49 hours on clock in 4 days , to all my union or former union freight workers that old saying.

[Duncanpup]

If you open up your wallet the company will stuff them full of cash still applies today for this crusty 57 year old like it did when I first started at age 21.
Truck drivers
Jockeys Dock workers
Mechanics

The open up your wallet will stuff it full of cash is make yourself available to work all overtime or six punches Six day. I have worked since 1987
Preston 151 then Red star then roadway. Preston closed Red star closed Roadway was bought by Yellow , actually Yellow freight has picked the carcass clean of Preston and Red star yellow freight has been fucking with me for over three decades bastards should’ve just stayed a taxi company like they were in the 1930’s I was told once by a fellow alcoholic teamster when I was very wet into my addiction.

The union has allowed me since 87 and Liz who was attorney after she graduated law school in 91 to provide a better life for our children. Back in 1987 making $15 hour working as Dock man yard jockey got obligations diapers and formula the full cable package then would been much cheaper than kids yet making decent coin before I got my chauffeur license to drive truck and Preston helped me get that license.

Two hour dues monthly great insurance on which example when 18 was born premature bill was hospital bill was close to two hundred thousand paid in full or Elizabeth’s medical bills home healthcare in hospital care paid in full ,also pension and representation.

I remember a dude telling me once as I ate at one my favorite mom pop truck stop Snow shoe diner off I -80 in Pennsylvania he said you are getting ripped off with your union dues he was JB hunt drone truck driver.

I asked what do you pay in health insurance for you and family this was years ago maybe 7-8 years. He told me $115 dollar’s week I said and you got what each family member $2000 deductible and a 60-40 payment on bills. I explained how we were covered then dues were probably combined mileage hourly as road man maybe $50 month for union.

I said personally I’m not into sodomy of any kind you know I’ve never been a ass freak wether to screw it or get screwed but is JB hunt using any lube when they fuck you up the ass and by the way I just paid for your breakfast because I know how little you make as road driver have good day.

Yet over here at the Big brown turd we are paid hourly even running district and $40 hour no brag it’s public knowledge our contract is online. So anytime after 8 is automatically time half anytime after 40 hours is time half.

I’m on combo bid road and yard tonight I went Queens out Pennsylvania back yard came back and jockeyed for 2 hours why not. Once my boys through College in 4 years and Liz and I did same for our daughters.

You go to instate university we’re gonna pay your tuition no students debt I have same on obligations to do same for 18-19. I have been told slow down retire let kids use the life insurance you passed around to all the children nope doesn’t work that way.

I’m working for their health insurance and to write checks for each semester when they start college in fall then when they graduate the old man gonna retire at around 63.

And if I’m still on the right side of the grass and cashing out my union annuity and taking my monthly defined pension. Then if you need me you’ll be able to find me fishing for trout and taimen in Mongolia Kazakhstan and only fishing trout in Bulgaria and Poland.

Then off to Vietnam to fish and visit your great uncle who retired to Vietnam after fighting in Marine corp 67-68 you’ve seen the pics of the fish they catch in that river up north near Danang. Then possibly a stop in Japan to check out the matsumoku and Kasuga manufactures of great Japanese les Paul’s that in its own will be a religious pilgrimage if you own Japan guitars you know.

Oh another Duncpup dyslexic ramble I’m alone boys pulled out there at beach house in cape may with grandma niece went also they can cyber school from there.

And now I’m booking off FMLA tonight daughter called two grandsons puking so bring the kids over fever no kindergarten or preschool why since 1984 as soldier then father we laugh at the threat of N.B.C. warfare Nuke bio or chemical attacks and we laugh at all viruses that the kids or grandchildren get.

I still have FMLA over Liz and now I applied for it when she was sick yearly also reapplied I was off from November to February after she passed.

Have good day DU community

[3Hotdogs]

1. I'm a retired teacher in N.J. Our union is probably the strongest in the state

I net $3,682 a month from the state teacher's pension fund. My Medicare premium is paid by the state and I get discounted pharms.

Add that to S.S. and I'm not "stable genius" rich, but the house mortgage is paid and I'm doing o.k.


We had strikes that ended in a couple of days, when the subs couldn't control the kids and the kids knew it. The last strike ended with a 33% (Yes THIRTY THREE PERCENT) increase over a three year period.

Our district ended up being the second highest paid in the nations, second only to Hawaii.

GO UNIONS !

[flying rabbit]

2. You as well

[TexLaProgressive]

3. Your dyslexic rambles are entertaining and enlightening, Duncanpup.

Your discussion with the anti-union guy caused me to remember how I shamed one such co-worker to join and pay dues in our union. He was looking through my contract copy on a regular basis as those not in the union did not get a copy, but were bound to it.

I did the math of how much his 2 hour dues saving was costing all of us. My brother-in-law worked in the same field, different company and contract. They had nearly 100% membership. I forget what it was but his savings over 2 years for 2 hours per month dues for 3 years was very low in comparison to the difference what Michael made in 3 years compared to us. I wrote all this out, stuck it on front of my contract book with the comment- you saving $x is costing us $x.

He became a union member the next month.

[Duncanpup]

9. We're closed shop to work you gotta belong no fair share types

[TexLaProgressive]

10. Texas one of the first "Right to Work for Less states.

[Diamond_Dog]

4. I've eaten at Snow Shoe before on road trips with my college roommate from NJ

Go Unions

Have a great day Pup

[True Blue American]

5. Sounds familiar.

Lived the good life since after WW2. We had some ups and downs but bought the first house with the GI bill. Paid for College on one paycheck.

No matter how much extra we made tried to live on one pay check. Nicer house built, new car every couple of years, vacations. They are still taking care of me today. Pay voluntary Union dues. My choice.

[JT45242]

6. Insurance and benefits....so many don't count that

My BiL took a new job and told me he got a $10k raise.

First question I asked him was , 'how is the health insurance since you gotta cover your kids from your first marriage out of state.'

His increase in hus share if premiums was $150 a pay check. There went $4k.

Deductible went up, copays went up. He ended with less actual pay a couple of years because the kids from wife #1 would go to emergency room rather than real doctor.

Preach it brother.

[Roy Rolling]

7. Drivers

Movie and TV productions are 99% union. I worked for years with Teamsters on-set. Drivers were always well paid.

[cactusfractal]

8. I'm stoked for you

I'm glad the labor movement I've supported from afar my entire life works for someone.

I'm gonna die on a ladder installing a projector because nowhere I've ever worked has been unionized, and no compensation I've ever received has been sufficient to save enough to actually retire young enough to do anything but wait to die. So death at work it is. I wish I could at least see the hubbub when they hear the thump of my body hitting the floor/desk/conference table, but I will be off to eternal oblivion. Finally. Pity about the shellshocked customers 🤣

Cheers to you, though. Unions work for America.

[Phoenix61]

11. Always enjoy your posts. nt

[panader0]

12. Great post. Recommended.

[Prairie_Seagull]

13. Fight like hell to continue the same pay and benefits for new workers as old.

There have been multiple attempts by management to diminish new workers benefits and pay all the while saying to the more senior workers that they wont be harmed. Davide and conquer is all it is. Keep unions strong.

Retired now and all is well, well not all, but you know what I mean.

[Deuxcents]

17. It was always the pay it forward that we believed.

I’m retired Union and I was fortunate to get the experiences, training and then still keep in touch with my long time friends. I’m not wealthy but I am rich and thankful for all I have and all I don’t have

[MLAA]

14. Hubs did work early in his life with to strengthen unions in MN.

His dad worked in the mines and unions provided great schools and libraries for the kids in the small mining town.

[NBachers]

15. Not Union now, & I'll work 'till I drop. Here's my strike sign from a strike when I was a Teamster.

It's still as valid today as it ever was.

[Texaswitchy]

16. Ui o

Union here.

Master Electrician.

Made a good living.