PhatPattheRiverRat
Well-Known Member
Mods: Move to Union Issues if applicable.
I'm the kind of person who gets obsessed with a certain topic and fixates on it—I read everything I can get my hands on, and I mean everything. Lately, I have become really interested in the Teamsters and the history of labor relations between the Union and UPS.
Over the last few weeks here, read over past contracts, read all about Hoffa Sr/Jr., about Ron Carey and his strikes which led to the 97 contract victory (is this still seen one of the best contract victories ever?), and subsequent downfall. Hell, I even read back to the button disputes that took place in Chicago, which led to a battle with UPS banning button wearing and a Teamster response.
At work the other day, I was discussing some of the stuff I read with a few coworkers, asking them how they viewed the union. I was met with shrugs and a bit of head scratching. Sure, we aren't fulltimers, just p/t scrubs, but no one seems to care. Even my friends who are fulltime seem impressed and dumbfounded with what I know...because they didn't care to read or learn.
I think it is important to know about the past, to know what worked and what didn't—that is the only way the union will ever work for all of us, or benefit us like it could in the future. Am I wrong and naive? How do you guys view the union, and do your coworkers care about it? People sacrificed a ton in the past to make it stronger, seems almost disrespectful to pretend it doesn't exist as a fulltime member.
I'm the kind of person who gets obsessed with a certain topic and fixates on it—I read everything I can get my hands on, and I mean everything. Lately, I have become really interested in the Teamsters and the history of labor relations between the Union and UPS.
Over the last few weeks here, read over past contracts, read all about Hoffa Sr/Jr., about Ron Carey and his strikes which led to the 97 contract victory (is this still seen one of the best contract victories ever?), and subsequent downfall. Hell, I even read back to the button disputes that took place in Chicago, which led to a battle with UPS banning button wearing and a Teamster response.
At work the other day, I was discussing some of the stuff I read with a few coworkers, asking them how they viewed the union. I was met with shrugs and a bit of head scratching. Sure, we aren't fulltimers, just p/t scrubs, but no one seems to care. Even my friends who are fulltime seem impressed and dumbfounded with what I know...because they didn't care to read or learn.
I think it is important to know about the past, to know what worked and what didn't—that is the only way the union will ever work for all of us, or benefit us like it could in the future. Am I wrong and naive? How do you guys view the union, and do your coworkers care about it? People sacrificed a ton in the past to make it stronger, seems almost disrespectful to pretend it doesn't exist as a fulltime member.