Epiphany: Electrical Union Realizes Its Labor May be Too Expensive
- Posted on October 4, 2010 at 8:47am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
When an electrical workers union realized it was losing work because of the high cost of its labor, it decided to do something about it: introduce cheaper laborers that don’t have to complete normal (and expensive) union requirements.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is hoping to become more appealing to businesses by hiring workers that are cheaper to train, and thus cheaper for customers to employ.
Chicago Union News explains the move:
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers plans to add a new classification of workers who will not be required to complete the union’s standard training program and, as a result, will receive less pay than many card-holding electricians. …
Typically, union electricians must finish a five-year apprenticeship program -– 8,000hours of classroom and on-the-job training –- before they are certified as journeymen.
The extensive training is what usually separates union tradesmen from nonunion. The new grade of workers, who are called construction wiremen or construction electricians, will fall in between apprentices and journeymen in experience.
The mandate is coming from the union’s international leadership, which believes that the union will now be able to capture work that many businesses have farmed out to non-union companies because of costs. But the move has local members in Chicago appalled and upset:
“If you start bringing in workers for 40 percent of what journeymen make, those journeymen are never going back to work,” said a Local 134 member who asked to remain anonymous. “If the contractors can get it done for less money, that’s what they are going to do.”
Business Insider gives a simple reply: “Exactly.”
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 688 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 536 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 455 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 374 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 333 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 300 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 312 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 207 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 301 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 300 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (149)
printdesignchicago.com
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:53ammaybe they can hire some illegals! ;)
Report Post »hamrs_62
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 10:02amthats who taking the brunt of the work
Report Post »phoenixgirl
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:46amlet me see….hire the guy who will work or hire the guy that refuses to work if he doesn’t get the pay he is ENTITLED to and would rather go on unemployment until he gets what he DESERVES……..
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:45amJourneyman leader-yes. Journeyman wire puller. How rediculious. That is like requiring a Masters degree in food prep at McD’s to flip hamburgers.
Report Post »heidi586
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 10:06amThat is just not true! Journeyman…dig trenches by hand for 8hrs when needed-yes they prefer a trencher…who wouldn’t….but when a trencher isn’t around…the work still has to get done, they pull plenty of wire, place boxes, bend conduit. I know many electricians…union and non union…the journeymen I know and associate with all work damn hard. Again…there are bad apples who wouldn’t work hard if they were or were not union.
Report Post »chickenlittle
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 10:31amTo Heidi586… Oldoldtimer is right and you are wrong. I have personal experience with some union shops and can tell you that some jobs, businesses and projects have been shut-down until a “qualified” worker can be found to do a particular job… if it holds up a job, then so be it. I have no fault at all with union workers… for the most part they are good, hardworking people. They may be willing to do what is required for a given job, but if there is a steward or union foreman around to make sure the rules are followed then the job stops cold rather than risk an infraction of union rules. I, too had friends and associates on both sides of the fence on this one and most of the horror stories of union abuse came from the union guys. Remember, many of these workers are forced into unions if they want to work at their profession in their area. How many of these union construction workers will “moonlight” for half their union scale pay if they get the chance?
Report Post »heidi586
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 11:32amChickenlittle: Your truth may be true for where you live….but…I am married to a journeyman who has been forman on many a job. My husband would only “hold up a job” if safety was an issue. My husband has come home caked with mud from digging trenches – he pulls wire – bends conduit – and works in the sub zero temps until his fingers cannot be felt. And he loves every minute of his job! I’m sure locals are different from place to place…I’m speaking for where we live and the experience I know for fact. Where you live it may be different….I know for a fact my husband will be rid of an employee if they don’t give a fair days work(and face grievence charges) rather than hold a job up. Also, holding a job up (losing your employer money) will find you on the bench. Jobs are bid by the hour/man time…hold up a job=money lost. Money lost=job lost.
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 12:44pmHeidi
All the things you just outlined about the job a journeyman does can easily be done by an illegal for cheap. I had my ten year old dig a trench for a gas line the other day. He charged $3.00 and hour and did a great job, and I did not pull a permit (saved $50 and a day) by not having a public employee union member come tell me the pressure gauage looks like it works. The only journey that your man is on is to the trash heap of history. When the unions became part of the ruination of our system they sealed their own fate.
ToledoTea
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:45amI’m not sure why the journeymen are concerned and/or angry. This is simply a redistribution of their wealth. It’s what they voted for, right?
Report Post »OldFlyGuy
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 10:05amGreat point!! Seems they should be feeling real patriotic instead of complaining.
Report Post »Blue_Persuasion
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 10:39pmHehehehe, so true! :D
Report Post »emsawyer
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:45amI’ve been telling these dopey IBEW guys for YEARS that if they keep voting in their $3/hour raises they’re going to price themselves out of the market. They did. Duh. Morons. There’s two locals in my neighborhood. Recently, one local voted for the raise and one did not vote for the raise. Guess which local has working guys?
Plain and simple, the unions CANNOT compete with the non-union workers. CANNOT. Because the union workers want their money and their health and welfare package. Give me a break. How much money are you making now that you‘re laid off and have been laid off for 3 years and there’s still 500 guys ahead of you on the book? How are those union benefits working for you now? How are you managing to pay your $1,100/month health insurance bill?
The only union guys making money now are the thugs and hooligans sitting in the union offices. Legalized organized crime. That’s all it is. They need to go away.
Report Post »dms2262
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:38amSales Pitch From an IBEW International Brotherhood of Electrical workers Union Rep.
“Our Union Electricians cost too much you say?
Report Post »Introducing our bargain basement labor prices!!
A trained professional?
Not exactly.
How about my nephew Cletus?
He installed a car battery once, and he is pretty handy when it comes to changing light bulbs.
Why don’t we lower the prices on our regular electricians?
We can’t do that these guys have union dues to pay you know.”
EqualJustice
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:45amJust do this… like Boxer! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbVI7XgGBnQ
Report Post »Areyoukiddingme
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:35amIn my line of work if it is a “Davis Bacon” (union mandate) job I tell the client that the budgets will come in 30% higher. i have yet to be wrong. Non-union labor can be used but they have to be paid union wages and hours of paperwork has to be filled. Once on the job site the Non-union labor is normally harassed for working past 3pm.
Report Post »SnapTie
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:34amBeing a contractor it’s not easy to use union labor.I have to represent the owner on getting the best quality and cost. What i hate is when i subcontract my work they seen to bring in lots of undocumented workers to do the repetitious work of running the conduit and installing outlets.Then the real electricians show up and install everything to code.
Report Post »tarpon
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:29amDuh, you start with concepts like 1+1=2 and go from there.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:27amHAHAHA They should do what BOXER campaign is doing….
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:34amThey should try what the BOXER campaign is doing! hahaha Hire street corner illegals! (try link instead) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbVI7XgGBnQ
(Why can’t you post an embedded video on this site, I wonder?)
Report Post »heidi586
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:57amThat is exactly what is going to happen. Illegals will be hired. Slave labor that is hurting ALL Americans jobs.
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 12:31pmEqualjustice
Those were the new IBEW workers that the union is hiring. I can’t believe the Boxer campaign would complete for the future worker of the union.
Report Post »conservativeme
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:27amWhen will the labor unions realize that “distribution of wealth” means moving THEIR wealth overseas to cheaper labor – or in this case – within their own union to unskilled labor . . .
Report Post »JStotes
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:26amIt’s not just the Electricians. It’s all the unionized trades. The joke in the merit based world for years has been that IBEW = I’m Broke Every Winter or IBEW = I Barely Ever Work. What goes around, comes around.
Report Post »heidi586
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:41amThat is one of the saddest things about the IBEW….there are some GREAT electricians who work very hard and want to be the best of their trade then you have slackers who fall back on every letter in the contract and won’t bust a sweat to save their soul. The slacker is rewarded the same as the top of the trade. As the saying goes….Bad apples….
Report Post »hamrs_62
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 10:05amapparantly your wrong, if you work you get paid, if you dont work you get fired, there is no union backing for construction,
Report Post »heidi586
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 10:23amHAMRS62: I know first hand how ‘some’ do not do a fair days work for their pay…and YES you are correct that eventually they are let go and replaced…but it isn’t always easy. And when a full crew of hard workers is had my household is a happier place.
Report Post »hamrs_62
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 10:42amin construction,at least where I have worked for the last 32 years, and have been a foreman for the last 22 years, if a guy doesn’t work I fire him, no ifs no ands, or no butts, he is gone, and he cannot retaliate, he just has to go,
Report Post »PunditPawn
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:15amEr, if you can get the job done without journeymen, then you shouldn’t have had them in there in the first place, no matter what they cost. Sick, twisted, destructive union minds in action.
Report Post »sdparker
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:13amWe should be weary of any person, place or thing with “international” attached to the title. As long as there is no law that says I must, no international-based service will ever enter my home. People should be free to decide who to hire and who we can afford. The free market does well to weed out the overly greedy. When the overly greedy runs out of work, they can lower their prices or starve.
Report Post »Will NV
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:12amMarxist Unions are sticking it to their members.
Report Post »Good for them.
Just remember to pay your dues. Aholes.
WILLIAM E.
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:10amDAH… It’s called the Free Market @ work because it works, always has (without government help) & everyone benefits !!!!
Report Post »lwoot
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:10amLOL epiphany yes. Good solution? No! I can understand the Electrician Union members who worked their tail to get Journeyman and Master electrician being pissed. It’s not easy and takes a lot of dedication and hard work to get there. It would seem the the solution would have been for the journeymen to lower their asking price for hourly so they wouldn’t hire less qualified workers to take their place. I personally don’t want someone less qualified doing my electrical. So I wouldn’t be asking any of these companies to do the work for me either.
Report Post »phoenixgirl
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:50ami’m sure they were asked and that they refused and the union was most likely losing so much work they had to do something to stop the bleed………now…..what will the journeymen do? beat up their lower level brothers? or lower their prices? or benefits?
Report Post »WireWizard
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:09amI live and work near Cape Canaveral AFS, I enjoyed the extra pay when we contracted to do work at the base because they were required to pay union rates. One day I make $15 an hour, another day (when working on the contracted project) I’m getting $25 an hour. Same person, same benefits (none), same work.
My brother will soon be out of a job (goodbye space shuttle) and all of the job opportunities available pay him 50% of his current pay. Government work is nice when you can get it, but we have to get back to reality.
Where is John Galt?
Report Post »sunsetdock
Posted on October 5, 2010 at 2:42pmThat says it all WIREWIZARD, just watch “John Galt” unfold
Report Post »nsblues
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:08amAnd this further proves the Union bosses care about the money, not the workers. I for one am shocked at this revelation.
Report Post »Promotefreedom
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 10:26amThis strengthens unions. It grows them. This puts non-union workers out of work; and is incentive to force them into unions. This basically gives low wage jobs to thousands of illegals.
Unions need to be stopped; not grown. Union bosses are about political power, money and greed. …Not the worker.
You need not look any further than Europe for a preview of US coming attractions.
Report Post »hamrs_62
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 10:33amas a union worker I am not shocked it is all about the money for the union leaders, we have worked hard, most of us, to keep our trade professional and keep or work a standard of quality, but thse guys have ruined our name and trade, we compete with all in our field, we do it with hard work, we can not compete if we dont do our job right on time and to the costomers satisfaction, other wise we dont have a job
Report Post »starman70
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 12:56pmTo all the Union workers across America, YOU’VE BEEN HAD!
When the unions were first formed, there was rampant abuse of the workers by the companies they worked for. This is a historical fact. Many companies have now moved jobs out of America and are perpetrating those same abuses on 3rd world workers. That has killed the American labor movement.
But now, the American labor union worker is getting the shaft. The union bosses are only interested in more money, power and of course THEIR exhorbitant salaries. The sooner that ALL union workers in America realize this and revamp their union bosses contracts with their unions, the better it will be for those workers.
Remember, the more you make, the higher your union dues will be. The more you make, the more they can charge you for healthcare plans. The more you make, the more you will contribute to retirement plans that the union bosses administer (of course for a fee). The more you make, the more employers and manufacturers will use cheap labor (Illegal alien) or just move overseas.
Report Post »RobR
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:07amF the unions altogether, just like they are doing to their card carrying members here.
“ We the People ” must start a new campaign of ‘ LOOK FOR THE UNION LABEL ’, just so we know not to purchase those goods or services.
With an F the real America socialist in our White House, we must use every weapon at our disposal to send the message, loud and clear, that radical idea of fundamentally changing America isn’t going to happen……..not now…….not ever……….GOT IT ?
Report Post »Prospero
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 11:33amExactly. No patriotic American should ever willingly purchase a union-made good or service. Why subsidize your own subjugation?
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 1:13pmI see a Union label, I do NOT buy it. I also will NEVER buy a GM product ever again!
Report Post »Ponyexpress
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:04amPart of the training must involve a frontal lobotomy.
Report Post »For the unidentified member of Local 134.. “If the contractors can get it done for less money, that’s what they are going to do.”
Wow.,They trained him well!
Incredible insight !
Waiting4George
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:04amHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!
Report Post »moonpeace
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:02amListen, I am all for quality of work and unions. The problem isn’t union workers, the problem is the union representatives and bosses…and perhaps still a little bit of Mafia influence. They have retirement benefits so high now that it is impossible to pay for them. And the workers have gotten lazy over the years too. They have no fear of losing their jobs because the unions protect them to the end. This is nothing new or a recent occurrance. I remember it getting a full head of steam back as far ago as the 60s.
Report Post »wirenut
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:55amI was a Reaganaut since I was in 6th grade. I am conservative and originalist in both my Bible and my constitution. I am a member of the IBEW. I believe in the original concept of the union being a crafstmen’s association. Moonpeace, you are confusing IBEW journeyman inside wiremen with governement workers and perhaps some utility with huge numbers of emplyees. He works for a contractor, not the union, and must put out both quality and produce in order to keep his job. There is no tenure here. The real problems is seen in the first line of the report – the International mandates way too much and takes away local control. This “solution” described int he post has been tried in many locals and has not delivered more work or market share. Remember, we are negotiating a fair price for our property, which is our trained and qualified crafstmenship. Yes, if we overprice our product, we will pay. But it will not improve the product by relaxing quality of the crafstmen. We have much reform we need to get done in the union movement. But I don’t appreciate the “class envy” of sorts that my conservative brethren express towards those of us who were fighting the fight and taking the abuse of our fellow union memebers while we fought the good fight from within. You really don’t know as much as you think you know, you know? The Gipper was the president of a union and a I think he could be described as a conservative. Why don’t we work together against the real enemies – the statists.
hamrs_62
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:57amNO FEAR OF LOSING THEIR JOB, I don’t know what planet your on but there is no job security with construction, never has been, you either work or your gone, and If my labor is so high why then are still competing with non unions on jobs, I am not a fanatic about union, I don’t see eye to eye with those who run them, I think they are rotten to the core, but we workers if we want to keep our owners in business then we have to to it right the first time and fast to keep the employers making money so they can stay in business, all I ever wanted was to have people make a decent wage for them to have a life, and raise their families, nothing more, nothing less, we dont get rich working for a living, contrary to what some believe,
Report Post »but its not construction workers who have the unions backing them, we work for the companies without representation, just pay the assessments, it the seiu and others who have the backing of unions,
heidi586
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 10:16amThank you wirenut! You said what I have been trying to say – much better :-)
Report Post »letmykidsbfree
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 10:31amYour right… union members have gotten lazy…why wouldn’t they…they no longer “have to fish for themselves” they have become accustomed to feeding off the tit of the union and are now used to “being feed”…this is where people need to back control….Gov’t allows and encourages this to happen…
Report Post »Screw the unions the bosses are criminals…theives…
2Smart2BaLib
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 11:11amYes union workers are good people they just want to work hard and take care of their families like you and me. But if you are a union worker you are in real trouble – you are being screwed by your union bosses. Union bosses could care less about you and they will be happy to replace you with an illegal as long as the illegal pays those union dues. If are a union worker you had better find another way to make a living.
Report Post »Prospero
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 11:32amWirenut asks: “Why don’t we work together against the real enemies – the statists.”
Uh, just in case you aren’t up on current events. The Unions *are* the statists. They are just one branch of the marxist tree.
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 11:33amI am tired of the guys here that say the Unions are alright when it is expediant. They say the problem is the leaders. Well if your preacher was Jeremiah Wright would your stay in the church? You need to leave an organization that typically works against it’s own country and also supports the causes of other union socialist events like One Nation of commies. Start your own Craftsmenship organization if you think improving skill is more important than sacking our way of life. This ain’t your grandpas union or Democrat party anymore.
Report Post »FToth84
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 8:04pmAMEN WIRENUT!!! I am also and IBEW worker and little do many people realize that there is a major difference between Trade Unions and Public Sector Unions. For those who are cheering. I have one question. Do You Receive Paid Vacation or Holiday Pay? I know our answer NO!!!!!!!
Report Post »kaypal
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:58pmColorado already requires 5 years of apprenticship before you can test for a journeymans license. I come from a long line of electricians, I worked in the field and bidding jobs. My dad was in the union for a while and couldn’t wait to get out. They were not there for their people, when he retired he had to fight for his pension. While I do not believe the USA still needs unions with all the Czars, there are many who feel the unions have their backs. Not sure how. The “professors they have teaching their classes are no more qualified than I am. My dad knew more but still had to pay and go to classes.
Report Post »Unions are there for their elite selves, not the workers who have to pay the dues.
Silversmith
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 8:58amUh – Ya think?? Free Market should be free. Charge what the market will bear. Obviously they are overcharging.
Silversmith
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 8:55amTHE FREE MARKET AT WORK IN ALL OF IT’S GLORY!!!! Can I get an Amen! How about an Alleluia! How about hearing the entire Alleluia chorus! Handel, where are you when I need to hear you?
Report Post »mbfrat
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:06amAmen and alleluia!!
Report Post »GulfPeg
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:14amHurray, Hip-Hip-Hurray! High-five!
Report Post »Star Spankled
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:22amJust for you !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76RrdwElnTU
Report Post »Star Spankled
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:27am(trying this again, sorry if it posts twice )
Just for you Wingedwolf !
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76RrdwElnTU
heidi586
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:31amI think there may be a misunderstanding – If this happens, the ‘cheap’ labor hired will still pay dues but will not receieve all the beneifits of ‘regular’ IBEW. This is not the free market at work-it is the white collar sticking it to blue collar. This will be nothing more then slave labor. The talk is much of the work will be going to illegals….This cheap labor will NOT be required to have the education/training the “regular‘ electricans have and in some states they won’t even need to be certified. All you jumping up and down with your AMENS….these people will be union (have union backing) – used by the leaders- not being paid the regular wage and getting NO benefits. This won’t help non-union shops….it opens the door to smaller jobs that the union was priced out of before…they have the work force to do any job and with a lower wage scale can eat up small jobs too. Yes…lets celebrate.
Marylou7
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:38amStar Spangled, THANK YOU!
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 9:47amTo Star Spankled, Thank you, friend! It was just what I needed!!!!!
Report Post »letmykidsbfree
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 10:24amAMEN…..I was wondering when the black and white of math reality was going to sink in for “confused” Americans?
Report Post »CoFX
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 10:26amThis is an excelllent example of what unions will do with immigrants if they get thier way of amnesty. This is why unions are pushing so hard for immigration reform. You draw in all of these new citizens, have them pay dues, offer fewer benefits than journeymen because they are obviously untrained, and offer thier services at a discounted rate. It’s the only way to compete with non-union and still remain unionized. Union workers had better pay attention – if the Union officials are successful in getting amnesty for illegals passed, you will be the ones out of a job.
Report Post »Promotefreedom
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 10:33amThis is NOT free market. This is unions LITERALLY selling out their skilled workers so they can expand the union into the ranks of illegals and force their skilled workers salary and pensions DOWN.
This is just another brutal example of the DECREASING US standard of living.
Report Post »Cynic-clinic
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 11:47amWhat unions fail or refuse to realize is that wages are PRICES, no different than the prices for bananas or the prices of gasoline. In the real world of economics, when bananas get so high in price that people don’t buy them, they subsitute oranges or other fruit and they quit driving as much when gas prices are too high.
Unions seem to think that there is no limit to the price of labor that people will put up with but this story shows that there are limits and unions are doing themselves and their members a great disservice by unrealistically trying to force higher prices on the communities they serve without regard to the flexibility of other prices in the community. When lower prices are available, more work will occur and more people will be employed.
Report Post »Not On My Watch
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 11:51amAmen, alleluia, and praise Jesus!! :)
Report Post »Mr.Nick
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 11:54am@heidi586
Yes, you’re exactly right.
This is the communist labor union doing exactly what they accuse the non-union sectors of doing.
What they’re basically saying is that its ok for the journeyman electrician to make 37.95/hr, he doesn’t have to take a salary cut, however the laborer/apprentice making 12.75 should now make 8.75, in order to “compete.”
This is just another example of full fledged union members unwilling to take a pay cut, while forcing those lower on the totem pole to take the “hit” instead of them.
You’re right — these jobs will go to illegal aliens now. Illegals are the only ones that can afford to work for anything less than 10 bucks an hour.
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 12:14pm@HEIDI586, Still celebrating! Everyone needs to understand: in America, you have the right to start in ENTRY LEVEL positions. I know that the idea of having to work your way up is a real drag for a certain kind of person, but it’s the best way. My very best girlfriend is a very involved member of this union and WOULD NOT be in support of anything that would damage either safety or dignity.
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 12:33pmWhen “workers of the world unite” then you will also be able to compete with $1.50 a day laborers. This is just stage one on the road to enslavement that the union is on. Have fun in the brotherhood before it just turns into the “HOOD”.
Report Post »2
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 12:35pmSometimes you have to use Unions. If you don’t hire a regular worker who you trust.
THE UNION LABEL SUCKS. DON’T BUY A GM or CRYSTLER.
GO FORD or FOREIGN. Just remember if you don’t go F you will get F-ed.
All you Unions are Robots. They lied to you for years. You will not get all they said you would.
Report Post »other_box
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 12:41pmAMEN, go-on preach on preach on…spit it brother…AMEN…
Report Post »ME
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 5:16pmheidi586
Report Post »is right on this is not good at all this is Unions trying to price out smaller players, that have survived under the unions. Living 3 hours north of FIB (Illinois tourist;) land and being a former IBEW worker these people will now have a bigger base (they may not be full members but will I guarantee still pay dues) and will work to eliminate thought price and more legislation the smaller players. It not so much the pricing but legislation is how they like to get jobs State projects here often require union works or prevailing wage to hide the direct link better. International Brotherhood is only in it for them self, not there members always have been its just becoming more obvious now days. Look into some of the business mangers retirement and wages and then they only get better going up from there.
Marks1956f100
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 6:36pmThe Unions have become worse than the companies that they were suppose to protect the brothers and sisters from…They take our money and spend the bulk of it making themselves rich all the while telling us that they are there for us…. The locals have lost control and the nationals have an agenda that has nothing to do with the working man or woman they are only interested in the dues that we provide for them to play with or buy golf courses and ride in private jets all the while never working an honest day in their lives…..
Report Post »sodun
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 6:43pm@Wingedwolf
Report Post ».
ahem…(clearing my throat) A M E N!
sodizzy
Posted on October 5, 2010 at 3:17amAMEN! and! glory hallelujah!! resounding yes. Obvious example. Thank you for pointing it out lest we miss it. I am quite serious in case anyone is wondering.
Report Post »BlazerSCj
Posted on October 5, 2010 at 5:09pmThis likely no ‘epiphany’, it‘s likely more or less a discreet grab to unionize workers that otherwise wouldn’t need to join the IBEW.
Remember unions never make any moves that wouldn’t solely benefit them, so beware of this potential “Trojan Horse” and don’t start celebrating too soon.
Report Post »1957SUPERBURBAN
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 8:10amIN 2001 Plumbers union scale in Chicago was 37 dollars an hours electricians were right behind them we called it hide and seek for a grand a week.
Report Post »