Pittsburgh Misconceptions (York, Washington, Carnegie: credit, pros and cons, quality of life)

[tommygoat]

Harmony requires two voices. Broadbrush stereotypes require one.

[Katiana]

The Steelworkers' union, and unions in general, are both good and bad. My father was an engineer for USSteel, and supervised many union workers. He was in favor of the work rules that made things fair to the employees. Such rules really hit home when my mom started working in a non-unionized job, and she was told to do things like clock out, then work a little more, and so forth. But the unions also have their bad side, keeping poor workers on the job, outrageously generous benefits, etc. IMO

[guylocke]

But the unions also have their bad side, keeping poor workers on the job, outrageously generous benefits, etc. IMO

My god, yes. Unions are good for many things, especially protecting workers and maintaining safe conditions and job security, but they are also largely destroying the fabric of this country, and that's no joke. Many no longer even do what they were set up to do. My dad who is a non-union big wig manager of one of the local steel plants tells me horror stories. It is VERY difficult for him to fire some of his union guys. They have this really odd "three-strikes" tier system and they can darn near do anything they want up to three times before they get fired. My dad would fire someone on the spot if they were sexually harassing another employee or showing up to work under the influence of alcohol, but he can't! Isn't that insane?? He has to give them several chances, and those are MILD examples. I won't go into more. Unions create so much red-tape and often demand things (like the UAW do) that NO other employee's in the world get. It's not how the world works anymore. Zero co-pays etc don't exist anymore. I anticipate that the UAW would have let GM go bankrupt losing all their careers and pensions before giving in to what GM first brought to the table, which, by the way, was MORE than generous.

I always say this. Unions were created with good intentions, but good intentions pave the road to hell. Many states have Pharmacy Unions, too...

[PApisces]

Originally Posted by boylocke

My god, yes. Unions are good for many things, especially protecting workers and maintaining safe conditions and job security, but they are also largely destroying the fabric of this country, and that's no joke. Many no longer even do what they were set up to do. My dad who is a non-union big wig manager of one of the local steel plants tells me horror stories. It is VERY difficult for him to fire some of his union guys. They have this really odd "three-strikes" tier system and they can darn near do anything they want up to three times before they get fired. My dad would fire someone on the spot if they were sexually harassing another employee or showing up to work under the influence of alcohol, but he can't! Isn't that insane?? He has to give them several chances, and those are MILD examples. I won't go into more. Unions create so much red-tape and often demand things (like the UAW do) that NO other employee's in the world get. It's not how the world works anymore. Zero co-pays etc don't exist anymore. I anticipate that the UAW would have let GM go bankrupt losing all their careers and pensions before giving in to what GM first brought to the table, which, by the way, was MORE than generous.

I always say this. Unions were created with good intentions, but good intentions pave the road to hell. Many states have Pharmacy Unions, too...

Tis true. I really see it as six of one, half a dozen of the other. Had the unions never existed, we'd have been crushed by Big Business; now, they often cause more trouble than they are worth. Still, I think the Country is far better off today than it would be if their were never any limits placed by unions on companies to protect the working class.

[guylocke]

I think the Country is far better off today than it would be if their were never any limits placed by unions on companies to protect the working class.

You're probably right.. it just seems we have yet to meet a happy medium. LOL.

[Johnland]

There is an amzing difference between Tampa and Pittsburgh that I'm sure some or many Pittsburghers may not be aware of. Whereas downtown Tampa is a sterile, lifeless area ruled by wide, one way streets that allow cars to rule, Pittsburgh is a great walkable downtown full of people and and a wide range of architectural styles.

I was up in June to visit family and we went to look at the Carlyle condo's at 4th and Wood. First of all, those condo are going to be fantastic. Second, it was just nice to be able to walk around a bit downtown.

[guylocke]

I was up in June to visit family and we went to look at the Carlyle condo's at 4th and Wood. First of all, those condo are going to be fantastic.

Yes they are!! Did you get to see a floor plan?? I can't wait.

BTW, I spent all summer in Tampa/St. Petersburg. I was miserable. Although, I am sure it's beautiful in the winter.

[505ci]

Originally Posted by Johnland

There is an amzing difference between Tampa and Pittsburgh that I'm sure some or many Pittsburghers may not be aware of. Whereas downtown Tampa is a sterile, lifeless area ruled by wide, one way streets that allow cars to rule, Pittsburgh is a great walkable downtown full of people and and a wide range of architectural styles.

I was up in June to visit family and we went to look at the Carlyle condo's at 4th and Wood. First of all, those condo are going to be fantastic. Second, it was just nice to be able to walk around a bit downtown.

Oh yes my friend, I know all too well about Tampa, it's traffic, and the city in general. Parts of it are utterly beautiful (with the natural Florida landscape and such) but it's a rough town in more ways than one, no doubt.

And for a city that's streets are basically laid out in a grid (completely different than Pittsburgh's crazy layout), you'd think traffic would be better than it is here. But it's not.

Florida in general has always perplexed me regarding it's traffic, and the amount of fatal accidents there. Especially in and around Tampa. You guys have flat, straight roads that are well-paved and never get icy. But when I drive through there, all I see are those round white posts marking where people have died.

I guess when you've got perfect roads, the only logical thing to come next are insane, wacko drivers. That's Florida.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by 505ci

Oh yes my friend, I know all too well about Tampa, it's traffic, and the city in general. Parts of it are utterly beautiful (with the natural Florida landscape and such) but it's a rough town in more ways than one, no doubt.

And for a city that's streets are basically laid out in a grid (completely different than Pittsburgh's crazy layout), you'd think traffic would be better than it is here. But it's not.

Florida in general has always perplexed me regarding it's traffic, and the amount of fatal accidents there. Especially in and around Tampa. You guys have flat, straight roads that are well-paved and never get icy. But when I drive through there, all I see are those round white posts marking where people have died.

I guess when you've got perfect roads, the only logical thing to come next are insane, wacko drivers. That's Florida.

I LOVE Pittsburgh. However, to me, Pittsburgh = GPS.

[505ci]

Dude, ANYWHERE should equal GPS this day in age. For $300 you never are lost again! I use mine everyday even though I've lived here all my life. I just like to see where the hell I am.


There is NO excuse now to not have a GPS. Not this day in age.