I feel like my union has been outsourced.

[INdemo]

As a member of a trade union we normally have access to our local union for jobs outlook etc. We are dispatched for those jobs as they become available through local contractors that are a party to the local union agreement.
..Well all that has changed.The human element for contact has disappeared. Where as before we were able to talk to our local union rep we now are connected to a computer and only after we punch in a security pin number.I have been a union member for oh gosh for 28 years and this is the first time in my life that I feel we have been outsourced. If you live in the Midwest and are a member of a trades union you can understand what I mean.No more adding your name to work list in another local even if you are willing to travel,computer wont let you do it. Its BS. Its called Mix 20/20 and it appears to be the hair brained idea of our fearless leaders that have never picked up a tool in their life or have done any manual labor. Yet they can come up with these idiot ideas that actually takes the human element out of our union representation. We haven't been able to vote these idiots out because they are appointed by a group of delegates that are basically appointed. I understand that outsourcing has been a big part of job loss for the last 10 years or so but never in my wildest dreams did I think they would outsource my union.

[Omaha Steve]

1. If they never did this kind of work

How did they get elected? Next step is vote them out!

[tinkerbell41]

2. IBEW????

If so, there will be a march on International Headquarters, in April. I cannot remember the date.

[INdemo]

5. No ..Millwright union, a division of U B of Carpenters

We dont elect our leaders directly. We elect delegates then they in turn attend the conventions and vote after having unbelievable pressure put on them. Then the State or National leaders appoint local officials.
I work around IBEW members a lot and they are one of the few trade unions that still elect their officials by the general membership. That's how it use to be with us. And I believe it was much better representation then.
Oh well I was just venting knowing that somewhere in the crowd there would be other union members that would read my post and know where I'm coming from

[old mark]

3. I was an AFSCME steward, and I found the union talked a great fight, but

really stood for going along to get along and peace at any price. They were slow to respond to grievances but very prompt to deduct dues. They acted very much like a company union in many respects, and I was not very happy with them.I know we were better off with them, but they could have been so much more aggressive in protecting workers. And my experiences with other unions has been worse in some cases.

mark

[Omaha Steve]

4. I'm AFSCME Local 251

My local filed a grievance when I was fired illegally in retaliation for filing an ADA complaint Feb. 07. They spent over $5,000 in legal fees to get me reinstated with back pay and benefits. I paid my back dues of about $200.

A union is only as good as the effort the members put into it. Dues alone isn't enough.

When I was fired in 1980 the GAU fought my case and I won that. Twice in one life a union has saved my job. It took three and 1/2 years to get through the system. Now it takes 8-12 to go that route.

NLRB case file: http://www.nlrb.gov/shared_files/Board%20Decisions/261/261-38.pdf

After this decision I had to wait on the US Court of appeals in St. Louis to uphold the decision.

[old mark]

6. I think our area is just way too comfortable with the State - it was for state

workers in various jobs in the Philly PA area, and some locals are tigers and some are not.

Ours was not.

mark