Mack Trucks, New Union Contract? Options

[Snoopy]

I saw in the paper where Mack and the union were negotiating until the last minute to try to get a new union contract done. Apparently there is a "tentative" agreement. I suppose this has to be voted on by the union?

I don't work at Mack, never have, but I know some folks who did and have heard some stories...

Back in the early 80's a good friend's father worked there. He made ~ $12/hr. as a janitor and my buddy was talking about how much his dad made playing poker that week. I asked if the guys got together after work for poker games and he said no, they got their work done in about 4 hours and then played poker the other 4 hours every day (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) . I was quite shocked that people were getting paid $12/hr (big money in those days) to play poker half-a-day every day. Over the next few years I heard many similar stories but admittedly had not heard much about Mack over the last few years -- until about a month ago. A friend of a friend who was relatively new there was apparently a very ambitious worker and would rather work than goof off. This worker would make their quota in about 4-5 hours and then keep working. Not cool. This worker was yelled at by the "union rep" and had their vehicle seriously vandalized in a way that made it clear they had better stop working so hard. They gave in and now have about 4 hours a day to be bored and goof off. (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

Anyone else know if this kinda stuff is common at Mack -- work requirements so low that you can finish in 4-5 hours and then goof off the rest of the time? If so, how can Mack expect to compete in today's global economy?

[PHISH]

Snoopy, I think this kind of activity is common with many auto workers unions. Personally, I find unions to be useless anymore, and all they do is take your money - and god forbid if you work somewhere and don't want to join the union! Now for those of you who are pro-union, I apologize for stepping on your toes, but not for my statements.

A friend of mine used to work at the GM plant in Martinsburg, and would tell me stories of how the labor workers would climb to the top of these huge shelves that would house car parts. They would fall asleep up there for most of their shift.

Another friend of mine works for a company in Hagerstown (I'm not going to name the company in order to protect the innocent), and when they were turning union, she did not want to join, but received threats in the mail, and someone vandalized her car. Another woman who worked there, who happened to be black, received a phonecall from someone who threatened her and called her racial slurs since she was planning on voting against the union. Needless to say, this scared her very much, and the union got her vote. (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

Why would anyone want to join a group of people who use threat tactics and vandalism to recruit more people to their group? I guess so they can be paid more and work less.

[Snoopy]

Why would anyone want to join a group of people who use threat tactics and vandalism to recruit more people to their group? I guess so they can be paid more and work less.

Wow, Phish, we start the week with similar views on a subject! I like it! (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Yossarian]

I worked at Mack for a short time many years ago, and likewise took my summer job seriously. I was approached by a union rep and "strongly" advised that I was working too hard and to slow down.

This has gone on at Mack (and I'm sure other businesses controlled by Unions) for a long time. It's really unbelievable, but true, the way the union runs the workers. Mack is also a "closed" shop. Which basically means if you don't belong to the UAW then you don't work there. Mack is run, much like an auto repair facility. You work at 'book rate'. That is, your job is expected to take X number of hours to complete, if you complete it in less time, then you get to goof off.

Some of these unions are well past the purpose for which they were originally created.

I hate unions, and will go out of my way, just to cross a picket line.

[WVU-Mountaineers]

Great work ethic! (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) I guess this is the reason why so many of those jobs are being outsourced to other countries.

[Snoopy]

Great work ethic! (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) I guess this is the reason why so many of those jobs are being outsourced to other countries.

That's an important point, WVU. From what I've heard the union worlers are working at about 50% capacity, and making on average $23/hr + great benefits doing it. How can you compete against the world doing this?

And who will be crying, yelling, and screaming if some of the work gets sent overseas? The union, trying to paint Mack as "un-American" for outsourcing work. IMO it's the union who is acting un-American here. (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

To be clear, I think there was definitely a need for unions once upon a time in the US, and they performed a critical role, but they let the pendulum swing too far to the other side and now in most cases are causing many more problems than they solve.

And if Mack does have a layoff in the future I'll bet the response from other employers will be the same as it was back in the 80's -- don't hire those ex-Mack people because they aren't used to working and will run back as soon as they get a call back. Sad.

[samy0]

Lets see if I have this right. Great pay and little work? Does anyone have the # for the union rep? (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I have been in the sheet metal union and steam engineers union and the only thing I ever got for my dues was a newsletter every quarter.
Some unions still serve a purpose but a majority of them are useless and do nothing for the worker except take their dues.

[Snoopy]

I have been in the sheet metal union and steam engineers union and the only thing I ever got for my dues was a newsletter every quarter.

See! I don't get a newsletter from my employer! Maybe unions are the way to go.... (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[Yossarian]

See! I don't get a newsletter from my employer! Maybe unions are the way to go.... (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

::stuffing Snoopy's mail back into the mailbox:: (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Snoopy]

See!  I don't get a newsletter from my employer!  Maybe unions are the way to go....  (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)   (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

::stuffing Snoopy's mail back into the mailbox:: (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

(IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) You can keep the bills, though!

[mstubble]

"A friend of mine used to work at the GM plant in Martinsburg, and would tell me stories of how the labor workers would climb to the top of these huge shelves that would house car parts. They would fall asleep up there for most of their shift. "

I guy I work with told me the same thing. His father worked at GM and he worked there during the summers during college.

I worked at MACK about 11 years ago, but I wasn't UNION. I didn't see any goofing off, but I didn't go out on the factory floor that much.

[Snoopy]

"A friend of mine used to work at the GM plant in Martinsburg, and would tell me stories of how the labor workers would climb to the top of these huge shelves that would house car parts. They would fall asleep up there for most of their shift. "

I guy I work with told me the same thing. His father worked at GM and he worked there during the summers during college.

Allowing this kinda stuff to take place hurts the country, IMO. The unions should be ashamed, but obviously aren't. (IMG:http://www.herald-mail.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) And they have become so politically powerful (using all that dues money for their cause whether the employees want it that way or not) that politicians are afraid to speak-out and tell the truth.

I'm sure there are some fair unions out there, but these auto workers' unions and some others I have heard of are awful.

[WVU-Mountaineers]

Do you have to join the union in Maryland, meaning is it a right to work state?

[Guest_Observer_*]

Do you have to join the union in Maryland, meaning is it a right to work state?

Virginia is a right to work state but Maryland is not.

[Guest_Observer_*]

Do some of you people really believe, that without union representation, that you would have health insurance, life insurance, dental, etc? Paid holidays, paid vacations, legal representation? Many moan that all they get is a newsletter but how many have actually tried to access the benifits of a union? How do you think that you got these things in the first place? Do you think that private enterprise is going to hand these benifits to you without some kind of previous negotation