Unions are on the side of the Unions!
Posted By: lk on 2008-12-24
In Reply to: You need to research - sm
You have a very glorified view of unions. For many years, unions have been associated with graft, corruption, and greed, and for good reason. The unions are in business for the unions, period. Unions will twist the truth to whatever extent necessary to pit workers against management. That is how they stay in business. Have you ever seen info about the salaries that union bosses make? They are atrocious. Unions are a BUSINESS. They are in business for themselves. They are NOT charitable organizations out to help workers, although that is what they say. They will only help the worker to the extent that it lines their pockets.
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Unions exist to make money for unions.
That's the truth. They don't care if companies close because they can't afford to pay union wages, and then the workers have nothing.
Unions
Yeah. Unions have worked really well for the auto workers.
I don't see where unions have done anything for anybody.
My brother was in the aircraft mechanics union. He paid BIG dues. He worked 3 years without a contract with a major airline. When they were negotiating, the airline told them that they would give them their raises on paper but that they were going belly up and would use the mechanics as their scapegoat because they demanded more money. That is exactly what happened. The airline went belly up and the mechanics were the scapegoats. They never saw one penny of any raise.
Unions are just another big business. They take the workers' money, and the workers are just puppets doing what they're told, striking when they're told, unable to feed their family because of unions.
Unions
 WE CAN'T WIN!! So I guess I'm just going to shut up and type some more!
Unions not the answer
I strongly disagree that unions will solve the problems afflicting the MT field. As long as there is outsourcing and other alternatives to traditional transcription, such as voice recognition, there will continue to be downward pressure on MT wages. Years ago when I worked in Human Resources for health care facilities, I sat on the other side of the negotiating table negotiating union contracts (our nurses were unionized), and I am appalled to this day at the underhanded tactics used by the unions. And talk about overinflated salaries - it is truly shocking what union officials make, and it all comes out of the pockets of union members who get a rather dubious return on their union dues. I just don't believe unionization will solve our problems. I think the only thing that will stop the downward pressure on MT pay is if an end is put to outsourcing (and I don't think its unrealistic to think that could happen at some point).
I've been in unions and know what
they can do for you. Without unions there would be no vacation pay, sick days, 40 hour week (for some).
I would very definitely love to be part of a union and also would be willing to strike if necessasry to make this happen.
Like all unions, strength is in the numbers so let's hope people support the idea.
Unions would help us get some recognition
Currently it's lacking 100%. Look at AAMT/AHDI -- they don't represent us, they're killing us. They need to be investigated and put on a short leash ASAP.
obama and unions
link The big money companies would not allow and would fight it big time. I know one southern California hospital sure did fight unionization
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/us/politics/09labor.html
It is too late for unions. It never would have worked.
bebe
If IC's can't join EXISTING unions, then maybe
it's time for MTs to form a union that DOES include IC's, especially since they are a large part of this industry. They deserve better wages, too.
Completely agree. Before unions,
people were forced to work 7 days a week, 12 hour days, no benefits, no overtime, no minimum wage, no safety standards, etc etc etc.... THANK YOU UNIONS.
You know, there are unions in place already. Here is their payscales....
Full-time and part-time employee hospital positions payscales are as follows:
MT Level 1 to Level 3=
$23.68 to $28.70 per hour plus benefits which include 401b, health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, Wellness Programs, 24 PTO days, plus paid holidays and a few other perks.
Did you not do your homework?
The payscales you have in this post are way too low.
Unions haven't helped much in years
Sadly, they've become more of a corporation themselves. You pay dues and if a conpany wants to bail or relocate or outsource, they still can and do.
Truth about unions - good for employees
My huband is a union member. Union membership is voluntary, with it you pay dues, in exchange your union officials bargain with the company for fair wages, benefits, and pensions. A union signs a contract and during that time, the employees have job security. If there is low work because the offshore companies messed up or shipments didn't come in, it is their union that pays them subpay to compensate the difference between average earnings and unemployment if he has a week off. Also, we pay nada for health insurance premiums, only $10 for office visit, and $5/$15 for Rx, 0 for dental 50% for orthodontics, and $20 for glasses. Without the union supporting these workers they would have no ground to stand on with regard to pay and benefits and working conditions. Thanks to the union, if my husband works Saturdays its time and a half, Sunday are double-time and heaven forbid a holiday he gets paid triple time. When he retires, we keep the benefits and a nice pension. Unions are not all about the mob - I have family in chicago and it is not as you describe it. Chicago is a high crime area and it's not the unions that are causing the problem, it is the quality of people who work in SOME of the factories which are lower paying and the socioeconomic drive that results in shady business and your so called mobter and gangster life.
Well, MY experience with unions is the exact opposite...
My dad was in a textile worker's union for 35 years. He had to go through a strike when he had 3 small kids. For six weeks, he received $20 a week and only two bags of groceries for the whole duration. He lost his job at 35 years from the plant closing. That is not to mention that his union wages had us always barely making it, and the union never once did a thing about the conditions they had to work in. He has struggled with a form of bladder cancer for 19 years from working in those conditions and the chemicals used there.
Ask the auto manufacturers what the union has done for them. Yes, the workers are making it fine laid off, but the companies are near death. Those companies feed our nation. We're 1000 miles from Detroit and our livelihood depends on those car companies staying up and running. My husband's company does not make a thing related to cars, but the company that OWNS his company does.
Bottom line is that if this industry has come to the point that we are discussing needing a union, then maybe we need to either get government intervention to standardize the industry, set regulations about ONLY US work for US medical records, and use only certified workers, OR we need to go back to college for our next career choice.
Posts about unions - For All Posters and Readers
Posters placing threads and replies about unions are expected to follow the same guidelines and policies that all other posters follow. Making derrogatory statements about MTStars while utilizing its resources is not going to be tolerated. Encouraging posters in practices that are not advisable for MTStars posters is not going to be tolerated, either.
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Unions in Canada, MTs make $23 hour plus Yep
I communicate with an MT in Canada and that is what she relayed.
I though unions not legal in some states (right-to-work states) nm
nm
Thanks to all of you who see my side!
Thought I might be fighting this battle on my own. I'm glad to see that there are people who feel that posters should be responsible for proving negative accusations. Thanks!
MDI side
I agree...and I even like AIM also. There are much worse places to work, BTDT!!
yes..you are on his side, because besides--sm
not sending the money he owes his MT in the first place, he is taking more of it away from what she earned by charging her to send money he refused to send in the first place. It comes down to *fault*, not capitalizm. He was the one that was wrong. she did not ASK him to overnight the check, so why should she pay for it? If he had paid on time, there would be no issue. Greed is not the way to do business...and you wanting to add a surcharge on top of a $25 overnight fee, puts you in that category, as well. JMO
I'm sure I'm ont he other side
I've always been paid every other Friday the whole year that I have been there, so that must be why I, along with a ton of other people, never got that message. I also never got the e-mail about the insurance benefits, but I don't get them, so it doesn't matter to me at all.javascript:editor_insertHTML('text',' ');
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The other side of it . . .
what's the harm in stating their preference. The schedule cannot be enforced but maybe the days and times posted is when the work is available.
Think about the other side
Its nice to say you could never work for an MTSO that only uses US based MTs. But what if that MTSO is told by its large clients that they will use a different service if they don't reduce costs. Would you rather the MTSO drop the cpl you get or would you prefer they use offshore help to reduce the overall price but keep your CLP the same?
Seems to me that the MTSO that works to keep your CPL is looking out for you.
what is the GT side?? nm
,,
I'm on your side, 34
I was actually just trying to make a joke of a situation that has caused me grief for a long time now. I have been doing this 28 years (if you want to factor in all of my late-night moonlighting jobs, probably 40 years!!). I have seen this profession go from in-house, Selectric II typewriters, WordPerfect 5.1, and desktop tape transcribers to everything you need wrapped up in a nice little computer and INET voice files and the ability to work in your jammies. Over 25 years of experience and here I sit and can't find a job. Well, let's back up... I was offered a couple of 7 cent a line jobs and one 8.5 but I had to work graveyard shift and weekends with my choice of IC or employee. I forgot to mention the 40% ESL rate. There is always something that makes me feel like I'm getting the shaft. I know there are good accounts out there. Who is doing them? I'm too freakin' old for this!!! I feel like beatin' someone with my cane, ha ha. I like to keep it light because I don't want to get irritable bowel syndrome over it... but, come on... something's gotta' give here.
I don't like the CM side at all (sm)
The platform is lousy compared to Enterprise. The staff is different (brought in from elsewhere) and has a very different culture than the rest of Webmedx. I would not recommend anybody work on the Chartmatrix platform, especially if you have a choice between Enterprise and Chartmatrix!
I know I would too, and by my side would be
x
One side of WMX is on this.............
And supposedly, according to the example we were given today, production should increase considerably, but I doubt it will be enough to compensate for the cut in pay. There is a limit to the amount of work a person can crank out in a day.
Then there is the other side of the fence .....
This is the direct opposite of a cheerleader. This is a person who belittle any and all conversations/questions about a company. They try to steer newbies away from the company by slandering them and bashing them, sometimes with not so factual comments. There is a fine line to walk and it is hard to determine who is who sometimes. Best to use your judgment.
Why don't you just jump over to MDI side!
You think Transcend is bad, honey work a week with MDI and then let's compare jelly beans.
do any of you do something extra on the side
My hands kill me just about every day now, and looking at my hands i have muscle breakdown and twitching, so i'd like to cut down on typing. Want to find something to do on the side to earn maybe 1000 to 1500 dollars a month. Was thinking about ebay, but i'm doubtful I could make that much, even though they hype up the advertisement by saying you could make 3000 MINIMUM. I'm just desperate and feel like my hands are about to fall off. I've spent close to 1000$ this year alone in keyboards, gloves, splints, doc visits, meds, changed my station around, hot soaks, cold soaks, exercises, stretches, vitamins. still my hands just sing every day esp at night. So any extra money earning ideas you guys? thanks
Flip side
I will have NO trouble doing that. My problem is I need to work more than 40 hours. If no more SE, I will be restricted to 40 hours/week.
More on the bright side
As a career MT who got sick of being jerked around by MQ, I've had my resume and online applications through this site out there for less than a week. My emails are piling up, my phone rings with interviews, I've had six job offers to seriously consider, none of which were offering less than 9 cpl. That's not counting the ones that were offering less than that, which I had no hesitation in declining. Since I'm also holding out for a job in which I feel I'll be happy, and get the specialty areas my little heart desires, I've been really surprised and pleased at the responses.
I've actually already accepted a new job (with MDI-MD), but the offers still keep coming in, and one lady went so far as to tell me they'd match MDI and top it, if I'd come work for her instead. Whew! Heady stuff! I could get a serious God Complex here if I don't watch out 
Just as an addendum, I refused the offer above, because my interview with the gal at MDI was so terrific, I think I'll be really happy working for them, and after 19 years and facing burnout (thank you, MQ), that's as important to me as the money.
Actually, I was on the Merit side.
Now I work for a company using Dictaphone, and I'm happy.
Look at the bright side.
At least they won't all need plane tickets to Hawaii at the company's expense. If you're so miserable, QUIT!!!
pay on the low side if you are experienced
nm
Supervisor? He isn't on our side! No wonder he kept
calling this weekend to see if I could work extra! He and everyone in that office knew it was coming..how they sleep tonight, I will never know.
If you are on the Dictaphone side, you are definitely NOT -sm
on one of their hardest accounts. Their hardest accounts are done on Merit and by Medware India (who funny enough, can't understand the ESLs there either).
You obviously don't mind that over half of their staff is off shore and they are constantly moving towards having 100% of their work done either by VR or by off shore MTs.
I once thought I would retire from MedWare as well, but I decided to get out when I saw the writing on the wall with regard to their sending work off shore.
I do not work on the VR side...
I work on the Dictaphone side and have 2 AWESOME supervisors.
Also, just to be on the safe side....
(going along with what MTing said) when you go to the post office- get the return receipt, but also to be sure to do delivery confirmation so that you can track the order and make sure that it gets delivered and/or request a signature at delivery...that way the company actually has to sign when the package is received by them from the USPS. Both of these will prevent any excuses as to them saying that they never received it back. Better safe than sorry!
Since all the yammering, here's the down side of TT sm
You can't slow down the dictation (that I'm aware of), but I don't really have to worry about that often, so it doesn't bother me. So there you have it. It's NOT perfect.
You are a bit on the ridiculous side.
s
Me too! I'm dancin' right along side you! hoo-ha! nm
been there, done that - on the employer side..sm
not a lawyer, and not MT environment at that time. Did briefs, etc when working as secretary in legal dept of company (factory type/employee paid piecemeal wages for on-site work). Unless you can prove the time card was fraudulently filed (the hours were not actually worked), the company is responsible for payment of the OT. The advanced approval is not part of the law, only of the company policy. The company's recourse is through discipline for failure to follow company policy, but cannot withold pay. The laws have been tweaked some since then, but not to that point.
Explain, what do you mean by low side
for employee status? Thanks.
focus - us side
I was offered a job with them in QA, worked one night, did not have a foot pedal, was told there were hot keys, which there were not. Money was good, benefits too. But, it was training that involved both MTs and QA people, for 1 hour, not by American trainer either. New manager now though for US side. Hope it will work for you. Make sure you have a foot pedal for Dictaphone before you start. Software was easy enough to use. Good luck. Many negatives on this board. Maybe they will train differently now as I think many left when I did.
Look on bright side, it's still better than
nm
The Flip Side - sm
I've been in this industry a long time. Every company has QA issues. If you don't take it up with someone, they are not aware of a problem.
Every company has the right hire/fire/promote/terminate anyone they see fit - without asking for approval first. No one asks you why you dumped your last boyfriend, or switched grocery stores - or any other decision that affects your life. Why should managements decisions be any different?
Annonymous posts like yours are made to stir up trouble. You're out for revenge or just being spiteful. Grow up. Start showing some professionalism. If you were wronged at DSG, move on.
The question Info on DSG - good or bad is not your opportunity to act like a wronged or spoiled child. It's an opportunity to show your maturity. I don't think it's asking too much.
The other side of the coin
A company with little to no experience hiring you as an IC, then telling you the hours you will work, that you will sit for stats, and lay on a bunch of other parameters that CLEARLY make you a statutory employee and when you point this out-- THEY FIRE YOU!! So it doesn't matter that I turned down other offers or that I just loaded his crap on my PC, my notice on my current job ends Monday and I'm now jobless. I have an employment agreement signed yesterday, wonder if I should apply for unemployment.... OH WAIT! I can't because I'm an IC!
There are very few REAL independent contractor positions in existence in MT. I think a letter to the IRS this week will be just what my psyche ordered.
If you are not being paid to work greater than 40 hours refuse the hours. Wages in the cellar and services whose only bottom line they realize exists is their own.
Wrong side of the bed perhaps?
Get your panties out of a wad...you KNOW what she says is TRUE.
OP...ditto on the 200%.
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