What do you get for paying union dues?

[saddletramp]

Under the contract I work at, the union dues go towards the administration of health and welfare benefits, retirement, and contract enforcement. The amount of dues you pay as a Teamster is 2 1/2 times you hourly wage. At UPS, there are many different pay scales and many different dues rates.
I have an Ironworker freind who pays about 125.00 a month in dues. Some crafts pay more and some less.
The administration of labor contracts, especially in large companies like UPS cost alot of money to take care of, and that is where your dues come into play. A share of your dues money goes to organizing new contracts, thus bolstering the membership totals for whatever labor organization you belong too.

And no, it doesn't all go to fat cats, fancy houses, jets, and the mob! :rofl:
These are things that happened years ago but with Gov't intervention they have pretty much gone by the wayside, and are only good fodder for starting arguements. 35 years in the Teamsters has tought me this! :D

[White Dog]

What do I get for paying Union dues?

Well; in 1996 I worked for John Deere (foundry) in Waterloo, IA.

I worked a little better than 1 1/2 years before being laid off for a year.

I had it made! I was working under a new contract (versus the Incumbants contract), but they had no K.I.P. program (incentive/piece work) set up for the department I was assigned to (Dept. 737 Jobbing Floor--Proto Type/Experimental), so they put me at 150% wich pays $17.50 per hour :D ----I was very happy!

Now; you throw free benefits on top of that (get sick, go to the doctor---don't worry about it---pills cost $10----need a tooth pulled, don't worry about it, $1450 work per person per year free).

And then I got laid off....it happens, no biggie, I got a CDL.

Well; exactally a year later (to the day) I was called back :D ------what's this? you out-sourced my job? you're going to stick me where? and you're going to take away how much per hour?

That's right Russ; we out-sourced your job, so now we'll put you in the core room behind that big oven and make you sand sand off of sand--- oh, and by the way, the job pays $11.56 per hour instead of the $17.50 you're used to. :wtf: :wow: :wacko: :yikes:

So ol' White Dog gets out the contract and does some study'n up.

What's this? On page 108 in big black letters? AAAAhhhhh, a life saver indeed!

Says here on page 108 that ol' White Dog (and anyone else) is entitled to 104 weeks of average earnings should they be forced off a job, and/or the job no longer exsists (to bid off or voulantarily leave said job should void this statute of the contract).

Me thinks I was forced off due to out-sourcing----and my average earnings are $17.50 per hour; I doth protestith.

So; I filed a greivance with the Union (per regulation)------no answer-----got 10 days to file again-----no answer--------got 3 days to verbalize the greivance----did it! Got a meeting with the top two Union reps. (Local 838), and the top two foundry company reps.

White Dog sits at the round table listening to the rules and offical set up for meeting procedures...and the the meeting begins.

Dennis Kenard (V.P. Local 838) looks in the Incumbants contract and glances at me and says, "I gotta tell you Russ, I can't find it anywhere in here where it says you are entitled to 104 weeks of average earning"----so White Dog fires back, "that isn't even our contract Dennis, ours is baige (Incumbents was green)....here's ours, it's right there on page 108, and I have it highlighted".

Kenard didn't even bother to open it----he just lowered his glasses and looked me in the eye and said in his best mafia voice, "drop it; you're not getting it".

So I dropped the Union that day, and gave the company my 2 weeks notice all at the same time.

So you see; all in all----I got absolutely nothing for my Union dues!

"F" Unions; after that they can all kiss my rosey red ***.

Almost forgot; we paid first two hours of each month in dues---so I paid $35.00 per month; and when my wages drop that $6.00 per hour? My dues was still being taken out of my check at $35.00 per month :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

Anything else you want to know? :harhar:

[White Dog]

Oh yah; and by the way....before you (or anyone else) say any thing.....YES, one bad apple spoiled the whole darn bunch for me on this one. :angry:

[saddletramp]

Well, first off, Thanks for showing up at the Union House and I hope you find some of the topics worth the time to read and respond to.

I appreciate your feelings about dealing with a union job. I have to ask, was the union you were in the Machinists? After seeing what the Boeing people go through with that company and there labor organization it doesn't suprise me that you had problems with them.
As with anything, there are good ones and bad ones, and I am sorry that you had to endure a situation like the one you did with John Deere.
Nothing is as bad as being told one thing and believing the organization has your best interests at heart for the money you pay them.
Course, you already know that I will tell you that not all labor groups perform this way, and there are some good ones out there.

Thanks for coming by White Dog, and you are welcome anytime!

[Cowboy]

One place the money goes especially with the Teamsters is to pay off Polatitions. And my issue is a union member should have a choice where his money goes. For example,is a member happens to be republican he should have a choice of not having his money sent to a democrat or vice versa. But the union leadership is really against that.

[Rooster]

Well Let me see I don't know about Politions because Im not one but I can tell I personaly get about $37,000.00 per year in pension money from them, Thank you Teamsters. because if had not been for a UNION contract I do not think my employers would have put FIVE CENTS into a pension plan for me.By the way as far as money for politions ITS YOUR CHOICE if you want to contribute to the fund or not I don't know what union your talking about but with 39 years in the Teamsters and 26years as a SHOP STEWARD I think I know afew things about the Teamsters Union. Saddltramp did you ever know Bob Hood he and I were line drivers for P.I.E. when they folded he went to UPS in Winnemucca,Nv. from there they transfered him to Boise,Id. then he retired his handle was Red Doors?BTW Cowboy I guess after 39 years ya couldn't say I cut and ran could Ya ?As for White dog I hope social securities stay's fluent for your retirement or may be you saved enough working non unon!!!
Rooster

[saddletramp]

Rooster,
I never met Bob Hood but I do remember getting seal control bills for trailers destined for Spokane with his name on the seal controls. Seems like that was a 'few" years ago though!
Good points about your pension. Its too bad that alot of "assumptions" are made about Teamsters or any other union retirements. They are put out usually by misinformed folks who either hear these charges or know someone who has been ''screwed" by a union. There are some bad ones out there though. I was telling another member here about the civil service union AFSME, (American Federation of State and Munincipal Employees), who ae the biggest joke to ever come along as a representative of workers. They are one of those groups who take the dues money and offer nothing in return to the member.
Its no wonder why many law enforcement groups and county employees around the country are voting for representation by the Teamsters Union. Here in Eastern Washington Teamsters Local 690 covers several different counties workers, such as road dept workers, deputy sherriffs, prosecuting attornies and there office people and alot of city police and office people too.
They chose to change so they could have the representation they needed.