Strike?

[mapleleaf4ever]

Today I was sitting wasting time at Tim Hortons at work when my Friend from Penauille-Servisair stops for a chat. Rumour has it that they might be going on Strike at the end of the Month because their Union isn't happy with the way Contract negotiations are going. Which is interesting as my Unions' Collective Agreement is in the same stage (ours expired in August)... he said that it's also possible that my Company could Strike as well for the same reason.

So this got me thinking. HOLY FUCKING CHAOS if it actually happens.

I almost want it to just to see it.

Anyone ever been on Strike before? How was it?

Did you have an awesome angry Sign written in menacing Sharpie Marker?

[Technix]

I'm a union steward so I understand the fundamentals.

It's the unions that fight for wages and fair conditions of employment...if that's what the members seek.

It's unfortunate that it is the unions who are always in a position of weakness as employers have the right to manage, and also the right to mis-manage.

Haven't been on strike before but we were close. At the last moment the company proposed a wage increase and more agreeable terms for union and job security. We had strike signs ready to go and were ready to picket.

The strike pay would have sucked though.

[Alex]

unions are for pussy communists.

[miss.myra]

Originally Posted by Alex

unions are for pussy communists.

haha yeah, kind of funny seeing someone who apparently leans to the right side of the spectrum of politics talking about how cool it would be to strike. (in reference to the OP)

[fable]

Originally Posted by Alex

unions are for pussy communists.

It’s been the struggle of unions over the ages that have guaranteed a specific amount of rights for YOU in the workplace. Regardless of the situation that contemporary unions find themselves in (accelerated bureaucratization, corruption, pacification, fracturing of rankin file members) the union is still the only effective means of conducting any manner of struggle for inherent rights, that is still somewhat available and accessible, for regular people.

That being said, my personal belief is there at least a handful of union executives that could stand a good old teamster bat bashing in a back alley for grotesque examples of selling rankin file members down the river.

The pussy comment is also somewhat misplaced and uneducated. Struggle, resistance and the willingness to turn to violence are characteristics of communism over the years, all of which are anything but "pussy"

Perhaps complaining about ones own dissatisfaction of life, and work, of which are more than obviouslly based on selfish, empty and superficial goals on a chat board would be better categorized as "pussy?"

[fable]

Originally Posted by Technix

I'm a union steward .

good on ya :)

[fable]

Originally Posted by mapleleaf4ever

Today I was sitting wasting time at Tim Hortons at work when my Friend from Penauille-Servisair stops for a chat. Rumour has it that they might be going on Strike at the end of the Month because their Union isn't happy with the way Contract negotiations are going. Which is interesting as my Unions' Collective Agreement is in the same stage (ours expired in August)... he said that it's also possible that my Company could Strike as well for the same reason.

So this got me thinking. HOLY FUCKING CHAOS if it actually happens.

I almost want it to just to see it.

Anyone ever been on Strike before? How was it?

Did you have an awesome angry Sign written in menacing Sharpie Marker?

Well strike action is definetly not the easiest thing to go through. Can you give me some more background on your unions situation?

[mekim]

i left a union job where i was getting paid a significantly higher wage than my current day job due to union politics. basically, i was getting promoted ahead of people who'd been doing the same job for over 15 years when i'd only been there for 8 months and they started filing grievances with the union about it. nevermind that i actually did the job correctly the first time rather than these guys who obviously hadn't done it correctly for the last 15 years. my managers hands were tied by the union so i basically kept getting promoted and then demoted. the union basically wasn't working for me so i went somewhere that i'd be judged on my own work output rather than my seniority.

that said, i think unions have helped make important changes to work regulations through out the years. i just find they can shoot themselves in the foot a little too much these days.

[r a m a z e]

i saw a school strike last year missed 2 weeks

[fable]

Originally Posted by mekim

i just find they can shoot themselves in the foot a little too much these days.

True true.

Admittedly I was 100% anti union only several years ago. While I was a chef I heard countless horror stories about hotel staff in unions, which usually revolved around some young talented chef not being able to excel relative to the pace of their own evolution of talent, and workmanship due to seniority issues. Related stories about laziness where also rampant. Being a chef for close to a decade and working my ass off for every moment under some really shitty conditions and pay, and viewing the lax, and bullshit attitudes in especially human resource offices, I had a very narrow perspective on the usefulness of unions or even their relevancy.

But after studying the history, I’ve come to the realization, that unions are not obsolete, actually they are in some fashion more relevant than ever in this age of the "war on terror." But im afraid the conditions are going to have to get way worse collectively for working people in this country before the rankin file members take more responsibility, and more aggressive action, especially when it comes to the conduct of their leadership and who they really represent.

[Webber]

so wait...Tim Hortons might go on strike? or you were talking about this at tim hortons?

[Spoon]

Originally Posted by fable

But after studying the history, I’ve come to the realization, that unions are not obsolete, actually they are in some fashion more relevant than ever in this age of the "war on terror." But im afraid the conditions are going to have to get way worse collectively for working people in this country before the rankin file members take more responsibility, and more aggressive action, especially when it comes to the conduct of their leadership and who they really represent.

How are unions more relevant today? With uneployment levels at historic lows and jobs easy to get why do you still need a union to protect you? Are you that unskilled/motivated to be able to keep your job or get raises? I work in a heavily unionized enviroment and have seen so many things that its hard to evan start to justilfy wanting one, thats before you evan start to look at what unions have done to the domestic auto companies and forestry companies through out BC.

[mapleleaf4ever]

Originally Posted by fable

Well strike action is definetly not the easiest thing to go through. Can you give me some more background on your unions situation?

Our Collective Agrement expired in August so it's currently being re-negotiated.

My Friend working for Servisair-Penauille told me about what THEIR Union has offered them. And it's a really shitty deal... of the 11 items: 10% Pay Cut, No Stat Holidays, Removal of Seniority and enacting of Rotating Shifts, No Paid Vacation or Lunch Breaks and more. None of them are happy.

Made me more curious as to what's transpiring with our Union for my Company. Servisair has a different Union than myself... we're Teamsters so I have a little faith that we won't get fucked.

myra: I am Right of Centre Politically and personally if I were running a Company I most likely wouldn't be happy if my workers Unionized. But since I work for a Union Company, and I get the Benefits, why should I complain?