Will i see red cups in break areas this month?
6 replies (most recent on top)
@ozu+1jL8zShl - The thing is you are both correct. I was in the IBEW for a number of years and I've been out for even more and can say there are pros and cons to Union membership. Some Unions do well for their members, others are more like a contracting company that only wants their dues and health/welfare money.
My wife worked for another large multinational company in the fire alarm/sprinkler business. Most of the employees in her branch were non-union, the exception being the sprinkler fitters were union. Roughly 5-6 years ago the fire alarm inspectors organized a vote and voted to unionize. My former IBEW local came in and started formal negotiations with the company. The company stalled and dragged its feet for more than two years. Eventually the IBEW local walked away from the situation. During that time the inspectors did not receive raises and lost all vacation time, sick time, and 401k contributions. Those that had been there long enough to still be part of the pension plan saw their pension frozen the same as if they'd left the company. My wife changed jobs to a competitor while the inspectors were still in limbo. Eventually, they voted to reject the union.
You of course make a valid point, you have no guarantees either, so you kind of have to pick your poison here. Just be sure you go into Unioizing with your eyes open.
Google "red cup rebellion starbucks"
HA, same here, boss said exact same words! There are NO GUARANTEES ! Yep, 100% you are on the RIF list now, as I am, now, ask me if I care!
For those of us that are rather new here, what is a red cup day?
I have generic brochures that can be distributed. Not on company property or time yet. Have a meeting with some folks from intel planned for after thanksgiving.
My boss asked me indirectly about any union organizing here (Phoenix). He said "you know there are no guarantees a union can make since everything has to be negotiated". So I asked him what guarantees do we have right now? Obviously his talking points didn't cover that and he walked away saying he was late for something. I bet I'm now on the RIF list. I wonder if he knows that he was talking to someone who is already expressed interest in helping us engineers get representation?