This may sound simplistic, but it's true: The way to get the worker to "run through the wall" is to treat him or her with respect, fairness and a little compassion now and then. Then he or she will indeed give you 100 percent. The missing ingredient at too many places of employment is good management. There has been such an emphasis over the past decade on the bottom line that other, just-as-important factors have been overlooked. And now, in the present job market, more companies are realizing that they need to do more to attract and keep skilled workers. But where are these skilled, creative managers with excellent people skills to take them to the next level? Nowhere to be found, all too often.
It's extremely difficult to generalize about labor unions anymore. There are bad ones, good ones, big ones, little ones, strong locals, apathetic locals, etc. Every once in a while we call the international for help with a problem, but for the most part, we solve stuff one-on-one with management. Sometimes the issue goes to arbitration; usually not. The worse situation, in my opinion, is where the leader of the union local is too cozy with management. I'd rather have a few scraps than none at all. |
