Future of Unions?

[undies]

this is good news but in the last 30 years unions have dropped from 20 sum% of the workforce to only around 11% of the total work force now. This is a very bad trend.

Just curious. Is the percentage reflective of the increase of total workers in those 30 years?

 

[Inthegame]

Just curious. Is the percentage reflective of the increase of total workers in those 30 years?

Well...the Teamsters used to have 2.5 million members. They're now below 1.3 million. You figure it out...

 

[PT Car Washer]

Used to be a truck did not move unless it was driven by a Teamster and loaded by a Teamster.

 

[UPSmechanicinblue]

Just curious. Is the percentage reflective of the increase of total workers in those 30 years?

Very good point, cannot answer that but hope the answer doesn't make it so gloomy

 

[UPSmechanicinblue]

very good article but very lengthy on unions past present and future

https://prospect.org/article/if-labor-dies-whats-next

 

[reginald95]

In my building twilight sort I always see supervisors working unloading trucks. When I bring this up to the par timers they always say "I don't care man I just want to get out of here as fast as I can."

 

[box_beeyotch]

In my building twilight sort I always see supervisors working unloading trucks. When I bring this up to the par timers they always say "I don't care man I just want to get out of here as fast as I can."

That is 100 percent the problem. Wrong mentality and sadly the mentality of my whole generation.

 

[Shep92]

2 words.......Term Limits

 

[Inthegame]

2 words.......Term Limits

2 words.....get involved

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

3 words---right to work.

 

[HBGPreloader]

That is 100 percent the problem. Wrong mentality and sadly the mentality of my whole generation.

Sadly, this attitude spans generations at our hub.
Most of the part-timers, myself included, are always looking to get sent home early. I do have a career outside of UPS though.
And, the full-timers - many former drivers - just want to work their 8 hours and coast towards retirement.

 

[Gabba]

it's not going to get better until things get much worse. there are way too many people that would rather tear down their neighbor than see him brought up to their level. that competitive mentality that says "well i'm making more than minimum wage why raise it, then i'll be at the same level as people at the bottom". "middle class" used as a euphemism for working class, as if working class is something to be ashamed of.

 

[rickyb]

unions may get worse as they have been since wwII or they may suddenly get better like during the great depression

 

[Ron Carey lives on]

Unions have many enemies, RTW politicians, Corporate Greed and just for lack of a better words the " me generation". So many young workers with no since of history. A union resurgence depends on enthusiastic, selfless, brave and charismatic new leaders willing to fight

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[Ron Carey lives on]

Personally speaking as a 3rd generation union worker. Collective Bargaining is only second to our faith. My nieces, my uncles,cousins, sister and my children know how blessed we all are to have union wages bring all of us into the middle class. I know personally that Union families are great Americans and contribute so much to the American Dream

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[box_beeyotch]

Personally speaking as a 3rd generation union worker. Collective Bargaining is only second to our faith. My nieces, my uncles,cousins, sister and my children know how blessed we all are to have union wages bring all of us into the middle class. I know personally that Union families are great Americans and contribute so much to the American Dream

Sent using BrownCafe App

Union workers were once the definition of the American dream.

 

[Box Ox]

In my building twilight sort I always see supervisors working unloading trucks. When I bring this up to the par timers they always say "I don't care man I just want to get out of here as fast as I can."

I imagine at my center part timers would be more eager to work if the box/item weight limit hadn't been raised to 150 pounds in recent years. Nobody wants to stick around for an end to end bulk stop of 100+ pounders while the belt is raining on all of their cars.

 

[Box Ox]

That is 100 percent the problem. Wrong mentality and sadly the mentality of my whole generation.

Think we also need to consider the changing conditions our generation works under.

 

[EmraldArcher]

UPS is making very calculated moves in collective bargaining and investments in technology with the ultimate goal of breaking the union.

Orion is the most obvious example of this, the optimum implementation of the system will take enough human dependence out of the system that anyone with minimal training can complete a route. Once enough dependence on route knowledge, decision making etc. is taken out of the system, UPS will be able to handle a strike much more easily.

It's not robots we have to worry about taking our job, it's people with rudimentary training relying on technology.

 

[Browntown2014]

UPS is making very calculated moves in collective bargaining and investments in technology with the ultimate goal of breaking the union.

Orion is the most obvious example of this, the optimum implementation of the system will take enough human dependence out of the system that anyone with minimal training can complete a route. Once enough dependence on route knowledge, decision making etc. is taken out of the system, UPS will be able to handle a strike much more easily.

It's not robots we have to worry about taking our job, it's people with rudimentary training relying on technology.

Orion makes it harder for a new driver to run a route not easier.