Bitch about your Union here:

[CanuckAmok]

I love Unions. I even like my Unions (I'm in 3).

But...

One of my Unions (Directors' Guild of Canada). Isn't managed very well. They tend to cowtow (sp?) to the demands of producers a little too easily. This year, due to "an across the board reduction in the number of productions nationwide", they agreed to cut rates for some Canadian productions. In the case of the company I'm working for, I'm making exactly HALF the scale rate for my position as the scale I, as a Member, voted to ratify.

So, since I'm making 50% of the money I usually do, why does my Union expect me to pay 100% of the regular annual dues? My dues are coming up at bthe end of the month, and they're $750 bones I ain't got.

What's up with that? I feel I should pay them half the regular dues, until they begin to show some backbone.

edited for sangria-influenced spelling mistakes.

[HEyHEY]

1. I was a CUPE member

Let's relax on the token safety officer positions please.

[CanuckAmok]

2. Hey, it's not token...

...someone has to hold that shovel up!

[HEyHEY]

3. Our safety guy was a JOKE

An extra however much a month to stand up at the monthly meeting and remind everyone to wear a seat belt. Then, you'd drive around with him not wearing one all day. And he was one of two officers for 22 guys :eyes:

[guitar man]

4. I just wish I still had one to bitch about

I'd give anything to be back at work on a union job now. :(

[CanuckAmok]

5. Yup, it's better than nothing, that's for sure...

...but for how long? Right now, I'm making what works out to $13 bucks an hour. My scale rate is $28 or so.

What's the point of paying them dues if this continues? I could load trucks for $15 an hour.

[avb7]

6. Paid my dues for 30 years....

and it was money well spent. You have to stand up to your leadership and tell them to show some balls. The membership is obligated to put the pressure on the officials so that they do the right thing. I wonder if you stood up at a meeting and said it was wrong for a Canadian union to undercut the labor costs of US unions in order to get people to make movies in Canada instead of the US? Pay your dues with a smile, it's the best money you will ever spend.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

7. For starters, my husband never takes out the trash

And he won't clean up after himself when he cooks.

Oh - you meant THAT kind of union. My bad.

[MaryBear]

8. Why not promote unions instead

of bashing them? Work to improve yours if you have gripes. Posting your gripes accomplishes what?

[NightTrain]

9. What union?

Except for a temporary stint in 1999 as an office clerk for a labor union (I was hired for six months), I've never been lucky enough to hold a union job. Burn in hell, Ronald Reagan! :grr: