Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with unions

What's the opposite of crossing the picket line?

librarina — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:07:40 -0800

How best can I, as a passing pedestrian, indicate support for a picket line? Is my current method appropriate, or weird? On my morning commute, I walk about six blocks from one transit station to another. I usually take the same route since I can hit the same green lights, etc. Two times recently, on my usual route, there has been a carpenters' union picket line in front of a building that has some active construction going on. The workers picketing have been a mix of white and minority, men and women, holding signs with "[company name] doesn't pay a living wage!" and similar. I am extremely sympathetic to union concerns and class and race issues, and would like to show my support to these folks -- it feels wrong to walk by and not say or do anything to indicate my support. I have never been in a union; I am a generic overeducated office-based tech worker.
So far my not-well-thought-out reaction has been approaching the line, saying to the people I was about to merge with "can I walk with you?" and then, on leaving the line when our paths diverge, saying "good luck." This seemed somewhat weird and awkward but I am not sure if this is just me, and if it's actually supportive.

So my question is, is it appropriate or useful or solidaritous (is there a word for "to show solidarity"?) for me to continue along my usual route and join the picket line for the half-block that their route is the same as mine? Is it weird? Is there anything I can say or do to indicate that's what I'm doing? Or, is there some other way I should show support? If I were driving, I would honk and wave, so what's the pedestrian equivalent?

Escape from Chase

zenpop — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:27:20 -0800

Credit union virgin. Several questions re CUs in Seattle area. I want to get out from Chase, who took over Washington Mutual this year. I can't stand them. Totally subjective reasoning, but that's not what I'm writing about. Would like to understand the benefit of using a credit union. And understand what credit unions are about in general. Totally innorant. And finally, can someone recommend a credit union in West Seattle or near that area (I live on Vashon Island). One that has online banking abilities and will be able to handle my personal AND business accounts.

The People's $$$

spinifex23 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:27:43 -0800

Are there national Credit Unions? If you move, how does one access funds/do money management at a Credit Union when there's no branches of that Credit Union in your new state? I'd like to switch from a bank to a Credit Union. I'm not unhappy with my bank (BoA), but the hippie in me likes the idea of credit unions more. So, I've been meaning to switch anyways, and the bank scares have given me an impetus to do so.

The Credit Unions that I'm looking at (BECU and First Tech) do not have branches in California. But, I have to do something with this CD in the next two weeks, if I want to cash it out without penalty. I'd need access to ATMs, etc. as it'd turn into my main bank. I'd also like to be able to walk in to do banking if need be (if I want to open CDs and the like).

So, what does one do in this situation? I already checked, and I'm not eligible for USAA.

Financial FUBAR

paulboc — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:25:43 -0800

Financial FUBAR!! I am having a serious problem with my Credit Union. I am trying to quit but due to a screw up on their part, and mine, they will not let me and are dunning me for monies I do not feel that I am liable for. On November 25, 2007 I send them a fax directing them to close all my accounts with them; checking, savings, debit card and credit card and send me a check for the balance in my accounts. On checking with them the following week I found that nothing had been done. The fault was mine. I had inadvertently transposed two digits in my account number. Despite having all my contact information no one from the credit union contacted me to ascertain my intent. On Sunday, December 2nd I once again faxed them instructions to close my accounts effective on receipt of the fax. They had the fax waiting for them on Monday morning, Dec. 3.

On that Monday they accepted an automatic charge, of which I was unaware, of $143 from Sirius Radio. On Dec.5th they cut me a check, which emptied my checking and savings accounts. By their rules a member must maintain a minimum balance to remain a member. So by their rules I was no longer a member. They are now dunning me to pay the charge, which I feel was made through their error. To add insult to injury they also accepted another automatic charge, this time against my checking account, in the amount of $15.50 plus another $20.00 fee for a courtesy payment since the account was empty.

I do not feel liable for their errors. I am filing a complaint with the California Department of Financial Institutions to ask for advice on how to proceed.

Any input from the hive mind would be appreciated.

Why are TV studios and sports teams allowed to colluded in labor negotiations?

mullacc — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:20:55 -0800

Question about the Writer's Guild strike and comparable situations in other industries: why are the studios allowed to negotiate as a single entity, the AMPTP? How does this situation compare to the various US sports leagues and the auto and airline industries? I'm having trouble connecting the dots across the various things I've read.

Here's what I think I know:
1. The AMPTP represents the studios in their negotiations with the WGA. This will likely result in a CBA that determines royalty rates for the entire industry.
2. The various sports leagues have similar arrangements, e.g., the MLBPA negotiates with the MLB, a collective representing all the teams. The MLB has an anti-trust exemption, but that just allows it to fight off competitive leagues. Other US sports leagues have no such exemptions. But all the sports leagues allow things like player trades, which I can't imagine going over too well in other industries.
3. In the auto and airline industries, each individual company negotiates directly with the various unions.

Situations 1 & 2 seem like collusion to me. Just as obvious as if Pepsi and Coke formed a collective entity to negotiate aluminum prices. So why are the studio/sports collectives allowed to negotiate against the unions? Is there a legal principle that makes my analogy inappropriate? Of course, I'm glossing over the fact that unions are themselves a form of collusion among workers, but that's a collusion blessed by law.

And, finally, is there reason that the airline and auto industries couldn't adopt the same strategy as the studio/sports collectives?

Is good group health insurance available through unions, clubs, associations, etc?

weston — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 11:34:23 -0800

Are there real, decent options for getting group insurance other than from an employer? I'm mostly thinking about unions, associations, professional organizations, etc. I've had good insurance through my employer for two years, but I'm uncomfortable with this state of affairs. I don't plan to stay forever, and in any case, having ones insurance connected to ones employment seems like poor personal risk management.

It would seem there's only two alternatives:

(1) Buying an individual policy.

(2) Find some other group under which one could have a policy written.

I've done #1, and will do it again if I must, but my experience has been that premiums increase at a drastic rate, coverage tends to be inferior, and the law seems to allow continuity between policies to be spottier than with group coverage.

So I'd like to look into #2. Some people have suggested to me that it's possible to find good coverage through guilds, unions, associations, etc. Does anyone have experience with this, or know people who do?

If it's a valid path, any ideas of organizations to look at? Potential niches for me include computing, math, songwriting/performing, and audio related organizations. The ACM and AES are two I'm eyeing.

AirplaneWorkersOnStrikeFilter

philulrich — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 07:56:43 -0800

A friend of mine is flying on Delta soon and wants to know: if they strike, will another airline honor her ticket? My friend lives in North Carolina and will be going home soon to Kentucky. She writes:

"Delta was the only airline that could get me home next weekend that was under $300, I had no choice. My flight in is on United, so I have no problem getting there but I might be stuck in Kentucky. It was ridiculous, *all* the other flights coming back here that day were expensive, WAY more than usual."

So basically: if Delta strikes, will she have to end up shelling out again for a more expensive ticket to get back to North Carolina?

Unions

nramsey — Tue, 09 Dec 2003 13:20:22 -0800

If a union challenges your previously non-union position and wins, now making your job the only union position in the immediate office, what can you do about it? Can you really be forced to work a union position if that's not how the job was presented to you 4 years ago when you took it?