union vs. nonunion in a strip hotel (Las Vegas: fit in, health insurance)

airics · 02-13-2010, 11:05 AM

what is the difference.. what does the union (or did for that matter) accomplish.. i hear of all the people at ccenter out of work, what is the union doing for them? telling them to call everyday to see if there's work, yet they are so low on the totem pole that it'll never happen?

mojavedxer · 02-13-2010, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airics

what is the difference.. what does the union (or did for that matter) accomplish.. i hear of all the people at ccenter out of work, what is the union doing for them? telling them to call everyday to see if there's work, yet they are so low on the totem pole that it'll never happen?

They are in the business of controlling your welfare and pension fund. These are your benefits of being a union brother. Better wages and health benefits. Job security does not exist union or non union in this industry.

airics · 02-13-2010, 11:24 AM

so if you were comparing say the m resort vs. caesars, the pay would be more at caesars?

mojavedxer · 02-13-2010, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airics

so if you were comparing say the m resort vs. caesars, the pay would be more at caesars?

If the job is covered under the Culinary or Teamsters contract then yes.

dynimagelv · 02-13-2010, 11:38 AM

ohhhh Air Air Air....ya REALLLLY know how to open up a barrell of snakes....

Personal opinion...the Union does exactly ZIP for you....I agree that they were necessary many years ago and in some areas they still are [mining industry] but as far as all that brotherhood crap...it doesn't exist.....

MANY years ago, the Teamsters International was holding their convention in Las Vegas. I was driving a cab for a company that was on strike... [a scab] I pulled up in front of the convention center and 3 men came out....I recognized one [Roy Williams] because he was running for the President of the Union.

I was nice and I told him "Mr. Williams, I feel that I should tell you that the Union is on strike against this company and I am a non-union driver."

His reply...."I don't give a F$%^ about that....take me to the Hilton." [AND he tipped well.]

Union Brotherhood.

mojavedxer · 02-13-2010, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dynimagelv

ohhhh Air Air Air....ya REALLLLY know how to open up a barrell of snakes....

Personal opinion...the Union does exactly ZIP for you....I agree that they were necessary many years ago and in some areas they still are [mining industry] but as far as all that brotherhood crap...it doesn't exist.....

MANY years ago, the Teamsters International was holding their convention in Las Vegas. I was driving a cab for a company that was on strike... [a scab] I pulled up in front of the convention center and 3 men came out....I recognized one [Roy Williams] because he was running for the President of the Union.

I was nice and I told him "Mr. Williams, I feel that I should tell you that the Union is on strike against this company and I am a non-union driver."

His reply...."I don't give a F$%^ about that....take me to the Hilton." [AND he tipped well.]

Union Brotherhood.

We can contain the snakes from escaping. Personally I think the Unions are a scam in today’s age. They are there to control health and pension funds and to tell you to vote for Harry Reid. The resorts pay this union blackmail because it’s the cost of doing business in Las Vegas. But the simple truth is that Union wages are better than your Non Union counterparts.

dynimagelv · 02-13-2010, 12:08 PM

I don't disagree there....just look at a Union Auto Worker lol.....

My stepson is a union Carpenter....for many years.....our health insurance outdoes his hands down....he likes to brag that he makes 60k a year IF he works a full 12 mos [which he hasnt in 4 years]

As far as controlling pension funds.....yep...they DO control em.....right into their bank accounts lol

I truly believe that if the Unions had nothing to do with it, the employees would benefit in the long run....and wouldn't have to pay dues....

The only advantage I can see is for 'job jumpers' because their vacation etc follows them from place to place.

yellowsnow · 02-15-2010, 11:14 AM

Unions are big business just like the casinos are big business. And they are in business to make money. As long as their interests dovetail with yours, it can work well.

In the construction industry where people change jobs and go from project to project, the unions made it possible for those folks to have benefits and pension plans. Also vacations, etc.

Union bashing is popular now but most of us wouldn't have what we have today if unions hadn't existed. The pendulum always swings and popular opinion is guaranteed to change. Union jobs have been sensationalized by the media and PR people. Most union jobs are little more than fair pay for a fair days work. Just like you hear about the CEO's making bejillions, you hear about the few(comparatively) union folks making big dollar and big pensions.

Life is never fair. And I know that even in a union shop it's not always fair. But here's something that happened to me the other day in my non-union job. I was a Holiday temp and they made me permanent. They talked about me like I walked on water. I brought skills to that job they hadn't known existed. Most of the other people employed there have been around for years and I'm sure they have been told over and over they do a good job. Next, the manager tells me that if there are layoffs, I would be among the last to go. Well hurray for me but that's just wrong. Those folks who have worked there for years deserve to be treated better than I do. No union so they don't have to layoff by seniority. I can stay just because the boss LIKES me.

My uncle was a chef and a union member for years here. He had his gripes about the union and the company he worked for. But the union did serve to make sure he was paid a living wage. He was able to maintain a modest lower middle class lifestyle.

bledsoe3 · 02-15-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

. Next, the manager tells me that if there are layoffs, I would be among the last to go. Well hurray for me but that's just wrong.

That's what I don't like about unions. As management, I may have to let my best worker go and keep a useless one just because he's been here longer.

yellowsnow · 02-15-2010, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bledsoe3

That's what I don't like about unions. As management, I may have to let my best worker go and keep a useless one just because he's been here longer.

I see your point but none of the people there are useless. They are all hard workers. They care about the company, and their jobs. This has been a source of constant surprise to me...... I learned fast that people in low wage jobs are not necessarily underachieving slackers! As a matter of fact, these low wage workers work harder than I did when I made real money at a high paying job. I'm getting an education in the land of the tiny paycheck!

Here's the other side of the equation. Under normal circumstances, someone like me would never have applied to work there. I brought skills to that job they didn't know were even possible. I'm the anomaly. They can't assume they will be able to attract a whole workforce like me for no money. Long term, it's not sustainable.