I've worked here for nearly 30 years. On balance, I'm glad we are union. Why? Because we wouldn't be getting paid the amount we get paid, we wouldn't have the benefits we have, and we have (in theory) some protection in our job. On the flip side of all of that, our union is corrupt. Ever since Hoffa was elected, our union has nose-dived in its abilities to represent us. Since Hoffa, the two-state panels are a job death sentence. Since Hoffa, management knows they can virtually ignore our contract and abuse it at will. Since Hoffa, more union executives make more and more money from our dues. If anything, their pay should have been cut drastically. Yet, Hoffa continues to get elected...It defies logic, but it is what it is.
Having said all that, what is our option? It is way to easy to just say, "Get rid of the union." but that isn't thinking the issue through. However bad or corrupt our union is, it is still within our abilities to correct the problem. So we would only be cutting our throat by getting rid of the Teamsters. Just because a government is broken or ill doesn't mean anarchy is the solution. If we lost our union, UPS would start chopping us apart. Our wages would drop, our benefits and pensions would fade, and we would be run into the ground.
The way our government (esp. with our conservative Supreme Court) is molded around the corporate hand, the union--however pathetic it is--is our only hope. Don't like it? Then get involved to make a change...No, it's not easy, but that is the only answer.
