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Old 12-22-2008, 06:37 PM   #98
HOZ
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch View Post
While Unions had their uses up to a generation ago, I don't really see the use of them in the day and age of dedicated labor lawyers, labor standards organization and corporate retention strategies based around retaining people who are worth retaining.

Unions have taken the position on not working with the organizations that their members work for, but practically killing the goose that laid the golden age through threat of strikes.

The UAW and CAW have practically on their own been responsible for pricing North American cars out of the competitive market. Yes absolutely management practices for the big three have contributed to killing these companies as well, but and especially with the CAW when they've decided that they don't have to take some responsibility and rally with the companies to save these jobs it becomes a bit on the stupid side.

Yes the CEO's and management have to forgo salaries and bonuses to get the bailouts, but the Unions are going to have to come to terms with pay cuts and layoffs and if they decide not to do this then the car companies will die.

The Canada Post action is another ridiculous example of Unions out of control.

To me, the best solution was the Reagan solution around the Air Traffic Controllers.
I am going to disagree with your first paragraph. Unions are as needed today as they were in the past. There are companies that would quickly return workers to the level of slave labourers if they could. I have been on both sides of this issue. Been Union and been management and I have seen both dick each other around.

That said, Unions needs to modernize. It is not longer early 20th century. Union need to be flexible and work with management. A good union should be able to work with the company to produce a safe, equitable environment all the while keeping working standards high. UAW and CAW are not these kinds of unions. 
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