Hi, I got the job as a permanent package handler and have a few questions. One is about signing up for the Union. Is the union worth it? What does signing with the Union offer? How much money will they take out? Secondly, I'm working the midnight shift. I get to chose between loader and unloader. For someone who's not in good fitness shape at the time, which of the two would it be least tough to adapt to physically starting off? I have to decide on the two topics by tomorrow so any help/tips would be appreciated. Thanks for the help.
Regarding union: I was hired as a peak employee and hired on perm in January. I was told the union rep would let me know when I could join. I was approached by the shop steward with paper work sometime in February maybe. I had to pay 205.00 initiation fee up-front. I was told joining the union was non-negotiable. I was told if I did not join, I would probably be pressured into quitting or fired. The last time I worked in a union shop was for AT&T over 25 years ago. I was in a closed shop which meant you were a member and had to pay dues whether you participated or not. I assumed I was again in a closed shop. Union dues of 21.00 a month are taken out of my paycheck, usually the third week. Union membership was sold to me because of the benefits, health and life etc.. I already have very good health insurance through my wife so that was not an issue really for me.
Now.. Where I get peeved about all this: Back dues were taken out of my pay dating back to my initial (temp) hire date of October 2011. None of the union rights were afforded me during that time, but four months later I had to pay for four months of union membership. I would only get benefit coverage if I worked a certain number of hours for each quarter. If I did not work those hours, no coverage. I would need to average apx 17.5 hours a week, or the so called guaranteed 3.5 hours a night in order to get those benefit coverages. I am lucky if I get ten hours a week at my shop.