But that doesn't solve the problems, does it? If everyone just left when things got bad, we'd have no long-running businesses at all. It's up to the highly-educated and highly-paid corporate types to figure a way out of this mess that does the least amount of damage.

If you believe its up to the "highly paid highly educated corporate types" youve just diminished the value of all the union employees who have signifcant expereince and can add value to the disucssion about how to make a business succesful.

I didnt say to leave when things got bad, I said if you tried to improve things and cant, or you dont like the wages or benefits, or have tried to work with a poor maanger or leader, You Have a Choice.

There are thousands of "long running businesses" in this country.

WHY?

Because they treat employees with respect and dignity

These Employees have an effective dispute resolution system (not a grievence system which is extremly ineffcient) to insure the consistent application of polices, and procedures.

Employees have significant input into their jobs and business decisions ( I didnt say 'make all the decsions')

Employees are paid a competitive wage and benefit package (This doesnt mean 'parity' with the industry)

In my experience and opinion most of the great places to work are non union. Management creates a workforce where employees have no reason to seek third party intervention.


And what about the "highly paid highly educated (?) union executives? Whats their responsibility to fix the "mess". And why arent the union employees throwing those bums out since they cant deliver or perform to help the cause?

I have always found it interesting that the companies that are most highly regarded on Wall Street & Main Street often share the distinction of having well compensated employees, superior morale along with a reputation for ethical behavior. 2 of my employers control nearly 60% of our market and are the 2 most expensive in the market. If it's all about price then how do these 2 household names survive? Must be something intangible don't you think?

Why do you think that is? Why are airlines the most heavily unionized, have a history of labor troubles and some of the poorest profit performance in recent history?

Neil Cohen has been CFO through 3 BK filings at 2 Airlines since 2003 and yet pockets over 1.5 million in performance bonuses. Wolf & Gangwal 15 Million apiece when they left US, Siegel 4.5 million. FOR WHAT? I didn't notice any shareholder backing up the Brinks truck during that time frame?

If the employees hate management how is is possible for them to provide superior service?

What you say about long-running companies is true, and makes sense. I don't care if a company is union or non-union. But just throwing your hands up as an employee and leaving doesn't fix what's wrong. Something must be done to make both employees and pax happy in the long run, which will then make the hallowed bean counters and stockholders happy.

I care if its union or union "free", at least I dont have to worry about strikes at union free companies. Union Free employees are more productive as a lot, then union employees too.

If these employees, who have been bellyaching for countless years cant find a way to "influence" to improve their work life or their company, they should leave the company, or quit bellyaching, becasue they obviosuly have not been a part of the solution.

Why would anyone stay in a horrible situation for so long? Whats the payoff? ulcer, heart attack, postal, breakdown. Life's too short.

Life is too short to hang out at FT and consistently rip on anything and everything union, isn't it...

But my work day is too long...

peace,
~Ben~

My point is that the front-line employees' job is to be there every day, and do THEIR job to the best of their ability. The execs (allegedly) have the training, education, organizational skills and hopefully, practical experiece, and are paid to do the planning and problem-correcting. THEY need to have processes and policies in place to be able to know if there are problems and how to fix them.

Maybe I'm too old-school, but there was a time when companies treated employees like actual, feeling human beings, and not numbers or parts of a machine. That time is long-gone sadly.

My posts have almost as many negative comments to the NW management, Im not a fan of them either. But in my opinion unions have outlived their purpose. We all enjoy the fruits of success of the early labor movement of the 1930's to the 1940's (thats recognition of unions good work) But today they are nothing but a big business too. They cant stay in business if they cant collect dues, and they cant collect dues if mangement creates an environment thats positive and good. So whats a union to do? Continue the advesarial rlshp as a way to keep the dues coming in? Maybe. Although the judgment of some of these strategies has backfired, as we can see in this industry and our firends in the automotive industry.

Point taken though, and Ill try to tone down the Rhetoric.