Once again, I love my union!

[Laffy Kat]

I work in healthcare and have been isolated since Monday due to a cough. I only had a few hours of fever and I know I just have a URI with asthma. The doctor's note said I had to isolate until next Wednesday. Up until now, we have had to use our PTO time for self-isolation, which sucks because I had plans for a vacation a little later in the year.

I heard from the union this morning to let me know management now has to pick up the hours for isolation. This is huge because so many of us are in the same boat. I am also getting tested in about an hour. If that is negative (which it will be) I can go back to as soon as we get the results. If I'm positive, management will have to pick up the next 80 hours, as well.

[lunasun]

1. ++Workers stronger in union with each other!!

PTO with doctor rec note?
No

[Laffy Kat]

2. I know!

Honestly, I wasn't that worried about the PTO because I knew the union was working on it and it was just a matter of time.

[lunasun]

3. Yes, really a WTH?.... but at least you folks had the union to stop that now

[True Blue American]

4. My car wears the Union label.

I still pay dues, voluntarily.

[Laffy Kat]

8. Do you mind me asking what kind of car you drive?

I will be in the market for a car in the fall and I'm trying to decide. Thanks.

[True Blue American]

9. Buick

But so many are going to SUV’s. In my case and my Son there is also l to companies.

He has a new Malibu. His wife a GMC. He also has a 38 Chevy.

[Laffy Kat]

16. Thanks.

What I want is something union made that is much like a Subaru. I don't really enjoy driving sedans and I'm pretty petite for a huge SUV. Any advice?

[guillaumeb]

5. Recommended,

from a union member since 1975.

[intheflow]

6. Same, except my union isn't doing dick for me.

Forced to use up my vacation time despite having a doctor-ordered quarantine note. The 14 days I had to use my vacation (my only vacation all year) expired before the federal government Families First Coronavirus Response Act went into effect. I was likely an early carrier, but of course couldn't get a test back in mid-March when this all went down. (Not that I'd be able to get a test now, either). Everyone's acting like I'm the problem for bringing up the problem!

Anyway... glad you're getting some justice. Best of luck with your impending test results!

[Laffy Kat]

7. Gosh, I am sorry, intheflow.

I wonder: When they come out with a test for antibodies, could you use that as proof that you had it? It's a long shot. I wouldn't give up though. I mean, you know management is going to say, "no, no, no" at first. Our members made sure the union kept on management.

[intheflow]

12. Our union is toothless.

I'm a library worker, and we all have to report to the closed library building to continue working, even thought 95% of the work we can do right now is work that can be done from home and we are 1.5 hours from Boston and 3 hours from NYC in a city with a teaching hospital getting overflow patients even a month ago. There's been a movement to #CloseTheLibrary on twitter, and some people outside our system contacted the mayor's office and were rude to him. Because of this, our union rep was told he didn't want to work with us any more and we had to come in. (I'm 100% sure this man has wet dreams about Trump.) My union rep sent a letter *on our behalf* to the city apologizing for other people harassing him, begging his office to consider our plea.

Groveling unions!! Why even have a union?

[Laffy Kat]

14. We get frustrated with ours as well at times.

In the long-run though, they usually come through.

I'm sorry. I cannot imagine ANY union representative being a Republican; that should be a disqualifier in itself.

[True Blue American]

18. And who made your Union useless?

That attitude, blaming your Union instead of your Corporate bosses are exactly why your Union is useless as you say!

[intheflow]

19. No.

I inherited this union when I was hired two years ago. Prior to my joining, they negotiated a really bad contract for us, compared to other city contracts (which are all posted on the city's website so I am able to compare them).

I have studied labor history extensively at a master's level, and have dreamed my whole working life (30 years) of having a union job. Seriously, fuck off with this attitude of blaming the person bringing up the problem.

[True Blue American]

20. Those who came before you voted for everything that is making your Union weak today.

I feel for you but the attitude is what has weakened Unions for years. Your Corporation worked to make them weak. The Useless Unions as you call them are not to blame, the Corporations are!

[True Blue American]

10. Sorry to hear that.

Our family went through the fights and picket lines for decent wages, health care to the slow but sure demise of Unions.

Now many are fighting for them.

[intheflow]

13. Thanks.

I think union organizing is going to see a renaissance very soon. Been saying that for years, that labor would rise in the 20-teens, mirroring the rise of labor in the 19-teens in response to the robber barons. It's be up the uptick for a few years, but this health crisis is going to exacerbate growth.

Here's hoping!

[Laffy Kat]

15. I sure hope you're right. nt

[True Blue American]

17. It is starting with

Hotel workers. The Unions began with the garment workers. Then spread to manufacturing.

Workers became lazy, bitched about paying Union dues. Listened to Corporations and Republicans tell them how bad Unions were. A few bad apples seemed to prove their point. The threats of sending jobs over seas scared them.

Clinton made a bad mistake by signing the Bush created NAFTA. Companies used the threat of going overseas to cut wages. Employees caved. Bills were passed by Republicans actually making it profitable for companies to move.

There has to be change in people’s thinking. Much like a couple of the above posts blaming their Unions for their weakness. If you do not care enough to support the Union that is trying to protect what few rights you still have it is on you.

I remember the long strikes that gave workers decent wages and health care. It was not an easy fight. People died. The Pinkerton’s killed them for striking. People really need to understand the history of Unions.

[True Blue American]

11. :)