I was anti-union before I joined one. But at the same time, I had endured low-paying jobs, being d*cked around, laid off because so 'n so was the boss's brother-in-law. And it didn't matter if he was the sorriest worker in the world, either In these jobs, there was no such thing as seniority: you did whatever they told you to. If you got called for jury duty, it was on YOUR dime. Making about $3.00 an hour at the time, being called for jury duty was devastating to lose a whole week's pay. The last stupid little p*ss-ant job I had (after being laid off at a textile metal shop, they ran me ragged, jerked me around, too. This was a salaried job, but...........................you worked so many hours, drove so many miles, benefits were so low, that they had to kick in $$ to make it equal minimum wage!!! The day I walked onto the railroad property, I
doubled my pay! And THAT was at the apprentice rate!!! As the step-rates and qualifying days kicked in along with the benefits, it doubled again within the first 5 years! As I built up seniority, people retired, quit (rare), went out on disability. layoffs became farther and farther behind me. It was the NEW guy instead of ME getting sent home rather than politics and 'connections' determining who was furloughed first.
I know, there's things I don't like about unions. But OTH, conditions on the railroad would be MUCH worse without them. It was that union job that allowed me to own a home instead of a clapboard shanty, give my family a decent living standard, get me an occasional new Chevy. I get really tired of hearing people who never worked in a union shop trashing them when they don't know what they are talking about!
I'm not a flamin' liberal nor on the extreme left, but I believe in workers being able to barter their labor for a decent wage and working conditions. Lord knows, the railroad has one of the worst relationships with its employees in any industry (that I know of). Outsiders would be surprised to know that the union is NOT all "featherbedders" and slackers--people drawing a high salary for doing nothing. THAT is NOT true! Furthermore, most railroaders are conscientious, hard workers who take their jobs VERY seriously--even exhibit a certain loyalty to their respective company despite ill treatment and the politics and intimidation that *some* supervisors* use. The number of slackers and suck-ups are no more than you find anywhere else. Even now, despite ill treatment by *some* within MY railroad, if I see a dangerous condition and a hazard out there on the RoW, I will try to stop it. You don't *really* stop being a railroader even when you retire; it is ingrained. I don't want to see any of my railroad brothers hurt.
The original poster WILL eventually come to appreciate his union brothers sooner than he thinks! Take it from those of us who KNOW!
GF