away the teachers union and the government workers and you are left with
unions
representing a small percentage of the total US workforce. The trend for
union
membership has been on a downward slide as most workers realize they can
earn better
pay and better benefits without having to pay thousands each year to union
fatcats.

I was just chatting with a fellow today - he said that the union organizers
were snooping around the place he works (a printed circuit board house) and
the management suddenly felt the need to raise his pay 3 bucks an hour.
Would they have done this without the union?

Perhaps the union is just a tool in the hand of the worker. They pull it out
and club companies that loose touch with reality. Like any tool, it *can* be
miss-used. We all know that there are bunches of people that want to get rid
of certain tools just because they can be mis-used. Examples include
firearms, jet skis, private aircraft, encryption software, file sharing
software. Unions are something like that.

I used to live Waterloo Iowa. The only big employers are IBP and John Deere.
Deere has done some pretty scummy things to the town over the years. I can
tell you that the union is about the only force keeping John Deere in line.
There *are* still situations in the USA were the union is useful.

Please note that compensation and mission are separate issues. Just like
government leadership jobs, I would like to see union leadership get the
median wage of the workers. That might address the "fatcat" issue. Or not.
It would still go a long ways towards addressing issues of fairness.

Mark Browne

"Mark Browne" wrote in message
news:XU3bb.394049$cF.121809@rwcrnsc53...
snip
The unions leach off the capitalists. Why should they change?

BTW: What is union membership down to, about 13% of the total US
workforce? Take
away the teachers union and the government workers and you are left with
unions
representing a small percentage of the total US workforce. The trend for
union
membership has been on a downward slide as most workers realize they can
earn better
pay and better benefits without having to pay thousands each year to union
fatcats.

I was just chatting with a fellow today - he said that the union organizers
were snooping around the place he works (a printed circuit board house) and
the management suddenly felt the need to raise his pay 3 bucks an hour.
Would they have done this without the union?

Perhaps the union is just a tool in the hand of the worker. They pull it out
and club companies that loose touch with reality. Like any tool, it *can* be
miss-used. We all know that there are bunches of people that want to get rid
of certain tools just because they can be mis-used. Examples include
firearms, jet skis, private aircraft, encryption software, file sharing
software. Unions are something like that.

I used to live Waterloo Iowa. The only big employers are IBP and John Deere.
Deere has done some pretty scummy things to the town over the years. I can
tell you that the union is about the only force keeping John Deere in line.
There *are* still situations in the USA were the union is useful.

Please note that compensation and mission are separate issues. Just like
government leadership jobs, I would like to see union leadership get the
median wage of the workers. That might address the "fatcat" issue. Or not.
It would still go a long ways towards addressing issues of fairness.

Mark Browne



Why does an average quality family car like a Chevy Impala cost close to $20k today?

What happened up here was that the Seabrook Power Station project severery
inflated the number of the construction unions members. Not only were they
coming from all over the country but many of the local people (myself
included) were vacuumed into the unions to provide enough workers to build
that critter.

When that job ended - there was no way in hell the unions could find work
for THAT many people and many of us just drifted off into other areas of
work.

That said, I find my participation in that project some of the most
rewarding few years of my life and I look back on it fondly. And I learned a
LOT.

-W

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
news:KGWdnVr5I6fUX_GiU-

If you are talking about construction workers, I suspect it is because
the trades unions don't want to put themselves in competition with the
signatory contractors, or actually get into the contracting business.

Most of the skilled trades unions have programs that help unemployed
members get good work. They might have to travel a little if work is
slow in one place, but if they travel to another, they get a travel
allowance and other benefits.

Also, the unions and their contractor counterparts invest a substantial
amount of pension money into solid construction projects, either
construction loans or permanent financing. That provides tens of
thousands of jobs every year for union members.


--
* * *
email sent to will *never* get to me.

"Jim -" wrote in message
news:9Z3bb.533979$uu5.89222@sccrnsc04...

"Mark Browne" wrote in message
news:XU3bb.394049$cF.121809@rwcrnsc53...
snip
The unions leach off the capitalists. Why should they change?

BTW: What is union membership down to, about 13% of the total US
workforce? Take
away the teachers union and the government workers and you are left
with
unions
representing a small percentage of the total US workforce. The trend
for
union
membership has been on a downward slide as most workers realize they
can
earn better
pay and better benefits without having to pay thousands each year to
union
fatcats.

I was just chatting with a fellow today - he said that the union
organizers
were snooping around the place he works (a printed circuit board house)
and
the management suddenly felt the need to raise his pay 3 bucks an hour.
Would they have done this without the union?

Perhaps the union is just a tool in the hand of the worker. They pull it
out
and club companies that loose touch with reality. Like any tool, it
*can* be
miss-used. We all know that there are bunches of people that want to get
rid
of certain tools just because they can be mis-used. Examples include
firearms, jet skis, private aircraft, encryption software, file sharing
software. Unions are something like that.

I used to live Waterloo Iowa. The only big employers are IBP and John
Deere.
Deere has done some pretty scummy things to the town over the years. I
can
tell you that the union is about the only force keeping John Deere in
line.
There *are* still situations in the USA were the union is useful.

Please note that compensation and mission are separate issues. Just like
government leadership jobs, I would like to see union leadership get the
median wage of the workers. That might address the "fatcat" issue. Or
not.
It would still go a long ways towards addressing issues of fairness.

Mark Browne



Why does an average quality family car like a Chevy Impala cost close to
$20k today?

Because the price has risen with inflation.
Have you checked out the price of a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk
lately?
Next question.

Mark Browne
P.S. I suspect that Jim secretly longs for the good old days of slave
labor - think how cheap his car would be then!

"Jim -" wrote in message
news:9Z3bb.533979$uu5.89222@sccrnsc04...

Why does an average quality family car like a Chevy Impala cost close to
$20k today?

Why would the same car assembled from parts cost $100K today?

Same answer: Greed

Clams Canino wrote:
What happened up here was that the Seabrook Power Station project severery
inflated the number of the construction unions members. Not only were they
coming from all over the country but many of the local people (myself
included) were vacuumed into the unions to provide enough workers to build
that critter.

When that job ended - there was no way in hell the unions could find work
for THAT many people and many of us just drifted off into other areas of
work.

That said, I find my participation in that project some of the most
rewarding few years of my life and I look back on it fondly. And I learned a
LOT.

-W


There are lots of union construction workers, especially in highly
skilled trades, who travel around the country from job to job because
they like to work that way and they cna earn big bucks doing so.
Steamfitters, especially, are in high demand for powerplant work,
because they are the only ones qualified to make the necessary welds.

"Mark Browne" wrote in message
news:kf4bb.394222$cF.121555@rwcrnsc53...

"Jim -" wrote in message
news:9Z3bb.533979$uu5.89222@sccrnsc04...

"Mark Browne" wrote in message
news:XU3bb.394049$cF.121809@rwcrnsc53...
snip
The unions leach off the capitalists. Why should they change?

BTW: What is union membership down to, about 13% of the total US
workforce? Take
away the teachers union and the government workers and you are left
with
unions
representing a small percentage of the total US workforce. The trend
for
union
membership has been on a downward slide as most workers realize they
can
earn better
pay and better benefits without having to pay thousands each year to
union
fatcats.

I was just chatting with a fellow today - he said that the union
organizers
were snooping around the place he works (a printed circuit board house)
and
the management suddenly felt the need to raise his pay 3 bucks an hour.
Would they have done this without the union?

Perhaps the union is just a tool in the hand of the worker. They pull it
out
and club companies that loose touch with reality. Like any tool, it
*can* be
miss-used. We all know that there are bunches of people that want to get
rid
of certain tools just because they can be mis-used. Examples include
firearms, jet skis, private aircraft, encryption software, file sharing
software. Unions are something like that.

I used to live Waterloo Iowa. The only big employers are IBP and John
Deere.
Deere has done some pretty scummy things to the town over the years. I
can
tell you that the union is about the only force keeping John Deere in
line.
There *are* still situations in the USA were the union is useful.

Please note that compensation and mission are separate issues. Just like
government leadership jobs, I would like to see union leadership get the
median wage of the workers. That might address the "fatcat" issue. Or
not.
It would still go a long ways towards addressing issues of fairness.

Mark Browne



Why does an average quality family car like a Chevy Impala cost close to
$20k today?

Because the price has risen with inflation.
Have you checked out the price of a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk
lately?
Next question.

Mark Browne
P.S. I suspect that Jim secretly longs for the good old days of slave
labor - think how cheap his car would be then!




Yep, I am sure most of you highly trained prison guard workers yearn for those good old
days. You had more people you could keep in line and abuse.

How many inmates did you beat up, sexually abuse and extort today Mark?

"Jim -" wrote in message
newsv4bb.531246$o%2.233276@sccrnsc02...

Yep, I am sure most of you highly trained prison guard workers yearn for
those good old
days. You had more people you could keep in line and abuse.

How many inmates did you beat up, sexually abuse and extort today Mark?


I think you may have the wrong Mark bonehead. That Mark is one of yours.

"Jim -" wrote in message
newsv4bb.531246$o%2.233276@sccrnsc02...

"Mark Browne" wrote in message
news:kf4bb.394222$cF.121555@rwcrnsc53...

"Jim -" wrote in message
news:9Z3bb.533979$uu5.89222@sccrnsc04...

"Mark Browne" wrote in message
news:XU3bb.394049$cF.121809@rwcrnsc53...
snip
The unions leach off the capitalists. Why should they change?

BTW: What is union membership down to, about 13% of the total US
workforce? Take
away the teachers union and the government workers and you are
left
with
unions
representing a small percentage of the total US workforce. The
trend
for
union
membership has been on a downward slide as most workers realize
they
can
earn better
pay and better benefits without having to pay thousands each year
to
union
fatcats.

I was just chatting with a fellow today - he said that the union
organizers
were snooping around the place he works (a printed circuit board
house)
and
the management suddenly felt the need to raise his pay 3 bucks an
hour.
Would they have done this without the union?

Perhaps the union is just a tool in the hand of the worker. They
pull it
out
and club companies that loose touch with reality. Like any tool, it
*can* be
miss-used. We all know that there are bunches of people that want to
get
rid
of certain tools just because they can be mis-used. Examples include
firearms, jet skis, private aircraft, encryption software, file
sharing
software. Unions are something like that.

I used to live Waterloo Iowa. The only big employers are IBP and
John
Deere.
Deere has done some pretty scummy things to the town over the years.
I
can
tell you that the union is about the only force keeping John Deere
in
line.
There *are* still situations in the USA were the union is useful.

Please note that compensation and mission are separate issues. Just
like
government leadership jobs, I would like to see union leadership get
the
median wage of the workers. That might address the "fatcat" issue.
Or
not.
It would still go a long ways towards addressing issues of fairness.

Mark Browne



Why does an average quality family car like a Chevy Impala cost close
to
$20k today?

Because the price has risen with inflation.
Have you checked out the price of a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk
lately?
Next question.

Mark Browne
P.S. I suspect that Jim secretly longs for the good old days of slave
labor - think how cheap his car would be then!




Yep, I am sure most of you highly trained prison guard workers yearn for
those good old
days. You had more people you could keep in line and abuse.

How many inmates did you beat up, sexually abuse and extort today Mark?

Jim,

You are confused again. It is the *other* Mark (Pilcher) that is the prison
guard. I am the electronic engineer one. But if makes you feel better to
insult engineers, have at it.

BTW - what is it you do again?

Mark Browne

Mark Browne wrote:

"Jim -" wrote in message
newsv4bb.531246$o%2.233276@sccrnsc02...

"Mark Browne" wrote in message
news:kf4bb.394222$cF.121555@rwcrnsc53...

"Jim -" wrote in message
news:9Z3bb.533979$uu5.89222@sccrnsc04...

"Mark Browne" wrote in message
news:XU3bb.394049$cF.121809@rwcrnsc53...
snip
The unions leach off the capitalists. Why should they change?

BTW: What is union membership down to, about 13% of the total US
workforce? Take
away the teachers union and the government workers and you are
left
with
unions
representing a small percentage of the total US workforce. The
trend
for
union
membership has been on a downward slide as most workers realize
they
can
earn better
pay and better benefits without having to pay thousands each year
to
union
fatcats.

I was just chatting with a fellow today - he said that the union
organizers
were snooping around the place he works (a printed circuit board
house)
and
the management suddenly felt the need to raise his pay 3 bucks an
hour.
Would they have done this without the union?

Perhaps the union is just a tool in the hand of the worker. They
pull it
out
and club companies that loose touch with reality. Like any tool, it
*can* be
miss-used. We all know that there are bunches of people that want to
get
rid
of certain tools just because they can be mis-used. Examples include
firearms, jet skis, private aircraft, encryption software, file
sharing
software. Unions are something like that.

I used to live Waterloo Iowa. The only big employers are IBP and
John
Deere.
Deere has done some pretty scummy things to the town over the years.
I
can
tell you that the union is about the only force keeping John Deere
in
line.
There *are* still situations in the USA were the union is useful.

Please note that compensation and mission are separate issues. Just
like
government leadership jobs, I would like to see union leadership get
the
median wage of the workers. That might address the "fatcat" issue.
Or
not.
It would still go a long ways towards addressing issues of fairness.

Mark Browne



Why does an average quality family car like a Chevy Impala cost close
to
$20k today?

Because the price has risen with inflation.
Have you checked out the price of a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk
lately?
Next question.

Mark Browne
P.S. I suspect that Jim secretly longs for the good old days of slave
labor - think how cheap his car would be then!




Yep, I am sure most of you highly trained prison guard workers yearn for
those good old
days. You had more people you could keep in line and abuse.

How many inmates did you beat up, sexually abuse and extort today Mark?

Jim,

You are confused again. It is the *other* Mark (Pilcher) that is the prison
guard. I am the electronic engineer one. But if makes you feel better to
insult engineers, have at it.

BTW - what is it you do again?

Mark Browne




Jim is a card-carrying *member* of the American Guild of Amateur Fluffers.

--
* * *
email sent to will *never* get to me.