Interesting union policy

[SeaJay]

You still have to pay the union dues even if you never work more than 32 hours; which could be something like crappy management limiting your hours or in her case, sickness.

Back in the day as a high schooler working in a grocery store I had to pay monthly dues to the local retail worker's union. I was a part time which meant <30 hours during he school year and 45 hours (with O/T pay > 40) in the summer. Very few, if any benefits that the full timers received, yet the dues cost me just as much as paid by the full timers.

That being said, I was rather happy to get the paycheck each week, it meant a lot to me.

 

[Arc]

You aren't addressing the original statement you made. I simply wanted to understand the claim you were making. You’re being very vague, and I think it’s deliberate.

That is true, I am being vague and it is deliberate. As I explained I have to be careful not to go against the law by interfering with the unions. To be honest I shouldn't have said anything. "NLRB  v any business " explains it all. The heavy handedness of the government explains it all.

 

[Arc]

Discussing ≠ interfering. That's quite a leap.

They don't even need that. An unfair labor practice charge doesn't mean there is proof of wrongdoing just a suspicion. It opens the door for a fishing expedition by the NLRB. For a small construction company of 35 employees it's a death sentence.

 

[Arc]

The electrician I hire regularly (he is almost full time here) works for a Union and is assigned to companies. He technically works for and reports to the company, but the Union signs his check.

He gets 0 paid vacation days and 0 paid sick days.

When work is low, they limit them to 20 hours a week so the Union doesn't have to pay benefits (his words). Thankfully, I have enough work that I can allow him and 1 or 2 of his guys work when it is slow to help them out, but even I have times where I cannot help. I hire him and his guys because they are very good, not because I am a bleeding heart, so a ploy to get hours from me does not work, if that is one thought you may have. Once our punch list is done, they go home.

Their retirement system traps them into staying as well, as they will lose 100% of their retirement benefits if they leave the union and go private. For most guys, they are too far invested before they figure it out. My 401K is by far more valuable than his pension after 30 years, compared to my 25 in private industry.

Outside of training, his union provides no benefit whatsoever. Many of the union guys change companies like underwear just to keep working and making a living. That sounds like a miserable life to me.

I understand the need for unions but today they have become worse than the employers. I've sat in meetings with many other business owners who think they have no responsibility to provide a good life for their employees. I have also been in closed door meetings with the IBEW and listened to them talk about how they make a good living off of all the dumb workers. Dumb workers was just my polite way of saying what they actually said.

 

[Dave Hess]

I understand the need for unions but today they have become worse than the employers. I've sat in meetings with many other business owners who think they have no responsibility to provide a good life for their employees. I have also been in closed door meetings with the IBEW and listened to them talk about how they make a good living off of all the dumb workers. Dumb workers was just my polite way of saying what they actually said.

The bad unions are similar to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

There are some very good unions out there.

My dad was a union member when he was working for an airline.

 

[Finklejag]

I was 16 and worked in a grocery store in California. I was part of the UCFW union and received full medical benefits even when I worked just 20 hours a week. This was back in 1990. I think top pay back then was $12.00 a hour. I was making $4.25 minimum wage.

 

[Arc]

The bad unions are similar to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

There are some very good unions out there.

My dad was a union member when he was working for an airline.

There are good union halls within the IBEW too. Unfortunately our local was corrupt as they get. In the end by letting them operate they just hurt the workers in those areas. It's a shame they have the backing of a union run government agency that let's them continue illegal practices. Believe it or not I actually signed my company with the Union because I believe in their founding values.

 

[Dave Hess]

So the lady friend and I are both sick. I think I have pneumonia, she either has the same or the flu. She works for jewel-osco which the employees are under United Food and Commercial Workers union. They have health insurance but if you work less than 32 hours on a week then you do not get health insurance for that week. So with her being sick two work days so far this week (four in total so far), she does not get health insurance this week so she cannot see the doctor.

You still have to pay the union dues even if you never work more than 32 hours; which could be something like crappy management limiting your hours or in her case, sickness.

I think I'm just ranting here but this seems like a pretty massive racketeering BS policy meant to screw over employees and put money in union official's pockets.

Also stemming from this is why nobody wants to work for companies and unions like this and why they're always short handed.

Any updates ?

 

[Pew]

Any updates ?

No unfortunately not yet, maybe in the next couple days I'll have better information.

 

[y_p_w]

The original post doesn’t sound right, but there can be state to state variations. The minimum rules for large employers are set by federal law, which I believe requires averaging hours over a specific period.

https://myaci-benefits.com/benefits-basics/eligibility/​

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), employers are required to offer employees the opportunity to enroll in benefits if they meet certain qualifications. In most cases, hourly associates must work 30 or more hours per week to be eligible for Albertsons benefits.​

 

[Doc8404]

I'm genuinely surprised you can get health insurance week by week.

Agreed. Never heard of such a thing.
The union sucks.

 

[Pew]

Agreed. Never heard of such a thing.
The union sucks.

I misquoted her; it's every 6 months but the possible contention now is if she needs an average or a minimum of 30 hours/week or they'll drop her.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I misquoted her; it's every 6 months but the possible contention now is if she needs an average or a minimum of 30 hours/week or they'll drop her.

Thats standard I think. 30 hours is the line for "full time" I believe. I have heard of companies going less - like 60% or 24 hours.

Just one more reason to nationalize it.

 

[y_p_w]

Agreed. Never heard of such a thing.
The union sucks.

Not likely a union deal. I can’t find anything that would make this legal. Hourly calculations are supposed to be averaged over a period to determine if someone is full time under the ACA and required to be insured.