In the private sector, Unions can play a role in making workplaces safer and bargaining fairer.

But people who are paid with taxpayer dollars should not be allowed to unionize. It makes no sense. Why do we allow an organization to exist whose only purpose is to get more money out of taxpayers?

  I’m doing zip car now. I’m definitely not saving as much money as I thought. I’m basically just not visiting my parents as much.

Sorry about your ordeal.

Someone search the internet for a bank worker’s union that is active in the United States. You will be the hero of millions of employees that are not allowed to unionize.

powder keg

Probably get to your destination quicker. Refer to car vs. bike chase in the movie Quicksilver starring Kevin Bacon.

All I know is that my union saved my ass, but is now an anchor chained to my ankle.

    I took a job as a $6/hr laborer (Intel was building the first of three semiconductor fabs in the early 90s) and fifteen years later my wage is $30/hr. Which would be GREAT if I was actually earning that…but it’s a recession and this is a right – to – work state and I personally have no “buddies” to solicit work from and yadda yadda. But while it was good I began raising a son, and I’d be lying if I said I could have handled it all just fine on minimum wages.

   I can not and will not refute what a solid wage and amazing benefits are available to unionized workers yet I fully understand the term “profit margin” and how it’s destroying America as we grew up knowing it. I’d leave it but no potential employer looking at my fifteen year union resume thinks that I wouldn’t go back if something opened up.

   I’d be happy to take a pay decrease – I live pretty frugally – but I also know of others who bought big during the boom years and are suffering because of it. It’d be difficult to persuade them to…but time will tell. I myself am taking a non union job tomorrow – I’m sure I’m not the only one – which removes the problem of hitting the pension for hardship loans while lying to Arizona about it (UI benefits)

  I think your transit strikers must feel pretty good about their chances. I understand the unions on the East coast has been in place for an awful long time, and they have a pretty good grip there. Wholly different animal than what’s out here.

Unions are a mixed bag.
As a teacher who specializes in the 3-5 age group I would make about $10-15 per hour with little or no benefits in the private [non-unionized] sector. In a unionized school district I make twice that and get full benefits.

Then again, how many teachers are there who should no longer be teaching, but they are protected by the union.

And yes, I agree, this is NOT the time to be going out on strike. When we were put to a strike vote last year I voted no.

Our tax dollars support public transit and various other government agencies. Union within government agencies seems like a strange idea to me. The end result is tax payer paying more money for the same services?

When the NY MTA went on strike a few years ago I was kind of screwed, but luckily it didn’t last too long, and luckily it was right around Christmas, so I was able to get the heck out of dodge for vacation. Hopefully this doesn’t last too long in your neck of the woods.

I won’t even get into the union thing… positives and negatives abound, but when I think of the MTA and how unhelpful some of its employees are I cringe. And what’s up with the Philly subway? You have to swipe your card when you want to leave? Big WTF.

i know pretty much zilch about unions, but the SEIU has cool t shirts

Methinks you should invest in a bike

Buy some running shoes! I personally wear Mizuno myself.

A bike would be less sweaty, even better if you have a place to stash it safely.

On a related note, I’d give my right eye to be able to work 5000m from my house.

One quick side note: I work and attend class in West Philly until 9 at night two nights of the week. Its basically a no walk zone outside my campus

I was in the grocers union when I was in college—it was a good gig.