Auto manufacturer bailout...

[Groundbeef]

Why does it bother me that unionized government worker receives a lot more remuneration than non-unionized, non-goverment worker? Should be obvious: citizens ought to get the best possible value for their tax money. And it's just not going to happen that all the non-unionized workers, the large majority, are going to see their pay catch up with union members' any time soon.

Apology accepted.

Now a response:

Your highlighted response is most galling. Who are you to decide "best possible value for their tax money?" What does that mean exactly? Perhaps it would be best if all civil servents were paid $1 UNDER minimum wage. That would be a great value! In fact, why pay civil servents at all? Maybe institute slave labor. Then we wouldn't even need to pay them.


I am non-union. My current position hasn't seen a pay increase in over 5 years. So, although I am thankful for my job in this economy, it sure has sucked that the people I work with haven't seen an increase in 5 years.

However, the union workers have seen on average a 2.5% raise per year. Does that make me hate the union? No, it makes me want to JOIN a union.

[Feanor]

Apology accepted.
...
I am non-union. My current position hasn't seen a pay increase in over 5 years. So, although I am thankful for my job in this economy, it sure has sucked that the people I work with haven't seen an increase in 5 years. ...

You've got me beat: it's been at least 7 years since I got a pay increase. In fact my cash income as actually declined because I was getting a small bonuses until about 5 years ago, now I get none. This represents about a 25+% reduction in my real income.

...
However, the union workers have seen on average a 2.5% raise per year. Does that make me hate the union? No, it makes me want to JOIN a union.

So go for it ... or could it be that you have no opportunity to land a union job??

[Groundbeef]

So go for it ... or could it be that you have no opportunity to land a union job??

Unfortunatly, it's not that easy. More and more professional jobs in the State are going Union. However, I am in one of the few offices that it couldn't/wouldn't happen in. Many of the "professional" jobs have gone though.

Right now I'm just grateful to have a job.

Like I said, I'm not in a union. And I'm not blind to some of the excesses/lagress that Union Shops (large national unions) have engaged in. However, I am not going to lay the blame at the foot of the worker. Just because private industry sometimes pays less than union shops, that doesn't make it "right" or "correct". It may just be a function of the economy (IE, I REALLY need a job, so I'll work for less than the job is worth)