It really just depends on the people you work with. If the managers and office people are nice and considerate, unions are pure evil. If you you work with hateful people though who could care less about the workers and will easily let people go for no reason whatsoever, the union can be important.
So, basically, it depends on the store. Personally, I think stores should be able to vote for whether they want a union. Some need it, some don't and the workers are actually taken advantage of by the union.
Pros: If you get fired from your minimum wage McJob for dubious reasons, theoretically the Union might help you out if it doesn't interfere with their nap time.
Con: You have to pay ~$500 a year, and the union takes nap time extremely seriously.
The union is what you make it. I respect your opinion but, still, I disagree with it.
Not really. One person doesn't matter. Even a handful across thousands of associates can't make a difference.
I can list off a large number of times where this is untrue, but I am trying to avoid arguing this again for the 1,000th time. I'll just leave this thread with this:
I use to work at a restaurant that was not union. I worked 8 hours a day and got 1 break. I worked really hard and made slightly above minimum wage. Everyone around me was making more than I was after my 1 year of service... a lot more. Some that were hired on AFTER I was and worked half as hard as me were making more than I was. I had to fight tooth and nail to get a raise after a year.
The stress I had to endure there took its toll on me. At Kroger I do not have to worry about getting a raise, being treated like a human being instead of a slave(for the most part) and in general the people I work with are much more enjoyable to be around. I get several paid breaks during my shift and work decent enough hours. I get vacations and personal days. I'm never pushed to a breaking point unless I want to do it to myself. I do my job and generally left alone to do what needs to be done.
Without our Union I know, for a fact, that my life would be much worse. That, to me, is worth the $8 a week I pay in dues. Also lets not forget the insurance. That's a pretty big plus. Corporate didn't do that.... The union did.
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
The union is what you make it. I respect your opinion but, still, I disagree with it.
Not really. One person doesn't matter. Even a handful across thousands of associates can't make a difference.
I can list off a large number of times where this is untrue, but I am trying to avoid arguing this again for the 1,000th time. I'll just leave this thread with this:
I use to work at a restaurant that was not union. I worked 8 hours a day and got 1 break. I worked really hard and made slightly above minimum wage. Everyone around me was making more than I was after my 1 year of service... a lot more. Some that were hired on AFTER I was and worked half as hard as me were making more than I was. I had to fight tooth and nail to get a raise after a year.
The stress I had to endure there took its toll on me. At Kroger I do not have to worry about getting a raise, being treated like a human being instead of a slave(for the most part) and in general the people I work with are much more enjoyable to be around. I get several paid breaks during my shift and work decent enough hours. I get vacations and personal days. I'm never pushed to a breaking point unless I want to do it to myself. I do my job and generally left alone to do what needs to be done.
Without our Union I know, for a fact, that my life would be much worse. That, to me, is worth the $8 a week I pay in dues. Also lets not forget the insurance. That's a pretty big plus. Corporate didn't do that.... The union did.
thanks bag boy. that was well put. i never worked under a union umbrella until i came to kroger. at first i had my concerns, but now i see the benefits to being in the union. to me, it is well worth the $8/week i pay. plus its tax deductable
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I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger! Can you say "Hallelujah"
Some people will always say they hate the union blah blah blah this and that then when they need the union to help them because they messed up then they will go cry to them. What a shame.
I have worked both Union and nonunion jobs... non union had its bad moments, but if you are a hard worker and an asset to your company you can be rewarded regardless of tenure.
With a union, it is not that way.
Sadly, after 15 years of paying into UFCW, I didn't see much good about it. I was lied to, misled, abused by my department manager (who is a union steward, for goodness sakes), and basically (for lack of a better term) "screwed with" because I didn't accept bullying as normal workplace behavior.
Before you die-hard unionites jump me for not being a 'brother', understand that there are many stories I can tell. I just don't want to bore you with things you probably see happen every day in your stores...But if you ask, I will tell you all about it. And, since I am no longer with the company, nor do I ever want involved with UFCW again, I can/will provide names of serious union abuse perpetrators so you can avoid these jokers during your employment with Kroger.
-- Edited by ExKrogerSlave on Wednesday 8th of May 2013 08:25:34 AM
Before I started working at the store I'm at now and before the store was unionized, my store manager said that he was able to authorize merit raises for those that were deserving of increases. Now that the union is in there, he no longer has the power and the union has said that merit raises will not be authorized. I and other hard working individuals that have been told by management that we're deserving of a raise can't get one because of the union, which I think is pretty unfair, and I we have lost several good employees because of that rule while some not so hard working employees have stuck around because of union protection.
I know there are benefits of having a union, but sometimes unions do more harm than good.
Eliminating merit-based raises pretty much ensures that, eventually, you will be left with the cream of the crap.
I find it far more rewarding to earn a raise through hard work, than to be 'given' a raise just because I tolerate nonsense.
I know that we have a front end floor supervisor that told me he can't wait to quit should his Thursday job interview go well. He said to me during his recent employee evaluation that our CSM gave him a perfect score from top to bottom and so he asked if he could get a raise. Our CSM flat out told him no because the union won't allow it. If he gets this job, he'll be making $9.00 per hour compared to his $7.45 per hour at Kroger. I'll be happy for him, but at the same time, I won't like seeing him go because that will be yet another good worker who tries to stay on top of things that leaves. He told me he'll just go somewhere else and work for someone that "appreciates my work" (his exact words).
Quick Note: You can get merit raises. Just sayin'.
maybe so, until you reach a point (called "top rate"), where the union contract literally states that $xx.xx/hr is the most that will ever be paid out for a particular position
Quick Note: You can get merit raises. Just sayin'.
Maybe in some divisions, but not where I live. Kroger and the union are both on the same page when it comes to merit raises. It's not allowed. It's not entirely the union's fault since Kroger could pay more to begin with if the company truly wanted to attract and retain quality, dependable employees, so it's clear that both are to blame.
Other people that I work with pretty much feel that Kroger and the union have a "comfortable" relationship to the point where the company benefits, the union benefits and the employee gets used and taken advantage of while occasionally being thrown a bone to keep up the illusion that being in the union is beneficial. If the union were truly on the side of the employee, Kroger wouldn't be as bad of a place to work as it is now.
another perspective. It took me a year to get the union to stop taking union dues even though I quit the union as soon as RTW became law. being pt, there are few benefits a union can win for me. After leaving the union, I have had two raises, that I asked for and was granted.. I am above the pay rate for my job now. Unions hold back wage increases for good employees, and allow the slackers to earn the same as the hard workers. Thank God I am out of it.
our store is 10.82 a week approximately 520 dollars a year they just came around again and asked if I wanted to join I said "no, its to expensive" I am very part time less then 20 hours a week part time.. "it's only 10.82 a week" ha no.
What are the pros and cons working in a union? Would you rather work union or non union?
More cons than pros.
Con: My union rep told me I'm suppose to work 1,000 hours for an raise. Union rep glanced at my hours and walked away...yeah he knows it's over 1,000 hours for an raise.
Lack of workplace equal protection because they know the laws and contract...best for employees to have another job line up. Money does where?-some good...some bad union reps. Union could protect you to certain extend because union rep has agreement with managers....behind doors...manager hire people to harass you and push you out.
Union rep whom think your problem is too large to handle, the union rep will neglect you.
Pro: Union rep are to protect you from being terminated from job position for stupid reasons like: you're 1 minute late, expecting you to take an 8 minute break when you are in your 10 minute break. Union rep are to speak to your manager about 1 hour lunch if you manager says 30 minute lunch on a 8 hour shift.
Trust me you want a union working grocery jobs. The job would be hell without it.
I've worked both sides and I'll only do union jobs from now. You have more protection rights with unions. It is really difficult to get terminated from union jobs. yet people are always finding a way to get terminated.
That's true. Winco employees are telling me horror stories about getting paid profit sharing bonuses and similar nonsense.
If Rodney couldn't afford a private airstrip this quarter for his summer mansion, well, I don't know if I could even stand to live in this world anymore.
Sometimes it feels like hourly employees don't even care about the needs of the shareholders.
