Meredith considers going union

M/V_Bear_II · 12-04-2008, 11:55 PM

I don't disagree that there are unions in some industries that have become detrimental to the health of the industry, and have accumulated more power and benefits for their workers than some of those workers deserve.

That said, the need for unions is not obsolete. Unionization in the first half of the century addressed worker safety and security and provided fair wages. While working conditions are much safer and those wages could now justly be described as unfair to employers and non-union workers, industries that are not unionized provide some of the most shocking examples of worker mistreatment and complete disregard for worker safety in the civilized world. Read Fast Food Nation, including the descriptions of meatpacking and chicken-processing plants.

bilproject has the most reasonable response here. If a company or industry so totally disregards the welfare of its workers that on-the-job deaths are not just common but routine, it deserves to have to deal with those same bloated unions.

That said, I don't think the Town of Meredith has a lot of problems with on-the-job injuries or death. I don't think there's a good reason why 30 people can't get together and work with the town managers without bringing in representatives from across the country.

12-04-2008, 11:55 PM	#13
M/V_Bear_II Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 66 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I don't disagree that there are unions in some industries that have become detrimental to the health of the industry, and have accumulated more power and benefits for their workers than some of those workers deserve. That said, the need for unions is not obsolete. Unionization in the first half of the century addressed worker safety and security and provided fair wages. While working conditions are much safer and those wages could now justly be described as unfair to employers and non-union workers, industries that are not unionized provide some of the most shocking examples of worker mistreatment and complete disregard for worker safety in the civilized world. Read Fast Food Nation, including the descriptions of meatpacking and chicken-processing plants. bilproject has the most reasonable response here. If a company or industry so totally disregards the welfare of its workers that on-the-job deaths are not just common but routine, it deserves to have to deal with those same bloated unions. That said, I don't think the Town of Meredith has a lot of problems with on-the-job injuries or death. I don't think there's a good reason why 30 people can't get together and work with the town managers without bringing in representatives from across the country.