For my entire life I have been anti-union. But I now think we have reached a cross-road in this country. Globalization has created the need to have an advocate for the working class. Our Corporations won't help....our Government won't help.....Capitalism has taken us down a road that has veered away from some sort of fairness to all to one that is only concerned with the almighty dollar and the richest amongst us. In the past we could go down the street if we didn't like our employers...there are fewer and fewer "down the road" options left unless you want to work for $10 and hour at McDonald's. Everything can be moved anywhere. So what drove my change in thought....the rest of the world gets it and we in the US don't. Government have been enacting legislation to help protect workers in other countries (look at the furlough in Honeywell Mexico) or have created a strong union presence that detours corporate America from being solely focused on profit. American's are the best workers. We put in long hours and work to make our companies successful. But I have determined that we placed that trust in the wrong hands. Corporation told us, there is no need for a union because we can give you the same thing. That was the fox talking in the chicken coup. Like an Flim-flam man they made us believe that if you are a good worker..."we got your back". That was an illusion. As individual's they can cull and control us at will. As a group the task becomes much more difficult. Listen, I don't want to put Honeywell out of business and I am not looking to be greedy. But the world outside of America knows the game well. You have to protect your opportunities and not just let them walk away without a fight. Hopefully, with all the anger out there in the US, we can begin to realize we have been our own worse enemy...we gave up fighting. The time has come to unionize and push for changes is State and Federal law. A "Right to work State" should not make it difficult to collectively bargain. Our government should not be handing out HB1 approvals like candy. There are plenty of American's to do the hi-tech jobs in this country. I pray that American's stop fighting with each other and understand the true adversaries we face...it is not each others political or religious belief's. It is the monster that tries to lower our standards of living and gain control over our dreams.......let history not say that in our time of change and turmoil, we let our children down.
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Unions are no longer what they originally set out to be, they are NOT for the 'little man', they take your money and use it to fuel their rich lifestyles and agenda - it's like having a second set of leadership leeching off of you for no return, don't be fooled by their bullshit.
So as long as my 401K is doing OK, screw all those who don't make enough to save in a 401K? You sound like a rich elites. We need to provide good jobs in America for all and stop thinking about just ourselves.
Not all Unions are the same.....some try to work with companies.
Unless you have actually been on strike, don't comment. Unions no longer serve the American worker as they once did. I do remember a time when Unions prevented all the little injustices that routinely occur now days. Social Media is a much more powerful tool than the unions ever were. We must petition our political leaders to make it difficult for companies to move our jobs out of the U.S.
No wonder the companies do whatever they want. American workers don't have the stomach to fight union or not. Honeywell is not the only game in town. I can tell you that other companies value your experience with Honeywell, you will land on your feet. Don't forget who was running this country before the 2008 crash. Don't you remember what your 401K looked like? My 401K looks pretty PHAT now... Who is responsible for that? be smart with your money.. now is the time.
Former Senior Steward IAM 727
Here is the deal. Unions will do more to put you out of work than to keep you in it. When a union goes on strike, they would rather see a company go bankrupt and out of business, were EVERYONE looses their jobs, rather than give a little in negotiations so that people can keep their jobs. I grew up in the midwest and saw this over and over and over. They will put a place out of business and claim victory. well, in reality, it is a loss for everyone involved. now no one has a job. nice going unions.
when unions first came along they were a good thing. they were needed and served a purpose. anymore they are nothing more than a political machine for the democrats. If you are a good worker they basically won't do crap for you but if you get fired for bad work performance they are all over that. I have seen too much of how unions work. In theory, yes, they are great, in the real world however, nope. you are FORCED to join and pay up, then like I said, if you are a good worker, you might as well hang it up. Also, they ALWAYS vote and support democrats. Democrats and their policies are what has gotten us into this mess. When I was in a union at the AF base, they NEVER asked me what candidates I wanted them to support, I just got fliers in the mail telling me whom I will support. screw them.
We all know congress and unions will do nothing for the average worker. And Hillary can say all the b.s. she wants on how she's going to create and save jobs. There is no answer except a good old fashioned revolt by the people. And that too will never happen because people have their heads too far up their I-pads, pods and phones, and video games to really care what's going on in the real world. Honeywell: Trashing America for greed.
It's criminal that Corporations have no responsibility to their employees or for keeping AMERICANS employed. It's treasonous to employ non Americans over Americans. When they outsource the tax burden falls to those still working. I would not recommend Honeywell to anyone, worst case of they don't care about anything but the $$ i have ever had to survive. It would serve them right if we all quit. Watch part time be the next mandate= less than 40 hours so no benefits mandated. Criminal
Union or not is not important any more. The cheap foreign workers will be eventually replaced by robots. Human being will be less and less valuable in the future. For sure, it is just a matter of time.
More information sharing, a little politeness, and a few actions that showed actual concern for employees wellbeing would go a long way.
RE: "Are Republicans Pro-Labor or Anti-Labor? " of course you can put anything on a ballet with enough signatures, but in the United States all laws must stand up to the Supreme Court test of constitutionality and that is where most laws are struck down. The decline of unions begin with Ronald Reagan and the Air Traffic Controllers. Remember how the entire country vilified them. I can tell you Unions won't save your job, just make sure that you get laid off in seniority order. Former Senior Steward IAM 727
The only thing you can do now is slow down, throw a few parts in the trash everyday and refuse to train any foreign replacements. Honeywell is using you all to make Dave and Timmy rich along with the rest of the investors at your expense.
Too late for unions. Everyone will just be replaced in the coming months and years. The fight is over. Honeywell and the rest of corporate America will just move from one sh--hole country to the next in search of cheaper labor. They win and we lose. Thanks Dave!
Sorry, I have worked in places with and without unions, all unions do is look after their own executives. At One place I just started working in, the union guy approaches me about the great benefits of belonging to a union, my one and only question was 'tell me the actual number of jobs the union has actually save at company X, never heard back from him
Globalization (this is just the beginning) will equalize the standard of living for most folks on the planet. The 1% (and dozens of generations of their descendants) will continually cycle wealth upward from the "captive" 99%. Globalism and capitalism are here to stay, a quarter of the world population will realize a lower standard of living, while the remainder will enjoy a higher standard. Everyone will continue to be exploited by the 1%, and world resources will continue to dwindle as we despoil the planet with our filth. I've been right-sized, down-sized, globalized and made irrelevant, I'm an engineer with 30 years of experience, the mixture of globalism and capitalism have confirmed my economic demise and that of both blue and white collar workers (labor) in the U.S. Yet, someone, somewhere is jumping for joy at the opportunity to contribute to Wall Street --- believe me, everyone is talking about it. Believe me.
I too have been against unions my whole life until now when I see leader cutting jobs while he makes millions. Greed has taken over. When will a true leader rise up. Vote **** for CEO. Make Honeywell great again.
To the comment "Are Republicans Pro-Labor or Anti-Labor? " In Arizona we can put proposals on the ballet by gaining enough signatures.......I say it is time to utilize that avenue......
Are Republicans Pro-Labor or Anti-Labor? Think about it.. What you are suggesting would never happen. You can't have it both ways.
I partially agree with the OP. I'm becoming more sympathetic to unions, but I still don't think they're a panacea, as the union bosses are just as susceptible to greed as CEOs and will just become your new overlords. However, sometimes the pendulum needs to swing all the way to the other side to effect any changes, and a union for tech workers may be what's required.
The root cause of a lot of these problems is not capitalism but "crony capitalism," where the government protects certain businesses and business practices. There's no better example than the various guest worker visa programs (e.g. #H1B, L-1, OPT, etc.) which are being used to both REPLACE American workers and hire guest workers INSTEAD OF American workers.
With 94 million Americans out of the workforce, someone in Congress needs to have the rocks to submit a very simple bill:
"All guest worker visa acts are hereby repealed."
and wait until the REAL unemployment rate gets to "full employment" before re-introducing future guest worker programs.