Unions are increasingly a thing of a by-gone era. In this global economy,
Posted By: I think it would drive jobs offshore even more. n on 2005-09-03
In Reply to: How many here would support unionizing if they had the chance? Yes or No is sufficient for now. NM - Leadfeather
x
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
In our increasingly global community, maybe
x
They encourage outsourcing, global economy.
x
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.
THANK YOU. It is becoming increasingly hard these days to be a Christian with this idea of
every religion is okay and we can all be one attitude. They make us sound like just because we believe the truth and say there is only one God and one way to Heaven (Jesus) that we are judgmental, prejudice and closed-minded to diversity.
In this economy? I don't think 5 cpl for ANYTHING
Especially when they state they want someone who has experience, and is good at what they do. And more than that, such as 9-10 cpl, is an insult for straight medical transcription. MT isn't a 'career', it's a US sweatshop run by Indians.
economy
I think the biggest part of it is the economy right now. People are out of jobs, out of insurance, or worried about their jobs and trying not to spend any money, even on health care (dentists seem to be getting the worst of it). Unfortunately, aside from perpetuating the bad cycle of no spending = low business profits = job cuts, in medical terms it is especially bad that people are delaying things that they really need to avoid future problems/expenses, such as colonoscopies, screenings, etc. From everything I have seen so far, this is happening across the board with transcription volumes down. It's normal that we are in a slow period right now just after the holidays, but it seems there are a lot of people on these boards having a hard time finding a new MT job, even with a good resume. I don't think that is going to change until the economy rebounds. There are other challenges for the industry from India, EMR, SR, etc., but I think the economy is affecting our volumes in the immediate present more than anything right now.
Does it have a lot to do with the economy
Do you think it has to do with the economy or is this the way it has been for a while? I see posts from last year where people were being placed pretty easily and quickly.
I thought that maybe in a year things would look a little better. Hopefully anyway...
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
already signs its bad for the economy
As consumers, we are cutting back, because the price of everything is going up and wages going down. Its completely out of balance. Since Bush has been in office, consumers have had to increase their spending because of higher prices in the last year by about 200 billion. Three years ago, consumers were spending 100 billion, now we are spending 500 billion. People have just started to cut back, thats why movie theatres are advertising more to get people back in there, not as many kids are eating out, especially with the gas prices skyrocketing. We've got a complete moron in the office.
THIS economy is doing well, unemployment at 4.9%. Where do you get
x
I think it is the economy. People don't have the
money to buy insurance, or are contractors because their company won't provide insurance, and they cannot afford to have the surgeries they used to. Unless it is a true emergency I bet the hospital rolls are way down. The economy is just very bad right now, and most folks can't even put a doc visit on a credit card, because the credit cards are maxed out. BTW: Even McDonald's recently closed at a mall close to me. Even they are feeling the economic crunch. Yikes!
I think most in this economy would not have a problem
accepting an inhouse deal, some yearn for the chance to have a so called steady income, steady work. The pay seems good. You just said you ran out of work for a few days. You have to ask yourself would you rather sit around in PJs, no money perhaps or inhouse with money. Simple.
global
I worked for them many years ago and the owners are great. Very helpful with any problems you encounter.
Global - sm
So what are they like to work for? How is their work and do they run out of work. How are their dictators? Any information would be appreciated.
Lucy
transcription unions
Has anyone ever heard of a medical transcription union and how do you get it started?
Unions are a way of the past
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.
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.
AND if another country's economy fails
it will greatly affect us.
In this economy I would not dare - they may look elsewhere, be careful!
.
This economy is so bad, and the past overhiring
have made MTSOs scared, I believe. I sent out a zillion resumes a day and finally ended up with 1 full-time and 1 prn just in case the FT runs out of work. It took a year while I worked at a bad place and went broke. But you have got to keep trying, please keep up the faith. Statistically the more you send out the better chance of getting a response. Did not help when Medquist's thousands of MTs left at once too, so the market is flooded right now. Good luck to you.
Superior Global
Does anyone know anything about Superior Global?
SUPERIOR GLOBAL
Does anyone know anything good or bad about Superior Global Solutions out of Texas?
Superior Global
I have worked for Superior previously. While I loved my job there as an editor, I work 24/7, literally. It was very difficult editing for Indian MTs because there was no communication and they were not very good. They are apparently going through some real financial difficulties at the moment. They just lost their major account.
superior global
thanks
Superior Global
Not only did they lose the account, but they knew months in advance this was happening. Nothing was said to the MTs at all. They just went in to work and there was none. This is not to mention - paychecks bounce
superior global
Superior global wants basic 4 also, it is for clinical work only. I will try the other one you posted. Thank you :)
Try Superior Global
The last I heard, Superior Global Solutions out of Plano, Texas hired MTs fresh out of school, I am sure to do clinic notes, but that is a start anyways. You are just going to have to start out doing any kind of MT work you can get your hands on, just anything to show you have actual work experience. I was lucky and got started in this business over 20 years ago, learning on-the-job, but I know it's harder now days.
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?
Yeah, the whole world economy is going to be derailed because
Do you realize that the Bush tax cut saved this economy after 9/11?
Everybody got a tax cut. Now you can't cut taxes to those who don't pay any, can you? That would be socialism. BTW, do you realize that the unemployment rate in those countries with cradle to grave entitlements runs more than 10%, as compared to our 4.9%. France for example. I know it seems like a simple solution that the taxes from the high wage earners should be taken away and given to those who don't earn anything, but in economic terms, that can destroy an economy and therefore hurt the low wager earners even more. Case in point, the Clinton luxury tax back in the 90s. He put a huge tax on boats and jewlery and had to remove it because of the trickle down damage that did to all the jobs those luxury items created.
Make sure you don't have it in express or economy mode.
Is it faint all over consistently or is it uneven? If it's consistently faint, go to your Start Menu, Control Panel, Printers and Faxes, right click on Dell Printer 720, Properties, General, Printing Preferences, and make sure Quality/Speed isn't set on Quick Print. If that doesn't fix it, post again and we'll try something else. You may have to put in a new cartridge.
Global Transcription Network
Has anyone heard of the company "Global Transcription Network," was offered a job today. Thanks bunches everyone.
Global Transccription Network
Where is the company located. I worked for a company that bought out a company by that name. If it is one in the same - do your best to run the other way. 
Global Transcription Network
It is based out of Texas.
correct - they took global steps and is why they
since they are NO LONGER DEALING WITH ONLY AMERICAN MTs, their name is no longer AAMT -
Please recognize this. Thank you.
Global Medical Transcription
I checked out quite a few schools when I was looking. At the time the range was from around $700 for tapes to around $5000 or more for one of the more well-known schools. GMT was $2500. I had read on one of the boards that doing the tapes unsupervised, without anyone to explain things or ask questions of, was not a good idea. I thought that made sense.
I wanted a school that would train online and train in the use of FTP, etc. All the work was done via FTP at GMT.
I wanted a school that had some kind of placement program. GMT did, & I got hired by Medquist a couple of days after I graduated. I stayed there for about 9 months, then moved on & have been working ever since. I think the course was 6 months. It was not self-paced; you had to keep up. I was at my computer for at least 8 hours a day.
I liked GMT just fine. My instructor was great, there was some virtual classmate comaraderie, they encouraged us to use a word Expander right away, provided us with software & books. Everyone was nice & helpful, including the people working in accounting & registration, among other contacts.
I did check out a local community college that had an MT program. They had a prerequisite course that was not available until Fall (this was in April or so). You could not take any other classes until you had taken this one, & you could not take any other classes concurrently. I remember estimating that it would have taken me more than 3 years to get through the program. The JC was cheaper, but not when I took 3 years of living expenses into account. I decided to go the shorter, full-time, more expensive route because I wanted to be working sooner.
I liked GMT & am glad I went through their program. But they were hard to find, didn't advertise much, & now I think they went out of business. I just tried their web address & the link was dead. It's not because it was a bad school. It's just that no one knew about them.
Global Trans in Florida
I posted this on the company forum, but no one replied. I thought maybe it was overlooked. Does any work for or know anything about Global Transcription in Florida? Thanks a bunch
|
