How Long Can The Teamsters Union Survive?

[Capt._Chaos]

I'm curious, with our country's current leadership in the White House, and corporations looking for a way to "ditch" the Unions, what should our nation's Middle Class hope for & do to keep the Unions from going away?

[DrivingZiggy]

And what can we do to expedite the process of the Teamsters going away?

[Rooster]

DrivingZiggy
Just remmember one thing my friend, if the unions did nothing else they created a middle class of people in this country,which we call blue collar workers!with out them you have the have and have nots of which alot of former middle class people are becoming,and this sir is not good for our working class economy. Just remember unions are the anti theft devices for the working class they are also the people that brought you what we know now as the WEEK END.
Good Day & Good Luck
Rooster
BTW Almost forgot to tell you Im a former 39yr Retired Teamster and a Jipo trucker to boot pull a reefer with my own authority out of the left coast the bay area at that.

[DrivingZiggy]

I agree that at one time the unions served a useful purpose and they did good things. Such as abolishing child labor.

But I never had any direct dealings with any kind of union "service" until I began trucking just over 10 years ago. So far, it has been a horrible experience at least 90% of the time. Especially the teamsters running the grocery warehouses outside of Boston and Colorado Springs.

I also disagree with their highly publicized strikes that end up hurting lots of non-union folks. You know, like the GM strikes that meant that sales people couldn't make a living to support their families. Or the UPS strike that ended up doing absolutely nothing except hurting people who made their living by shipping through UPS. And I won't even get into the multitude of Cat strikes.

So, yes, the unions were good. But I feel that they've outlived their usefulness. Now $1500 of a new car goes to pay for the medical plan of one union member. I'd rather have the car for $1500 less.

I still refuse to buy Cat. If I have a choice, I'll use FedEx.

[Rooster]

DrivingZiggy
I still Refuse To Buy CAT! That my friend is precisely why you are where you are at. I could not refrane myself from that,realy I don't like to see nobody break down,Elko aint a bad place I worked out of there in 1979 hauling tripples to SLC and back for P.I.E. Good luck Hope it all falls under warranty work.
Good Day Rooster

[Capt._Chaos]

And what can we do to expedite the process of the Teamsters going away?

WHOA!!!!!!!!!!

WAIT A MINUTE, DUDE!!!!!!!!!!

DZ, you & I have been friends for a good while, and I know from some previous conversations we have had about some bad experiences you had with slow Union dock workers. I'm here to tell you right now that stereotype you have etched in your mind can NOT be applied to all Union workers!

My father is an electrician, and is a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He and his crew & fellow employees (all Union workers) have proven to run circles around the non-Union electrical contractors in terms of getting a job done quickly, and being sure there's quality work done. My father, being near retirement age now, has not slowed down a bit, and he's still on 24-hour Emergency Standby (often to go repair the cause & effects of the crappy work that had been done previously by a non-Union electrical contractor in the middle of the night, and on weekends).

I know saddletramp will be glad to back me up on this........... DZ, have you EVER been around a U.P.S. hub before (especially at night)? Most all of those workers are Teamsters represented, but you can be assured that you won't see a single "human snail" working anywhere in, or around a U.P.S. facility. Those people are paid well, and with good benefits, and seeing them in action will convince you that they EARN every last bit of it!

The Teamsters Union, in all reality, benefits nearly every American driver in the trucking industry. Think about it- if it wasn't for the push by the Teamsters to keep unsafe Mexican trucks with underqualified drivers off of American highways, then it would be damn near impossible for any of us, whether a Company Driver or an Owner-Operator, to make a profit, let alone a decent living.

I may not agree with the violent practices that are displayed by some of its members whenever a strike takes place, or with some of its management practices, but the Teamsters union has made it possible for a middle-class to exist in this country, even forcing non-Union trucking companies to raise their driver wages up a bit to compete for good, safe drivers.

[saddletramp]

I havebeen involved in 3 strikes in my career; one in freight, construction and UPS. The construction strike lasted 2 weeks and there was some stupid destructive activity that went on and it involved the disabling of some of the companies equipment that was left out on a paving job. When the perpertrators of this BS were found out, the leaders of the Teamsters local brought them up on charges of causing undue harm and defimation of other members credibilities.Inother words, they got busted for doing stupid acts to make all the other members come across as bad as they were.
The struck company made a point of letting the union local know when the strike was over that they appreciated the policing of their members and stated that brought about a quicker resolution to the strike.
As many of us have found out over the years, it is ususally someone not affiliated with the striking union who is the one causing the problems, like what happened with so many of the Overnite picket lines. People who wern't even Teamsters throwing things at the trucks and yelling at the drivers and coming across as striking members.

As far as the UPS strike, well, I can tell you that at our facility there were alot of customers who came by to offer water and food, and money for the support of "their" delivery drivers. We evn had Fedex drivers come by daily to offer support and comraderie to people who they felt were taking a stand on a company who was intent on expanding their "part time workforce"; something they did not want to happen to them.

Capt. Chaos, thank you for pointing out our hard working hub folks. I believe if one would stand outside the employee gate after the day sort and seethese folks coming out wringing wet after loading trailers in the 100+ degree heat we have been seeing here, they would be hard pressed to find anyone working like a "snail", thats for sure! :)

[Capt._Chaos]

DrivingZiggy
I still Refuse To Buy CAT! That my friend is precisely why you are where you are at. I could not refrane myself from that,realy I don't like to see nobody break down,Elko aint a bad place I worked out of there in 1979 hauling tripples to SLC and back for P.I.E. Good luck Hope it all falls under warranty work.
Good Day Rooster

Rooster, don't EVEN get me started!

Every engine out there is going to have problems, and blaming his problem solely on the fact that he owns a truck with a Detroit engine is just WRONG!

Being that I was a Diesel Mechanic for many years before eventually becoming an Owner-Operator, it became obvious why I chose to buy both of my trucks with Detroit engines.

Now, back to the original topic, please.

DZ, you & I have been friends for a good while, and I know from some previous conversations we have had about some bad experiences you had with slow Union dock workers

They seem slow, because he's in a hurry. :rofl:

[steemer]

DZ....I just want to clear the air a little further...I hope you don't think for one minute that the teamster's were the ones to blame because people couldn't get their packages during the strike...The company deliberately continued to pick up the customer's packages as the "clock" ran out. You see sir, we wanted only to retain our medical benefits, but the company wanted to use the HMO's. We didn't want our retirement benifits removed from the Teamsters control and left up to the company's crooked lawyers. What a bunch of blood-sucking teamster trash huh??? UPS was the bad guy's, NOT the members. There are some bad union members just are there some bad cops, but not every one is rotten. Get your information straight please. ;)

[truckermanitoba]

WELL SINCE the bond house went to a union setting the service has been alot better.The job responibilities are spelled out,Example the dock workers sweep out trailers not drivers.The dock workers have good benifits and a good wages and a penion plan If something causes them to lose job or they figure they were wronged have a procedure to help them out,no unoin no help.

[saddletramp]

Alot of people are finding that out, and the fact that they can participate in good health and welfare programs that help deal with issues such as retirement and health insurance.
I have often said that the Teamsters provide me with adminstration of my health and welfare benefits, while the company I work for should concentrate on being the best carrier they can be for their customers.

[shelf484]

Its okay, but not perfect maybe needs a bit more work.