4est_4est_Gump
Run Forrest! RUN!
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2011
- Posts
- 89,007
Time for my biennial union(s) rant.
First of all, all public sector unions should be immediately decertified and disbanded. They serve no useful public purpose.
The balance fall into two categories, useful and useless.
In the 'useful' category are most of the construction trades unions, although my list is not exclusively limited to same. Masters are tested and work to an expected level of responsibility, as do journeymen and apprentices. When you contract for these various levels of tradesmen you are fairly well assured that you are going to get an individual that will work to the expected level of expertise and output. I include the United Mine Workers in this group because although many of their work assignment procedures actually fall into the 'useless' group, they have been instrumental in laws and regulations regarding mine safety. And mining is arguably one of the most dangerous jobs that an individual can undertake. The Pilots Union also falls into this category.
Among the 'useless' unions list fall organizations like the UAW where the most senior members actually are engaged in the most mind numbing, menial, tasks. Tasks with no particular responsibility or elevated skill set. Most manufacturing unions (not all, but most) fall into this category. All clerical unions as well. At one time these unions did serve some purpose, particularly in regard to workplace safety, like the UMW, but those issues have been addressed by federal law and regulation (OSHA). They've outlived any useful purpose. And in case the members of the 'useless' unions haven't noticed, owners are replacing them with technology as fast as is practicable.
Ishmael
Government is now expected to control workplace safety and to pick up the bill for training (education).
The redundancy is an expense to the American people, a tax increase, in effect.