Home
Forums
Your Union
A Simple Question
Forums
Your Union
A Simple Question
A Simple Question
| page: prev 1, 2 | |
| Author | Message |
|---|---|
| Bill Sable |
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 2:02 pm
|
|
Joined: 14 Feb 2009 Posts: 259 |
Hey Doug, UN, LY, and all
I've not posted re this "simple question" until now for a couple of reasons. First, I've hit a bit of a 'wall" in terms of my energy levels/healing process. Second, with what reserves I have, I've been trying to help some really good folks win a Local 648 officer election. We'll find out in a week what the outcome looks like but things, to my eye, look even better than 3 years ago. Fingers crossed. The reason I mention it is that virtually a whole new crop of interested and energized members have come forth in this campaign. My conclusion is that as things get worse for employees, as they have been and as they will, without a doubt, folks like these will see it in their interest to devote their attention to the issues, contracts, and problems we face. My point - and the answer to Doug's initial question -is simple: we have the right to choose. We also have the right and reason and imperative to continue to educate our members, to work with our members, as difficult as it is and will continue to be. |
| Back to top | profile :: pm |
| doug slaydon |
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 2:37 pm
|
|
Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 189 |
I still think unionnow has a point in the above post in that we have been stuck in our boxes, myself included, politically and as far as reforming labor. It is odd for me to even think dumping a union is an option and this limits me. I have never voted for a republican in my life and have been voting for over thirty years, does this limit me?
At some point the focus needs to shift away from us to getting results. It's not about us, it's about the broken political system and the broken workplace, let's face it unions comprise what? Five percent of the workforce. The idea is a sacred cow, it is part of what Howard Zinn refers to as the "slightly prosperous people". It is part of the myth of America and post war prosperity which was actually consumerism. Now we are asked to play a new part by living with less. How much less is enough? Is a national ghetto the new vision? Right now one in ten workers aren't!!! Empowering the worker to advocate for him/herself is the goal! If we have to trample some comfortable lazy union staff along the way I say hey get to know how it feels out here in the real working world. _________________ Doug Slaydon has been active campaigning to reform UFCW Local 8. |
| Back to top | profile :: pm |
| doug slaydon |
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 2:42 pm
|
|
Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 189 |
Bill let me know what I can do to help? You look good! Wish Dan and all good luck, keep us posted. I know you have been kicking butt in SF for years and you can be my legal advise anytime, HA HA! Good times!
_________________ Doug Slaydon has been active campaigning to reform UFCW Local 8. |
| Back to top | profile :: pm |
| The Third Element |
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 3:07 pm
|
|
Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 363 |
Doug, thank you for the answers. I am Canadian so the rules vary. We too have a system bogged down in "Duty of Fair Representation" (DFR) complaints by members against their unions.
I often hear the question about pensions up here and I have as often heard that one's pension is vested with oneself, not with the union. So, if the union goes the pension stays with each member. I have never seen the process so want to find the truth, or most common experiance at least. I don't like the business union model for all the reasons stated so far. I can support a union run by the members but they seem to be pretty rare. Thanks for the answers and Bill, thanks for the lessons on "Care and Maintenance of the Arse". I hope things get brighter again. Having now been scoped, I shudder to think of the path you have walked. _________________ No Beast so fierce knows but some small amount of pity, but I know none and so I am no beast. ~ Richard III |
| Back to top | profile :: pm |
| doug slaydon |
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 11:59 pm
|
|
Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 189 |
Third Element: perhaps ziggy or wm can answer the differences in the Canadian pension system, I would be interested to know as well; I understand there are problems with island resort investments, so wherever the opportunity arises to screw up worker's hard earned retirement we find the problems.
_________________ Doug Slaydon has been active campaigning to reform UFCW Local 8. |
| Back to top | profile :: pm |
| SharynS |
Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 9:43 pm
|
|
Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 2883 Location: the 'puter |
In short, members' are vested. Basically the vesting guarantees a participant a pension amount upon retirement - in as much as the fund itself survives that is. Whether or not - or how - the fund survives is totally out of pension participants control. Which makes any "guarantee" not so much.
benefits overview" Quote: Vesting
This is a concept that may be important if Canadian employees quit or are terminated without many years of service with an employer. Pension plans in Canada normally provide that pension benefits "vest" after a certain number of years of continuous employment. If terminated after "vesting" occurs, departing Canadian employees would normally be entitled to receive either a lump sum (called the "commuted value") which would include their own contributions, with interest, but also the employer's contributions, or a deferred pension, the amount of which would be based on employer and employee contributions. If departure occurs before "vesting" normally the employee would only obtain his/her contributions back with interest. In all cases lump sums are only payable to a "locked in" investment vehicle. You might want to be grilling the CCWIPP convicts about pension investments and rules 3E. If anyone knows pension funds ins and outs, it would be the Nasty Nine. Quote: Do we as human beings/union members have a right to decide what is "useful and proper" to our lives? _________________ Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game. Free speech is life itself. - Salman Rushdie |
| Back to top | profile :: pm :: e-mail :: www |
| doug slaydon |
Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 4:38 pm
|
|
Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 189 |
Sharyn: that is very interesting! So I understand that a worker may take the pension contribution as a principle amount plus interest? Very cool! In the USA our fund is more like winning the lottery after thirty years of contribution and we never see the principle but only get the paltry interest on our contribution!
On the subject of conflict there are a thousand reasons Shaun Barclay and the International will give against the whole history of our activities, just as we have our reasons, so reasons won't achieve results; but anger will! Anger will move people further than reasons. We need to find that thing that will ignite the anger. If we ever get to ride that beast, we better have a plan for success, there is nothing more dangerous than success. _________________ Doug Slaydon has been active campaigning to reform UFCW Local 8. |
| Back to top | profile :: pm |
| ross53 |
Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 6:46 pm
|
|
Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 1434 Location: california |
doug slaydon wrote: Anger will move people further than reasons. We need to find that thing that will ignite the anger. Read the current contract between UFCW & Albertsons, Ralph and Vons The UFCW allowed the creation of a two tier wages less pay for new hires Reduced medical, pension, benefits etc ect… Combine that contract with the current pension status and…. WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED? I know, I know, the members who area willing to stand-up. Perhaps, we need a leader/s to lead us to a better life. _________________ " I always wondered why somebody doesn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody" Lilly Tomlin. |
| Back to top | profile :: pm :: www |
Home
Forums
Your Union
A Simple Question
Forums
Your Union
A Simple Question
|
Page 2 of 2
page: prev 1, 2 |
||