started working for Kroger last month and have heard mixed reviews on the union. I am a produce clerk in a ft worth texas store. Any thoughts from those of you who been around for a while..Thanks
NO. They are absolutely worthless in your area. Don't throw your money away. You still get the cheap insurance, all the same benefits, and Kroger follows the same rules whether you're union or not. Don't do it as a new hire. If you hang around for years and come close to topping out in pay, that would be the time to join.
it all depends on if you want a safety net or not. if you're not in the union management can and will make you their bitch. if you're in the union then you have some recourse - not a lot but some.
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
NO. They are absolutely worthless in your area. Don't throw your money away. You still get the cheap insurance, all the same benefits, and Kroger follows the same rules whether you're union or not. Don't do it as a new hire. If you hang around for years and come close to topping out in pay, that would be the time to join.
They're not worthless in Texas. I've filed 7 grievances over the years mostly over pay. While you may get the same benefits and insurance our membership bargains for this. Its not right for you to scab off my union dues when I've been paying since the very first day I started and more importantly this gives you the right to vote for contracts too. I've tried fighting for new hires on higher wages and eventually i'll try and get them a bigger incentive.
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My Views and Opinions do not reflect that of the Kroger company. I'm an indivdual expressing my 1st amendment right.
NO. They are absolutely worthless in your area. Don't throw your money away. You still get the cheap insurance, all the same benefits, and Kroger follows the same rules whether you're union or not. Don't do it as a new hire. If you hang around for years and come close to topping out in pay, that would be the time to join.
They're not worthless in Texas. I've filed 7 grievances over the years mostly over pay. While you may get the same benefits and insurance our membership bargains for this. Its not right for you to scab off my union dues when I've been paying since the very first day I started and more importantly this gives you the right to vote for contracts too. I've tried fighting for new hires on higher wages and eventually i'll try and get them a bigger incentive.
The unions haven't done much for new hires. We have to join here and the union is having a heck of a time getting folks signed up. Its not fair, but its not fair for new hires to fork over money to an organization that won't do much for them either. Their scared to death of right to work passing, because they're not doing much for us.
NO. They are absolutely worthless in your area. Don't throw your money away. You still get the cheap insurance, all the same benefits, and Kroger follows the same rules whether you're union or not. Don't do it as a new hire. If you hang around for years and come close to topping out in pay, that would be the time to join.
They're not worthless in Texas. I've filed 7 grievances over the years mostly over pay. While you may get the same benefits and insurance our membership bargains for this. Its not right for you to scab off my union dues when I've been paying since the very first day I started and more importantly this gives you the right to vote for contracts too. I've tried fighting for new hires on higher wages and eventually i'll try and get them a bigger incentive.
Aren't you in the meat dept, a different union from everyone else?
NO. They are absolutely worthless in your area. Don't throw your money away. You still get the cheap insurance, all the same benefits, and Kroger follows the same rules whether you're union or not. Don't do it as a new hire. If you hang around for years and come close to topping out in pay, that would be the time to join.
They're not worthless in Texas. I've filed 7 grievances over the years mostly over pay. While you may get the same benefits and insurance our membership bargains for this. Its not right for you to scab off my union dues when I've been paying since the very first day I started and more importantly this gives you the right to vote for contracts too. I've tried fighting for new hires on higher wages and eventually i'll try and get them a bigger incentive.
Aren't you in the meat dept, a different union from everyone else?
Im in the Meat Department in Gerogia. We are the same contract as, say, a produce clerk.
it all depends on if you want a safety net or not. if you're not in the union management can and will make you their bitch.
They still do whether you're in or not. Oddly enough, the ones who are in a union never file grievances for it.
Hmm...masochists, perhaps?
Masochists, or just lazy people. What's funny is that the union members in my store don't even know their rep's name. If I was paying $8 a week to a lawyer I'd probably want to know who he is.
I find the union useless and toxic to productivity. People who get fired for doing nothing on the clock get their jobs back. The contracts are weaker and weaker. They do nothing to help with contract violations on scheduling or many other things. All I've ever heard out of the union rep is "needs of the business." I've also seem amazing people bumped from dept head because a bad employee had seniority.
They do take your money though. I am a very by the book employee and it'll ruffle feathers of those above me sometimes. I see it as paying protection money, like to the mob.
Some of the edicts that come down from management I'd be very happy to take to the union if they try to enforce progressive discipline.
not worth it, imo. and yes i am a union member, joined the minute i could, big mistake too. if you must join, wait a bit, til you at least may have a little time in, if not you are paying for others to abuse you... you will get the worse work times, watch others do no work much at all and get away with it, certain types of people will get better treatment that you due to skin color. you won't get the top insurance rank, and on and on. fact is, if you do your job and go along to get along, you won't likely be fired or written up... yes, unfair things will happen, but that's every job.. a union as far as i can see is nothing but a safety net for lazy entitled people. i for one do not enjoy doing my job and a few other people's and paying out to an organization that makes that possible. there, bitch me out, but that's my opinion.
Consider the union is partly, maybe largely, what we make of it. Yeah, we're stuck through at least 2017 with stupid-low wages, but active, informed, and motivated members can make a difference where we we're able. I hope you'll join and be involved.
Consider the union is partly, maybe largely, what we make of it. Yeah, we're stuck through at least 2017 with stupid-low wages, but active, informed, and motivated members can make a difference where we we're able. I hope you'll join and be involved.
Do you by chance work for the union because that is the same line of crap the union rep used when trying to get me to sign. It is never going to get better no matter how much employees complain. The union is interested in just one thing and that is making money. Hell they don't even have the right to protest. That right was given up long ago. If the union was actually any good their be far less bullcrap going on in stores and the stores would likely be better run. Not to mention the pay would be better. I am even having doubts now on if what the union rep said was true about the dues being a tax write off. Look at it this way. Say you start at min wage. With what their taking out each check your actually making less then that. Another words you would make more money working at wal-mart or flipping burgers at Mcdonalds. The only good they can really do is if a place tries to fire you unfairly. Though by the time it comes to that point you might have gotten to the point that your so fed up with the place that your ready to quit anyways.
Consider the union is partly, maybe largely, what we make of it. Yeah, we're stuck through at least 2017 with stupid-low wages, but active, informed, and motivated members can make a difference where we we're able. I hope you'll join and be involved.
Do you by chance work for the union because that is the same line of crap the union rep used when trying to get me to sign. It is never going to get better no matter how much employees complain. The union is interested in just one thing and that is making money. Hell they don't even have the right to protest. That right was given up long ago. If the union was actually any good their be far less bullcrap going on in stores and the stores would likely be better run. Not to mention the pay would be better. I am even having doubts now on if what the union rep said was true about the dues being a tax write off. Look at it this way. Say you start at min wage. With what their taking out each check your actually making less then that. Another words you would make more money working at wal-mart or flipping burgers at Mcdonalds. The only good they can really do is if a place tries to fire you unfairly. Though by the time it comes to that point you might have gotten to the point that your so fed up with the place that your ready to quit anyways.
The way I look at it union membership gets perpetually less valuable as the contracts get newer. Obviously if you're making $18 an hour STOCKING SHELVES you will do anything you can to protect yourself from getting fired. But if you're part time making minimum wage and don't qualify for insurance yet, then you don't have much to lose if some jackass tries to fire you. That can be both uplifting or depressing depending on your viewpoint.