Oh dear, Unions. It's taken me several years and a lot of thought to get to where I am today with unions.
Unions need to exist it would be nice if they didn't need to but this is not a perfect world. All that follows is Canadian based. That said their are some issues I have with some unions. Big unions are dangerous, CUPE "With 600 000 members across Canada, CUPE represents workers in health care, education, municipalities, libraries, universities, social services, public utilities, transportation, emergency services and airlines." That's from their web site. It's a monster union. Then there is CAW Canadian Auto Workers. from their web site "CAW members work in aerospace, mining, fishing, auto and specialty vehicle assembly, auto parts, hotels, airlines, rail, education, hospitality, retail, road transportation, health care, manufacturing, shipbuilding and other sectors of the economy"
When I worked as a TA in Mississauga I worked on the negotiating board for the unions new contract. We were one of the few unions that was for the Teaching Assistants only. I was approached by the stewards of the other unions in the board. One was CUPE, the other I don't remember. To take the offer of joining them back to our union. Now Our Union president knew most of our members if not by name then by face, she knew all our issues, she knew our job. I talked to the CUPE rep. At length. I asked him if he knew what our issues where. How many TA reps would we get in negotiations, all that stuff. I asked him if I could talk to the CUPE president. Or some one on the board. It was quite funny to see his response. I was not left alone after I told him were were not interested.
Unions need to represent the needs and interests of the workers they are made for. A union that represents auto workers should not be representing anyone else, at all. I still don't get how CAW can understand the needs of Janators, or Teaching Assistants, or Ambulance Drivers.
I also think that unions should not be allowed to have any political affiliations at all. They should not be able to donate to them or speak for them or anything. Rules in Canada have changed recently so donations are not allowed. But ads are still made, and union leaders still make statements supporting different leaders.
As long as a union is small, and non political. It's safe. Once it gets big and political it when it gets dangerous. At least in my books.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2011-02-21 02:36 am (UTC)Unions need to exist it would be nice if they didn't need to but this is not a perfect world. All that follows is Canadian based. That said their are some issues I have with some unions. Big unions are dangerous, CUPE "With 600 000 members across Canada, CUPE represents workers in health care, education, municipalities, libraries, universities, social services, public utilities, transportation, emergency services and airlines." That's from their web site. It's a monster union. Then there is CAW Canadian Auto Workers. from their web site "CAW members work in aerospace, mining, fishing, auto and specialty vehicle assembly, auto parts, hotels, airlines, rail, education, hospitality, retail, road transportation, health care, manufacturing, shipbuilding and other sectors of the economy"
When I worked as a TA in Mississauga I worked on the negotiating board for the unions new contract. We were one of the few unions that was for the Teaching Assistants only. I was approached by the stewards of the other unions in the board. One was CUPE, the other I don't remember. To take the offer of joining them back to our union. Now Our Union president knew most of our members if not by name then by face, she knew all our issues, she knew our job. I talked to the CUPE rep. At length. I asked him if he knew what our issues where. How many TA reps would we get in negotiations, all that stuff. I asked him if I could talk to the CUPE president. Or some one on the board. It was quite funny to see his response. I was not left alone after I told him were were not interested.
Unions need to represent the needs and interests of the workers they are made for. A union that represents auto workers should not be representing anyone else, at all. I still don't get how CAW can understand the needs of Janators, or Teaching Assistants, or Ambulance Drivers.
I also think that unions should not be allowed to have any political affiliations at all. They should not be able to donate to them or speak for them or anything. Rules in Canada have changed recently so donations are not allowed. But ads are still made, and union leaders still make statements supporting different leaders.
As long as a union is small, and non political. It's safe. Once it gets big and political it when it gets dangerous. At least in my books.