Lisa writes:
>I think you showed that Kevin doesnt have a clue that people can be critical of what the GM strike is about and still have worked intense hours and yes working intense hours is extreme working conditions no matter the job....the body and mind can only take so much and yes construction work is very dangerous.....I shudder when I think of someone working on a bridge or anything that is elevated....
btw, yes I am critical of unions...especially those that make an employee say
sorry I cant change that light bulb
or sorry I cant move that camera
or Hey I am not allowed to plug in that wire so I will just sit here doing nothing
etc etc etc <
Dwight writes:
>and believe me unionized workers make a heck of a lot more money than Many Mann Many blue collared people out there
A heck of a lot more than many is right.
who work, just as hard
If not harder, with a heck of a lot more autocratic, no-recourse-for-the-employee bosses, in many cases.<
Okay, you two have put in your time and earned your "I've been there, done that" badge.
I don't believe that Kevin or I were in any way defending the "pure as fallen snow" nature of some labor unions, or being critical of blue collar workers who find themselves working in an environment where they don't have union representation.
The workplace , whether white collar or blue collar, can be a very difficult and sometimes dehumanizing experience. I think all of us posters and lurkers alike can relate instances where our jobs were not a walk in the park.
The merits or demerits of the GM strike aside, I think both of you (maybe inadvertently) make decent arguments why worker representation (unions or associations) in the workplace may work to democratize the relationship between employer and employee.
I know I'd be pulling for both of you guys to get a lunch break (Lisa) or to eat a non-frozen meal (Dwight):)
I know from your aforementioned difficult personal work experiences, that both of you are not attacking the concept of decent pay and decent working conditions for a decent day's work.
Although there does seem to be something contradictory in what you two are saying.
Lets see if I've got this right?? Because you two have experienced the hardship of gruelling blue collar work, you've come to the conclusion that.
1. Unions are unreasonable
2. Non union workers do not seem to enjoy the benefits (wages, working conditions), that union workers have (abused?).
3. Therefore, we should feel badly for the non-union blue collar workers and criticize the progress (gains) that unionized workers have enjoyed, through collective bargaining, as unreasonable.
BOMBS AWAY!
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