Most industries abuse their employees. Unless you have a skill set that is completely invaluable they know you are replaceable. The more replaceable you are the more potential for abuse you face.
As much as we b**tch about the union at least we have a possibility of filing a grievance and addressing our concerns with management. Does it always work? No. Is it abused by worthless employees? Absolutely. But its still an option available to us.
We are guaranteed our 40 hours and if we do get stuck doing over time we dont have to worry about our managers sending us home on a later day during the week to keep us under 40. I worked for a place that did that. They'd have us stay late working 12 hours or more and at the end of the week they'd send us home or call us and tell us to stay home. I learned to take advantage of this scoring super long weekends but there are times i'd have rather had the money.
I've worked for a company that paid by the piece in a percentage like commission rather than straight hourly. So you could end up working 6 hours or 18 hours and make the same for the day depending on how the day worked out. And it was back breaking labor delivering furniture.
Problem is some of ya'll have been working for the company for decades and have no clue what a $hitty job is. I'm thankful every day i got the interview to get in years ago.
If you want to make a change, up your skills and look in other directions.
Well said, @mlb+1at69yOJ.