Union To Strike To Protect Buggy Whip Jobs ;-)

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   GA Andersonposted 7 months ago

   Okay, the title is a bit cute. But, it covers the concept and John Stossel is on a roll with this one.
   
   The  International Longshoremen's Union will strike to prohibit automation—aka progress.
   
   To hear folks talk, and everyone knows it true, you can't stop progress.
   
   Everyone except this union leader who is willing to damage the U.S. economy trying.
   
   
   
   GA

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      Sharlee01posted 7 months agoin reply to this

      I completely agree—trying to stop automation is like fighting against the tide. Progress is inevitable. Here is a slight debate ----While trying to stop automation is indeed like fighting against the tide, it’s worth considering the lessons we learned from NAFTA. Although NOT the same situation, NAFTA’s impact on manufacturing jobs led to a significant downturn in certain industries and local economies. Similarly, the transition to automation could cause short-term job losses and economic disruptions in specific sectors. However, instead of resisting change altogether, unions and industries should focus on adapting by investing in retraining programs and creating pathways for workers to transition into new roles. Progress is inevitable, but how we manage it makes all the difference.
      
      PS: Gotta give credit where it's due—I think your thread is one in a million that won’t get derailed into a “let’s trash Trump” discussion!

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   wildernessposted 7 months ago

   This is hardly surprising, for unions are not there to care for the country or the people.  Only those that pay to keep union leaders in office.
   
   Unions exist ONLY because they are able to leverage higher wages than surrounding people can get.  If those around them earned as much or more unions would not exist at all.  They must either get those higher wages or there is no reason to join a union (except those areas that unions have convinced lawmakers to make it illegal NOT to join), and without a reason people won't join.  It isn't the Elk's club, after all.

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      Sharlee01posted 7 months agoin reply to this

      It’s important to note that union members contribute by paying union dues, which help fund the services and benefits they receive. These dues go toward supporting collective bargaining, providing legal representation, and ensuring the wide range of benefits like health insurance, pensions, and job protections that unions offer. While some might not fully realize it, the dues are a significant part of how unions can deliver these services and maintain their bargaining power. It’s not a free ride—union members invest in their own future through these dues, which help sustain the resources that support them and their families. I am naturally biased.
      
      I feel incredibly fortunate to have benefited from all the great advantages that came with being in the union. Thanks to the union, we were able to send both of our children to excellent universities without taking out any loans, and now they’re out there thriving in the world. With thoughtful planning, and hard work from my husband, as well as me, we are enjoying a comfortable retirement. The support the union provided helped make all this possible.  I’m grateful for the stability and opportunities it helped create for our family.
      
      I can see the point that some unions don’t always promote progress, especially when it comes to adapting to new technologies or changing work environments. However, in the end, it’s the company that has the power to push progress forward. In the auto industry, for example, progress wasn’t an issue. Unions played a vital role in ensuring that workers were compensated fairly while the industry continued to evolve and grow. The key is that both the company and the union can work together to support innovation and progress, as long as the workers’ rights and well-being are protected. Union membership doesn’t have to be an obstacle to progress—it can actually provide stability during times of change, allowing companies and workers to grow together.

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         wildernessposted 7 months agoin reply to this

         That was the point; that if unions do not provide higher wages than the "normal" job then there is no reason for members to pay the dues and keep the union operating.
         
         Unions must, therefore, provide a benefit, in the form of higher wages.  This benefit is paid for by the rest of the people (companies will not simply swallow the extra cost, which is very often more than their entire profit).  The only conclusion, then, is that while unions will say different, they don't care for the nation or it's people.  Only those that provide a living for Union VIP's with their dues.
         
         (Sorry, Shar, but I've been involved with the union several times in my life, and not a single time was pleasant.  I am not a fan of unions the law gives excessive power to - IMO the "right to work" states have it right.)

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            Sharlee01posted 7 months agoin reply to this

            I do understand and appreciate your points. I can't comment on what the unions do internally, so I trust your knowledge. I think Motown has been pro-union for so long, that we have perhaps become biased.

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               wildernessposted 7 months agoin reply to this

               I think that (bias) is absolutely correct.

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