Problems with Unions – A Facebook Rant
Below is a post I made on Facebook on my problems with unions. It started because I found that the Bartenders 165 Union in Las Vegas posts on their website the names of everyone in their union who don’t pay dues.
“Let them know you do not appreciate them freeloading” sound like “heckle them for their money, please” to me.
I feel especially bad for those who were in my position – they already had the job before the union came in. Or, if they don’t want to be a part of the union, why should that even matter? Maybe this isn’t a free country after all.
Begin Facebook Rant
Ok, it’s bad enough that these people were forced to work with this union if they wanted to keep their jobs or work at a certain place. Now, the bartenders union is posting their names publicly and calling for their members to heckle them? Not too mention that wonderful picture of a “Scab”.
I remember one time when I was a luggage attendant and a bunch of bellpersons wanted to talk about the union. There were literally at least 5 bellpersons having a meeting in the back room while another luggage attendant and I helped guests with their bags, something we weren’t suppose to be doing.
This was a regular occurrence – improvised union meetings for questions during work hours. Even when it was busy.
That doesn’t matter. Nobody cares. Just like when there was a vote for the union and NO ONE TOLD ME ABOUT IT. Yeah, that’s fair.
I wonder if I was on a list because I wasn’t paying dues (I know I was on some list because the union came at me wondering why I wasn’t paying dues). Is this why when I complained about a union member who stole from me, lied, was extremely lazy, and was very rude to guests, the only person kind of affiliated with the union came to me and basically said, “You just need to forget all of your problems with that person and get over it. I don’t even want to hear your side of the story.”
Fighting Destined to Lose
Essentially, it was a fight I wasn’t going to win. But that was mainly because I was afraid of the union and all of its “might”. I didn’t want to go to my car and find the tires slashed.
People wonder why I quit my job with nothing lined up. It was because if I had to stand in that place for one more minute, a lot of things would’ve been said that probably would’ve landed me in a lot of trouble. All it would’ve been was me telling the truth. But, at the time, I was exactly what the union wanted; fear-stricken. One of the many problems with unions.
And the union got exactly what they wanted – me out of there so they could hire some new non-scab to get their easy monthly dues who had even an EASIER job than I had! Why does a job that pays too much to put bags on shelves require a mob?
No Means No!
And that day when my co-workers REPEATEDLY told me I needed to go sign up for Culinary health benefits. I told them I didn’t want them. Every single one of them asked, “Why?” Like it was somehow their business to know why.
Then, I realized why they were asking when they finally annoyed me to the point of going to the union table (they wanted my money, of course). I told them I don’t want their benefits. They handed me a card to sign that said, “YES!” but no option for “No”.
I asked for the “No” card. The only response I got was “You have to sign this.” Literally, I was told that at least 5 times (it was the only thing the union reps would say to me) before the “boss” or whoever came and talked to me.
This lady asked me “Is this your first casino?” Like that has any bearing AT ALL on the situation! Yes, it was, and I was being paid WAY too much for the EASY EASY EASY job I had, I had an hour paid lunch break AND free lunch, I could get like 65% off Marriott hotels, and my uniforms were provided and cleaned for me. Not to mention I was also making tips!
Problems with Unions – Seniority
If you wanted more pay, go to another hotel that paid more! Why is that so hard to figure out? Oh yeah, because you would lose seniority, and we couldn’t dare have someone lose their precious seniority because it was the only thing that made that person better than other people.
Because it was totally right to have other luggage attendants promoted because they were more senior than me or other more deserving individuals (there is no individualism in a union, just as there is no individualism in Communism).
Seniority is a defective construct created by those who got bitter and lazy over time.
Not Sweeter than Chocolate
I also remember the time when I was strong-armed into voting against to having delivering chocolates. When I was asked for my vote on it, I was leaning on keeping the chocolates. It was easy. I took chocolates to a guest because the hotel probably messed up in someway.
Oh man. I was told that I was the only one even thinking about keeping them, and almost everyone else had already voted. Then I was told the vote had to be unanimous. Maybe I had only delivered a handful of chocolates, so the atrocity and genocidal feeling of not getting tipped for them only burdened me a handful of times.
Here’s the deal though. Delivering chocolates to a guest took less than 5 minutes (hard on my time) and I had to walk (hard on my legs) a short distance (hard on my body) carrying a box of chocolates (hard on my arms) and deliver the chocolates to a guest (hard on my pride) that probably didn’t tip (hard on my life).
Unfortunately, I was afraid of unions at the time, so I voted yes. Even if it wasn’t unanimous, what if I had been the only “No” vote? Would I be considered a scab?
Nonsensical
Don’t even get me started on why security didn’t take keys up for guests when they let guests into their rooms. It’s because I don’t want to talk about things that make sense.
I also remember a guy that was on the work schedule months and months. Why was the union even bothering trying to keep his job? That guy was hardly at work anyways.
Screw unions. Too many problems with Unions. Mob organizations that use fear and bribery to get what they want (no wonder their best friend is the government – I would sooner wipe my butt with the Wagner Act than take my socks off after a 12 mile road march for the Expert Infantry Badge).
You don’t like where you work? Get a different job, don’t hire the mob to fix your problem. Be an adult and fix your problem yourself.
Relative Pay
It’s a shame I couldn’t ask for a raise because then everyone else would have to get one. Relative pay is more important to me (and I’m sure most hardworking people) than any other pay, but a union can’t incentivize relative pay.
Would have I loved being paid more than someone who was on their cell phone, in the bathroom for 20 minutes multiple times a day, called in frequently, constantly hiding, coming back from breaks late, or not being proactive? The answer is yes.
Relative pay is important, but you can’t tell that to someone who doesn’t work.
I’ve been in 2 unions. Third time won’t be a charm because there won’t be a third time.
*****
In what ways do you think I’m wrong or right? Let me know!
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