Unions are a way of the past
Posted By: Pj on 2006-08-26
In Reply to: My husband is a union president and says we should definitely organize. - MT
My ex was and is still in a union as a truck driver but they are slowly being phased out and it will be that way everywhere. That industry was hit prior to us with more or less outsourcing when the Fair Trade act or whatever it is called opened up with Mexico and Central America. You do not see many English speaking truckers anymore and their income went from 70 to 75K per year down to $35 to $40 and so we are not the only ones that hit by more or less outsourcing. And now the place where he works, has a union and non union company and at each terminal when the union contract comes up for renewal, the non union side bids lower and it goes that way. He is in the last terminal that is union and I doubt it will be that way when their contract expires in two years. So unions are on way out.
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
unions protect unions, not employees...sm
those days are gone. The unions got too big and too greedy. The concern of the union is the union, not the employee.
chiefly British past and past participle of SPELL
nm
Unions
And just WHY do you think they are now outsourcing everything out of the country, manufacturing, etc. Because the unions demanded so much and the companies basically said **** you-- we'll just take it somewhere else. So what did they gain? Now there AREN'T any jobs period unless you want to move to Mexico or India, etc., that it.
Unions
Yes!
Unions
If it would improve anything, I say yes. The status quo has never worked and never will except for the MTSOs.
Unions
 I guess a lot of this all depends on where in the country you live. In my area, most of the grocery stores are union and that is why they make the better wages. I like to support those stores, though, as I said above, but I think that perhaps in some regions of the country, this is not the case, so thanks for opening my eyes!
Unions
Never belonged to one myself but know hospitals don't like them.
To generalize a bit, it seems that everyone in American work force (those of us who still have jobs)feel unappreciated, under paid and with a vulnerability that we could easily be easily replaced no matter how good we are or even how bad we are at what we do or even how well-educated. It's just the nature of the beast these days and the outcome of and competition. It's very corrupt and defies the constitution of the United States. Until we have CHANGE in Washington, we will have more of the same.
against unions
I'm against unions because unions are greedy. Why do you think jobs have gone overseas...it started with manufacturing because unions wanted more and more for their members to the point it has become ridiculous-$72 an hour to put together a car that is mostly done with robotics. Yes, I saw that on a news report on the auto industry and a union member trying to justify making that much money per hour.
Unions
I totally agree with the fact that we should have a union. AAMT or AHDI as it is now called has been lobbying in Washington for us for years.
No to unions.
Why I am against unions
Unions had their time and place in this county, and IMHO, it is long gone. There are many reasons that I am against unions, a big one being that they protect mediocre and inept employees. Unions bring everyone down to the lowest common denominator. Also, it seems a common misconception that unions exist to protect the worker. This is NOT true - they exist to protect themselves and their own fat cat salaries. I recently heard a quote from an official of the teacher's union who said, when asked when they were going to take into consideration the needs of students when it came to terminating incompetent teachers (which they are against, of course), his reply was "When the students start paying union dues." That puts it in a nutshell. I want nothing to do with a union. I don't need anyone to negotiate for me, and I'm not going to spend my time whining about the state of the MT industry. It is what it is, and you either need to adapt with it or move on. By the way, I've done quite well as an MT and have continued to do so by moving and finding a better spot if I don't like the situation where I am. Things are never going to return to the "good old days." Change is here to stay.
Unions
I'm new to this forum, having just graduated from Career Step. However, I worked as management for 8 years at the Port of Los Angeles with one of the most powerful unions in the United States- the ILWU and I would like to submit some of my thoughts.
Firstly, I am a liberal Democrat who believes there is a place for unions. They DO provide protections for workers that MOST companies would never do on their own. They DO insure that their employees make a living wage and can be protected from most company driven forms of exploitation.
As an ex-manager, I can tell you that MOST companies are driven by THEIR bottom lines only, with little regard for the workers.
Secondly, I supervised up to 40 ILWU workers per day and my experience was that about 50% of the union employees were great workers who did not take advantage of their union status. The other 50%, however, worked as little as possible, were rigid and inflexible and made life h*ll for me and my fellow managers. The ILWU OCU (office/clerical unit) base pay was $43.50/hr in 2006- the year I finally quit as I couldn't take the US vs THEM mentality any longer. Those 50% were only out for themselves, without any regard for anyone else- including the company. I have to say that during their last contract negotiation, they attempted to have the company pay for PET INSURANCE.
Yet- the United Autoworkers have taken several wage/benefit cuts over the last decade in order to help their companies survive.
I believe that if a reasonable balance can be achieved between union workers and the companies they work for- then life can be good for all concerned. However, human nature being what it is, both sides need to be aware and on guard against the "SC**W the other side" mentality, because once it takes hold- no one wins and a war zone is not a nice place to work.
I found a website which has instructions on how to start a union. I also have some contacts within the ILWU who would be more than happy to help start an MT union if anyone is interested.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2050880_start-union-work.html
But why sign it to put the past behind? The past should have
It seems that they dredged up the past by wanting the release signed to keep them out of trouble for unfair employment practices. Usually when a person ends the working relationship, they give formal written notice, the company accepts the notice, and the employment is over. Smells pretty fishy to send a termination agreement and, oh by the way, sign this release. LOL
transcription unions
Has anyone ever heard of a medical transcription union and how do you get it started?
we need legislation, not unions.
IMO we need laws to keep our work from being off-shored, or at least make that option very unattractive (with penalty taxes?). On a parallel track, we need well-trained MTs that will not work for peanuts, who are willing to work some weekends, holidays, night hours, etc.
Yes, and Unions are killing GM and the like.
nm
To the people who are against unions...
My question is why are you against them? My husband is a union member and we have good family benefits plus he gets a very decent wage. Granted, he hasn't been a member very long, about 1 year plus, but so far everything seems good. Yes, unions are political, but so is everything else today. There are lobbyists for everything in Washington and as the saying goes "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours". But at least unions are there to protect their workers, or so it goes in theory. US MTs have no protection whatsoever and our profession as we know it is on its way to becoming obsolete.
On this MT site alone, post after post is negative and it's mostly about MTSO's and the way they treat their workers who make them $ - US. I've been an at-home MT for about 3-1/2 years now and previous to that worked in-house. I work for a well known national and when I first started it was good - I was making really good $, more than I did in-house, had a great supervisor, good accounts, and they always gave us opportunities for bonuses that you could actually make some $ on. My sup even sent me a B-day card and a Xmas card by snail-mail and in her own handwriting no less! The good times lasted for about 1-1/2 years and it has all been downhill ever since. With the combination of ILP and ASR, the transcription industry is going down the tubes and FAST. The big fear in the past was hospitals outsourcing and in-house MTs losing their jobs. That fear became a reality as more and more hospitals realized they could save $ by outsourcing a portion, if not all, their work. Now today the fear is outsource companies outsourcing overseas (kind of funny when you think about it - outsourcing company outsourcing) and machines taking the place of humans, again MTs losing their jobs. When will it end? We can come on here and post our frustration and moan and groan, but what is that really going to accomplish. Some may think (and hope) that MTSOs read this board and our e-mails and suddenly one day the light will come shining down from the heavens and the angels will sing because the MTSOs will finally come to their senses as to how rotten they have been to us, their loyal worker bees, and will shower us with praise and gifts of gold and $. Well, to those MTs who think this way, WAKE UP. MTSOs do not care about us. They may say they do, but they know that right at this moment in time they still need us. ASR and ILP are not as efficient as they need to be to get the job done correctly at dirt cheap rates, but it is only a matter of time before they become dominant and transcription as we know it is in the archive books. MTSOs main objective is to make the most $ and pay out as little as they can get away with. They chip away little by little - sending more accounts overseas, cutting rates, reorganizing to fit their needs but not taking into consideration how it affects the MT. They are business people doing what business people do by trade and they are accomplishing what they are setting out to do - make the most $ and pay out the least. So what are MTs supposed to do to protect our professional trade? Voicing our opinions, whether it be here on this board or by e-mail or phone, isn't going to change a thing. Maybe it's time to get proactive and actually DO something rather than complain or just up and quit and then the MTSOs can say they HAVE to have ILPs and ASR because there aren't enough qualified US MTs. I for one would be interested in seeing a union or other organization be formed to protect the US MT industry from it's downfall, but I wouldn't know where to start. If nothing is done now, I'm afraid that in 10 years or less my job as I know it will be a part of history. If anyone has any other proactive ideas, please post them. I'm sure there are plenty of MTs who would be willing to join a group venture to protect our profession.
YES to unions! And the sooner the better!
practical unions
How exactly does anyone propose that a union come into this business? They would probably only find it worthwhile to unionize the large MTSOs. The little ones have too few employees for a union to look at. My guess is the big companies would then outsource more.
Why I'm FOR unions: They protect the WORKER.
.
Then the unions would be in bed with AHDI (AAMT) huh!! sm
Don't we already have that going on anyway?
Unions protected workers from exploitation
It seems me that had the unions had a watch dog group, abuse of that system would not have occurred. And there was abuse. A small percentage of people always seem to look for loop holes and then milk something good as long as they can until they ruin it for everybody.
But please, unions are good. If there were unions in Calif for the field workers, conditions would be improved and these unemployed workers across America who have lost their jobs to outsourcing could actually make a decent living at them without work that puts you into a chiropractors' office in ten years.
Of course, the price of food would have to go up or perhaps all of those filthy rich ranch owners would, instead, have to take a cut in income (now there is a possible answer).
Most unions have a training program with apprenticeships
MTSOs who participate would be allowed to have up to a certain percentage of their union workers be apprentices, who would make a percentage of the union scale (generally the percentage goes up annually until the person is considered fully trained and experienced...called a "journeyman" in some trades). This training/apprenticeship program is what makes union participation attractive to employers...they get properly trained workers at pay rates which correspond to the experience level.
Unions are increasingly a thing of a by-gone era. In this global economy,
x
Unions may be good for workers short-term, but look what has happened to American car union workers.
They priced themselves out of the market while making an inferior product. Ford and GM are now junk bonds. I'm driving a Toyota. So if that's un-American just like shopping at a non-union store like Walmart, well you can talk to whoever is in charge of wages and taxes who have created this monster where even middle-class has very little extra money to support a union store where the employees are paid well and you pay the price in the product they sell. I can't afford it.
Have gotten as much as $3,000 in the past.
The hospital I worked for for 28 years (as a medical lab technologist) always gave us a Christmas bonus. This ranged from $3,000 one year in the 80s down to an orange (yeah, a piece of fruit) and a calendar a few years later. It usually averaged, though, around $200 or so. It always depended on the hospital profit for that year.
The clinic I work for now gives us $100 and a really fancy dinner-dance party (that I don't ever attend). 
I have used it in the past
I had it before I got DSL. Never had any problems at all. Lots of local numbers to call into. Never really had problems getting bumped off. Never had problems with busy signals. Just was really slooowww (as is any dial up). I paid a few dollars more a month for the "accelerated" version. It was supposed to be faster, but I didn't notice any difference. I would definitely recommend it as far as dial up goes, though.
I have done this in the past and have just taken another
full time position with another company. If you are motivated enough, then go for it. The only advice I can offer is if they are both full time jobs with full time line requirements not hours, when the first full time job picks back up, are you going to be able to do both jobs full time? That is the only problem I had but I was able to do it just fine.
his past was his past........if you...sm
If you have never learned in life that yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a *gift*, that's why we call it present...and to forgive what was years ago and condemn him in his 60s and continually name-call him, such as *perv* - you apparently have the personality disorder.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, just as I am.....so like I said - go into the mirror.......and become introspective before you name-call....
oh, and your history is 100% perfect? Oh, I get it - you have no faults from the past or prefer to point out everyone else's faults or past. 
'tis all in the attitude.......
My past
Hope my "name" doesn't bother anyone, but I just couldn't help but post.
I can relate to how you are feeling about your friend. I suffered from secondary infertility (I had a child but when she turned 2 I started trying to have another and couldn't). I found a web site where I could post and formed many friendships. Most were women who had NO children. My heart went out to them.
The web site is
www.INCIID.org if your friend wants to check it out. I have formed lifelong friendships with several I met on there.
End of my story is that after 9 years of fertility treatments (torture!!!) and 2 miscarriages along the way (worse than torture!!!!) I finally went the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) route and got my twins. My family is now complete. It was a very long, hard haul though. So anyone considering fertility treatmens should keep that in mind. Emotionally and financially. To consider taking out a loan for $15,000 for a one-shot deal at IVF was excruciating. Especially after my doc only gave me a 10% chance of it working.
Sorry, I didn't mean to write a book. I just want to be a source of hope for someone who is going through infertiltiy and miscarriage. It has scarred me, that's true, but these babies make up for the pain of those years. Wishing your friend the best!
I have in the past. I have to
change the covers frequently. If you run out, just rig covers made from clean, soft, thin cloth or Kleenex. I wrap the tissue around it, cut off excess, and secure with small rubber bands. Aaaaaah!
Lots of MTs have ear problems. After showers, dry out ears with an astringent on a Q-Tip, being very gentle. You can even hold 2 Q-tips together to make them too large to accidently jab too deep. Dry out excess astringent with dry ends of Q-tip and don't put on headphones until air-dried completely. If skin is oily, you can use wipe the entire ear and behind with witchhazel to normalize the ear skin and avoid irritation. I can even use alcohol or 2% salicylic acid on my ears. Feels great to oily skin.
I have seen this in the past also
I did training for the small service I worked for, and have worked with new grads all the way up to 20+ years' experience and had a very different focus training each. The older MTs (exp. not age) who had received no QA did have trouble adjusting sometimes; some were more demoralized by it, no matter how kindly it was delivered, and some would get angry and say things like "I've always done it this way and no one has complained." And some had difficulty with the computer programs we used, more so than the newer MTs. I would think that latter problem would be even more pronounced now with all the fancy software out there.
So I think I get she's saying, but on the other hand, I don't think it was too smart or tactful for her to say it and be quoted for it! I've always thought you need a mix of MTs for a healthy environment, newer and "older"!
How do get past the
frustration of KNOWING QA changes are incorrect? Working at Chronicle I had one good QA person I was dealing with and would send me what they call a comparison report. Then when I typed on a different shift and asked for a finished report I noted that many of the blanks I had left were still there BUT there were also things changed that I KNOW were incorrect? As an MT, are we within our rights to question QA changes and also the experience level of the QA? Viewing the particular changes made in my instance, there is no way this QA person carried any kind of experience.
There have been some things with others in the past
In fact, he's estranged from both of his children, one son and one daughter, they actually hate him and have written nasty letters. The daughter is completely insane, does drugs, married about four or five times, a thief, but nothing has been brought up about any sort of abuse. His other daughter and I have talked. She said that her mother growing up was very suspicious of her and her father's relationship. Actually accused her of leading him on, or teasing him, and something happened where she caught her naked and him in the same room and got mad at her. The daughter swears nothing was going on, but who knows, we didn't know him back then. So it ruined her relationship with her mother.
He has my family fooled that he's this great wonderful guy, yet his own family wants nothing to do with him. Thats why bad mouthing him, I would be ostracized. They all know he's slightly perverted, but its accepted. Thats why i'm wondering if i'm blowing it out of proportion. All I know is that its changed and i'm extremely uncomfortable. Being too specific about what he's said is too embarrassing to even mention to them. I don't even want to make eye contact with him.
that's a blast from the past
I remember that term from years ago.
I did a Google search and the closest I got was a Maxwell Sweetheart retractor: http://www.snowdenpencer.com/snowden/dspcatalog.nsf/b7e010000d3e8e708525666e004dfec2/0174ad87011670c085256673005b0e34?OpenDocument
If you read the first paragraph, it's referring to the shape of the blade ... so my guess is if you can have a heart-shaped blade with a retractor, why not with the tenaculum.
She has been referred in the past - sm
by social services, that's where they hooked up with her current psychologist.
It's a rural area, not much to offer, so they are looking further away from home now to find the right person/people for counseling.
Should also mention that SS dropped the ball on more than one occasion when it comes to Tater and her younger brother (different father.) Tater's mom has also relinquished custody of the baby brother in the past couple of months. Just handed him over without so much as a "how ya doin" to the boy's father, who is also the same guy that she had tossed in jail for domestic abuse and has a standing no contact order against. Some mother.
I never had any problem in the past..nm
/
living it for the past 2.5 yrs---
my ex quite working a legal job so he doesn't have to pay support. my 3 yo son was able to get insurance through the state but it was very hard to get (and didn't keep it) they don't cover that much. the state keeps rewriting the laws and cut benefits each time. I'm an ic and have my own health ins for my son and myself. I'm robbing peter to pay paul right now and probably will be for a long time. we're doing without a lot of things so that I don't have to take a job outside of the house not to mention that I couldn't afford full time child care. I would try getting extra side jobs so that you could stay home. I worked 3 jobs for 2 years and went down to one job that promised full time work a couple of months ago and needless to say they haven't kept up their end of the deal-as usual-so I'm looking to pick up at least 1 other job. the peace of mind knowing that I'm here and flexible, especially if my son gets sick, isn't worth trading right now.
did in the past but does not do drugs...sm
I wish he'd come in here and sue your arse...for that post
Felony in Past
I've just completed an MT course and am now looking to get hired. I have been turned down by a couple of companies because I have a felony in my past from 1995. Can someone who has a felony every get hired to be an MT or have I wasted my money and time? If it is possible to get hired, any ideas on which companies I should try. Thanks in advance for anyone's help.
felony in past
A lot of people in the medical field are very self-righteous and judgemental as well as hypocritical. Apparently this is not a field to go into unless you're perfection like they think they are. Sorry if this upsets some people on this board.
felony in past
i am inclined not to think that "Anon" and "anon2" are the same person. i have reread both, and the two have very different styles. i think "anon2" is just commenting on "Anon's" reply posts, but that is just mho. incidently, i did not take anything amiss in the posts. i thought several of them were quite compassionate.
That is how I have been doing it for the past 2 years -sm
My husband has 2 exemptions, but Married as single, so it is taxed at a higher amount. Covers my taxes (so far) and we still get about $1400 back. I plan to pay some taxes though this year via the electronic Federal site. Have not started yet though as finances are tight at the moment but plan to get on the stick by June with any luck and pay in a couple thousand.
Sorry, I can't get past the teeth..... : > lol
x
passed/past
/
Yes, here too, for about the past 2 hours..nm
/
But if I can get past the misspelling,
I have found 2 exceptional items that I bought. Some end tables, glass with bronze bases, 10$ each, very steady, cannot get that in a store at that price and the other day bought Persian rug, supposedly 8 1/2 x 11 with blue background that exactly matches the color in my workroom. I am so excited, seems like it made the room bigger. Happy camper. Just grit my teeth and keep looking. Saw listing for an chair and attaman 1 day and sent them note saying, what is that??
I have kept 1 for the past 4 years but have - sm
moved about a bit trying to find a good FT gig. Have worked for 3 other companies in 5 years trying to find a good fit, no set schedule, good accounts and pay. So far no luck. I do like my PT job now, do about 6000 lines every 2 weeks but would love to find what a few others have, a good account, easy lines and good pay, but those are few are far between I think. I cannot work a set schedule as I have way too much going on, so it makes it harder to acheive nirvana.
New MTs a Thing of the Past?
Interesting perspective and comments! I agree with some, notably about VR. I remember when I started, asking about if VR would replace me some day, and then the answer was "not in your lifetime." Ha! I have lost accounts to VR. I am still an MT, and things are constantly changing, you are right. Thanks for your comments!
she states below that she did try in the past sm
to bring on another IC but they were resistant to the idea.
She has already tried doing what you suggest, to no avail.
I have been in this situation as well, and while it is very true that we are, in essence, vendors to our clients, there are offices that are truly difficult to work with.
It is a good idea to consider taking an employee position in this case, I agree, but please know that she's already tried addressing the issue in the way you suggest. :-)
Probably so. And my current one. And past one, too.
They might as well - they don't seem to have anything more productive with the time they spend in their plush offices behind closed doors. Unless maybe it's napping.
|
