A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Non-MT Job Offer - Unionized, but...

Posted: Mar 29, 2013

...Okay, I'm not here to start a fight about union vs non-union, but I was just offered a non-MT job at a hospital that has a union, and I am anti-union. When she told me that it was a union position, my jaw dropped. She must have seen the look on my face, because she told me that since this is Florida, we don't HAVE to join the union or pay dues or anything like that. My face brightened up right away.

SO, if you are not pro-union be SURE to ask if the state you live in requires you to join if you don't want to. I don't know if it's just a FL thing (she called it the Right to Work Act, something like that) or other states have it, but make sure you check.

If you are offererd a union position and you are pro-union, make SURE you ask how much the dues will be and all sorts of other questions. In fact, I would get a whole pamphlet to see what the consequences are if you choose to work during a strike, or whatever else. Then you can make an informed decision.

That's nice - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
You're lucky you have that option, to go union or non. In my state we don't.

I've passed up jobs before because I refuse to join a union for mainly 2 reasons: I don't appreciate the fact that my dues would go to fund the 6 figure salaries of union leaders. I also don't agree with my union dues being funneled to politicians/political causes that I don't necessarily agree with.

Me Too - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm the OP, and you summed it up perfectly for me. I was soooo happy when the interviewer told me that no one is required to join if they don't want to. I sighed a big sigh of relief.

I honestly didn't want to react one way or the other when she said "union job," but I think I must have because she chimed in pretty quickly about not being required to join. LOL. Guess I wouldn't make a good poker player.

Political acuses you don't agree with...like a living wage? - wheres_my_job

[ In Reply To ..]
There is a direct correlation between declining union membership and stagnant/dropping wages. If not for unions, we would be living in a complete corporatocracy, and that would be a disaster.

that's causes not acuses - wheres_my_job

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Unions - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
For me, the "benefits" of joining a union will always be outweighed by the negatives.

I think the real issue is that no one should be Forced to join a group.

I'd be interested in seeing your statistical data/proof about "a direct correlation between declining union membership and stagnant/dropping wages."

No, the real issue is balancing power between workers/mgmt - wheres_my_job

[ In Reply To ..]
and thereby keeping wages up. No union, no bargaining power. It's that simple.

"being forced to join a group" is IMO just more "don't tread on me" individualist propaganda - Tea Party style - that supports concentration of wealth in hands of few at the expense of the majority.

So what you're saying - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Just so I'm clear on your point.. you think that unions should be across the board and that individual workers should not have freedom of choice whether or not to join?

Union - Addison

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm not sure about other unions here in NJ, but I know that teachers here don't have to JOIN the union, but they still HAVE to pay union dues even if they don't. Makes no sense to me, and I think it should be illegal. Gov. Christie once said that it's like the Hotel California. "You can check out any time you want, but you can never leave". LOL

Yup. Not Fair At All - Almost Communistic-nm

[ In Reply To ..]
xxx

Do you think $11/hour is fair pay for teachers? - wheres_my_job

[ In Reply To ..]
Teacher unions exist to keep wages up for teachers, as well as work against ballooning class sizes, ensure adequate resources in the classroom, etc.

I know teachers, nonunion, private school, who get $11/hour - they are educated and certified, and they make what an administrative assistant with very little responsibility and very little experience makes. I think teachers, responsible for educating young people, future generations and all that, deserve a heck of a lot more than $11/hour. Teacher unions ensure that happens.

Another point - On the fence

[ In Reply To ..]
However, non-union employees (those who choose not to join) benefit from the higher wages and better benefit package that the union members and representatives negotiated for everyone; you reap the benefits without having to do anything, think about it.

She was quick to tell you that "good" news becase she is - FBL

[ In Reply To ..]
management.

Are you talking about me... - The OP?

[ In Reply To ..]
If you're talking about me who is happy not to have to join the union and/or pay union dues, I am NOT management and did not apply for a management position. I applied for a job to be a patient sitter (you all who do acute care MT know what that is).

No, I mean the person who offered you the job and then said you don't have - FBL

[ In Reply To ..]
to join the union.

Well, she didn't make it up! - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
xx

Who said she did? I live in Florida and am quite familiar with the RTW laws. - FBL

[ In Reply To ..]
I was just providing a possible reason why the job offerer would be quick to point out that a potential employee would not have to join the union.

Why all the sensitivity?

my opinion on unions - MTMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I think that a long time ago, unions were a good thing. Workers were being exploited and the unions came along and helped eliminate that. But here's the thing. Now there are laws to protect the workers from having to work 12 hour days without a break, etc. We no longer need unions for that.

I also believe the unions got too big and greedy and the union bosses are now more interested in keeping their jobs and their pockets lined than they are in the workers.

Another thing I don't like about unions is that they set wages for everyone. So the person who is lazy makes just as much as the person who works really hard, and that hard worker can't get a raise based on their hard work; they have to remain in the union scale.

Here's an interesting tidbit. Do you know how the 8-hour workday was created? It wasn't a union... it was Henry Ford...and he gave his workers a big raise... it was NOT a union that did that. He helped create the middle class by paying his workers enough to purchase the cars they built.

Henry Ford - On the fence

[ In Reply To ..]
...Fought labor unions tooth and nail until the day he died. The assembly lines were brutal, and workers did not automatically earn the wages he "promised," they had to meet incentives. He promised those wages because many workers couldn't stand the working conditions and quit, they had to hire 1,000 workers to find 100 who could stick it out. If you want to look at how assembly line, production pay got started, look no further. Henry Ford also froze out private investors until he and his family were the only ones who owned stock in Ford Motor Company. I'm not saying any of this was necessarily bad, but don't paint him as a hero to the working man until you know the entire story.

Yes! - Thank you-see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
There was indeed a time when we needed unions. Most places now try to do their best with wages to keep one from coming in.

I am thanking you, because it makes me sick that lazy people still get their huge wages. It makes me sick that teachers who have molested children don't get fired--they just "get relocated." That's a union thing.

You all who are against corporate making tons of money, riddle me this: Um, your union leaders don't? Ahem. And, as long as we're here, so what you're saying is this: The company you work for wants a state-of-the-art gym built and you don't. So, I guess you want to pay for that?

When the union - golden oldie

[ In Reply To ..]
Can prevent US jobs from being shipped overseas because they have driven wages and benefits packages so high that it's cheaper for goods to be manufactured overseas and shipped, then I may consider joining a union. And that doesn't even count the unreasonable protections they provide for the mediocre and often barely competent worker at the expense of the good worker.

I Think... - See Msg

[ In Reply To ..]
People don't really understand what a union does. They tend to glorify it. Like, "they are for the little guy." No, they're not. They are for lining their 6-figure salaries with YOUR union dues and keeping people on the work force who are not worth their salt. Hence, putting some very good companies out of business.

A lot of corporations have gotten smart and do everything they can to keep a union OUT. They pay their employees wel, give them regular raises, etc.

Of course, the MTSOs do not do that, but that's another story.

Exactly how much are these "6 figure" salaries and who exactly is - FBL

[ In Reply To ..]
getting them? How does it compare to any high-level corporate executive, or to leaders of political action committees, or other groups like the NRA? BTW, local union leaders (known as BAs or Business Agents) make the same union scale as the workers.

Sweet home Chicago - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
It's easy enough to research this on your own, but here's a small taste.

http://illinoispolicy.org/blog/blog.asp?ArticleSource=5045

Here's a cut and paste from a Chicago Trib article about Karen Lewis, current pres of the CTU, that I will also link too. I'm putting it here because the information down the article a bit.

"In 2010, Lewis defeated Marilyn Stewart, vaulting from the rank and file to union president.

Teachers union officials declined to provide information on Lewis' salary. But Stewart made $211,119 in 2009, her final full year in office. Lewis took over as president for part of 2010, and was paid $71,330 by the teachers union that year, records indicate.

Lewis also is eligible for compensation from the Illinois Federation of Teachers, and in 2011 she was paid $64,157 by that group, records indicate."

Rough estimate of Karen Lewis' compensation = $135,487

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-09-11/news/ct-met-teachers-strike-karen-lewis-20120911_1_chicago-teachers-union-union-president-chemistry-teacher

$135K is not unreasonable to me...comparable to - FBL

[ In Reply To ..]
mid-level corporate execs in Chicago, I would think.

You did remind me of another point...union leaders are elected by the membership, and do not write their own compensation packages. Those who choose not to join are also choosing not to participate in the process.

BTW, I am not and have never been a union member; I just recognize their historical and current value to the American workforce. If I am ever hired by a "union shop" I will join without hesitation.

Headed out for the day now, so will be AFK. Have a Happy Easter, everyone!

Happy Easter! - wheres_my_job

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

6-Figure Salary - Addison

[ In Reply To ..]
How about the leader of the NJEA (NJ teacher's union)? He makes $550,000, which is paid for by the teachers with their dues. The difference between the salaries of a union leader compared to a corporate bigwig is that money isn't physically taken out of each employee's paycheck and given to the CEO like it is to a union leader.
The only thing I remember the NJEA doing for teachers here in NJ is letting thousands of teachers lose their jobs, thereby increasing classroom sizes. The governor wanted the teachers to take a pay freeze for 1 year, but they refused and made their members and the students suffer instead. Many student programs were also cut due to their selfishness. BTW, my sister is a teacher here. http://www.theblaze.com/blog/2010/09/15/head-of-new-jersey-teachers-union-makes-550000year/

My Point Exactly - Bad Thing

[ In Reply To ..]
Yep. Unions are just bad, bad. Period. They allow the most horrible of teachers stay on the job, crooked teachers stay on the job, molester teachers stay on the job, etc. It's called tenure. You can't fire a teacher to save your life.

I totally am NOT against teachers! We need teachers! But we don't need bad teachers. The worst of the worst are REQUIRED (because of the damn union) to stay on board.

Bad Teachers - Addison

[ In Reply To ..]
My sister works with 3 teachers who make over $90,000/year, who spent the majority of their days hiding in the bathroom and sometimes not even in the school, leaving their assistants to teach their classes. Of course, nothing can be done because they're tenured.

This is a real slap in the face to the taxpayers because, I don't know what it's like where everyone else lives, but in NJ, the taxpayers pay the teacher's salaries and the majority of their benefits through their property taxes (10% of a teacher's salary goes towards their benefits). Then when they retire, the taxpayer foots the bill for their health insurance, as well as their SPOUSE'S health insurance for the rest of their lives. I believe that's why so many people in NJ decide to become teachers because of the free health insurance. And don't get me started on their pensions!

My property taxes are $8,000/per year, and $5,000 goes towards the school system. I have a 50 x 100 lot and my house is only 1500 square feet. So because the union makes sure that the teachers get a great raise (even the ones who don't deserve it) and great benefit package, that causes my income to decrease.

Losing Battle - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Those who don't support unions can't win. Unfortunately, most don't seem to care that their kids can get molested and the teacher still gets to keep teaching---albeit another district, but they can't get fired.

I have my right to choose NOT to work for an organization that promotes/allows abuse/molestation. Period.

molesting teachers? - nana

[ In Reply To ..]
Where are you getting this teachers can molest children and move to another district? Do you not have laws where you live? If a teacher molests children they get prosecuted and go to prison just like anyone else. Unions do not protect against prosecution. As a parent if my child was molested I definitely would make sure that teacher was prosecuted to the fullest, go to prison, hence, no more teaching. Next you will be blaming unions for murders not getting a tough enough sentence. How can't they get fired. The union does not condone illegal actions and they definitely do not protect the offenders.

You sit on this site complaining of how our wages have gone to the dogs and pretty much working for free, well what do you think unions do, they protect your income, fight for living wages something we used to have but now we don't. We don't get paid for knowledge and we don't get paid for experience. I have 20 years of knowledge and experience and make the same as someone just out of school. Is that right?

I understand if you are against unions and that is your right, but there is no need to lie about them. Show me the proof where a teacher molested a child and "just moved to another district."

My Point Is - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
That things get swept under the rug. I'm not in a court of law, so I don't have to prove anything. I probably should have said that there are very likely times when there isn't enough evidence to prosecute, there are just suspicions. Those teachers keep their jobs. It's almost impossible to get a teacher fired.

Okay, forget the molesting thing. The teacher can be a bad teacher, not teach your kid a darn thing, and still get the high union wages and not get fired. Does that work? That to me is bad enough right there. Then you have teachers who work their butts off, truly have an interest in the children and make the same amount as the one who is not doing his or her job. I think that's disgusting in and of itself. And that hard worker may not WANT go to on strike for more money, but he or she is forced to. Maybe that teacher is actually happy with his or her wage and loves her job for what it is, not to see how much more they can suck out of the educational system.

I totally agree - well said

[ In Reply To ..]
No logic in this country anymore.

Nobody Gets It - See Msg

[ In Reply To ..]
The Union rules. I don't want a dictatorship where I work (our country is already heading that way), and gosh darn if some bumb teacher or anyone else is not doing their job, why should they get paid just as much as me?

Which corporations are those? - wheres_my_job

[ In Reply To ..]
And by your own logic, unions DO keep wages up - because corporate fear of unions CAUSES THEM to pay good wages, give regular wages - why - because they want to, out of the good of their hearts?

NO. They want to KEEP UNIONS OUT.

So your own example proves the pro-union argument! Thank you and have a nice day.

another story? Really? - nana

[ In Reply To ..]
Why is that another story? That is the reason unions were created. I worked for a hospital where we didn't have a union, and there is a hospital 30 miles away that has a union for their transcription department. They made $4.00 more per hour to start, paid for experience and when our department was outsourced theirs was not. Why do you think that is?

Second, my son-in-law works for GM (General Motors) and last year he made $75,000. Does not pay a penny for his benefits. He only has a high school diploma. Before you say it, I will answer the question for you. No General Motors did not file bankrupcy because of employee pay. They had to file bankrupcy because their upper management was so out of touch with what kind of cars people wanted. While people were buying cars and trucks with better gas mileage, they were still making gas guzzlers. And when Obama made top management leave they were still given their big, fat compensation package. That was not due to the union.

Yes there are issues with the union, like protecting bad workers and such, so because of that get rid of them. Thats like throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

Now if you were offered a job making that much money would you turn it down because of the union? Really. I went to college and can't come close to making that amount of money.

Wish I could work for a union. I would for sure be making much better money.

Yes, I would turn down - A union job

[ In Reply To ..]
I do not support unions political ideologies, and they've become a horrible thing. So, I would not work at a high-paying job if I had to join a union or put into paying union dues.

I'd rather be scrounging for every dollar than be required to join a union.

Union - Addison

[ In Reply To ..]
My father-in-law was a union member. He always told my husband to do as little as possible and work very slowly because otherwise they'll give you more work to do and want you to work even faster. He also told my husband to take frequent breaks during the workday. That line of thinking almost got my husband fired from his first job (non union, of course). Now 30 years later, his hard work has gotten my husband a supervisor position.

I Know - Not Good

[ In Reply To ..]
Working for a union actually teaches very poor work ethic. If someone is in a union job and the company goes "under," they have no clue how to work non-union. And since they expect $100,000 per year to screw a few bolts into a car door, they're in for a wicked surprise when they actually just get paid for what they're worth.

Sorry, folks, but I'm guessing GM could have afforded to make a more "today" car if they hadn't been paying all those extreme salaries? It costs a lot of money to hire designers and engineers to come up with a different car, but I guess all their money went to the ridiculously high wages.

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