Labor Day 2014
About fifty years ago almost 35% of the workforce were union members. Now, about 11% of the workforce are union members. In the private sector only about 7% of the workforce is unionized and there is a question about whether or not unions are relevant at all these days.
I worked in the public sector and benefited from the unions that were spread through out government there is no doubt. As a mid level supervisor I did not get the perks of my bosses and I did not have all the protections of the folks I supervised. Shortly before I left the County where I worked the mid level supervisors were trying to organize a union. For about 2/3 of my career pay rates were capped, promotional opportunities were limited, opening required special approval to be filled, and there were ongoing reorganizations, where folks were reassigned or just quit in frustration. It became chic to hire non profits to do the work of county employees. Cheaper, yes, but getting the work done properly did not change
One of the more distasteful aspects of the jobs was working through the disciplinary process for workers that showed up late, left early, and in a few cases spent time on things other interests when they should have been serving the public. Everyone thought they were excellent employees when more than a few were average and some should never have been hired.
Being away from this dance for a while, I doubt the disciplinary issues are much different today than they were back then, but I am concerned about forces above and beyond worker's control. I'm sure folks take work home and there are productivity issues that get passed on throughout the system and staffing levels never get adjusted or if they do sometimes square pegs get hammered into round holes.
I guess the only place unions have any clout if that is the right term are in jobs that can't be exported to somewhere cheaper. Think of medical tourism and we are even trying to outsource joint replacements and cosmetic surgery.
This morning I thought I might look for a new pair of shoes, I bought the last pair at Walmart.
With a little Shoe Goo, I can probably hold out another few weeks.
I worked in the public sector and benefited from the unions that were spread through out government there is no doubt. As a mid level supervisor I did not get the perks of my bosses and I did not have all the protections of the folks I supervised. Shortly before I left the County where I worked the mid level supervisors were trying to organize a union. For about 2/3 of my career pay rates were capped, promotional opportunities were limited, opening required special approval to be filled, and there were ongoing reorganizations, where folks were reassigned or just quit in frustration. It became chic to hire non profits to do the work of county employees. Cheaper, yes, but getting the work done properly did not change
One of the more distasteful aspects of the jobs was working through the disciplinary process for workers that showed up late, left early, and in a few cases spent time on things other interests when they should have been serving the public. Everyone thought they were excellent employees when more than a few were average and some should never have been hired.
Being away from this dance for a while, I doubt the disciplinary issues are much different today than they were back then, but I am concerned about forces above and beyond worker's control. I'm sure folks take work home and there are productivity issues that get passed on throughout the system and staffing levels never get adjusted or if they do sometimes square pegs get hammered into round holes.
I guess the only place unions have any clout if that is the right term are in jobs that can't be exported to somewhere cheaper. Think of medical tourism and we are even trying to outsource joint replacements and cosmetic surgery.
This morning I thought I might look for a new pair of shoes, I bought the last pair at Walmart.
With a little Shoe Goo, I can probably hold out another few weeks.
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