[slygirrl]

I am soooo angry..... I work for one of the three major grocery chains in the St. Louis area, and I don't know if you guys heard or remember, but we made national news in 2003for being on strike..... We might be again as of tomorrow night....

We vote on our contract, which overall isn't a bad deal, but it's not great either. So why am I mad? Well, fine print (of course I found it) if this contract gets ratified I won't be eligible for maternity leave benefits anymore. They aren't paying benefits to anyone who isn't full time anymore which is crap. That's the only reason I'm still there! Part time employees are gaining some benefits (extra personal days based on hours, seniority that means something, etc.) but that has absolutely no meaning to me if I'm going to be out for 9 weeks and receiving nothing for it. I received benefits with my last two pregnancies and I wasn't full time then either.... I'm just so angry I can't put it into words, it's not even the company that pays those disability benefits it's the union so I don't know why I'm paying these people 12 dollars a week out of my check when they are obviously doing nothing to help me! It's just sad that after 8 years of being in this union and with this company that if this contract is ratifited I'm quitting immediately and doing the stay at home mom thing right now because there's obviously no point in waiting.

If we go on strike again..... well, everyone in the country will hear about it because we will be the only contract thus far that hasn't been able to be settled without a strike, but I guess then I'd have to wait it out and see what comes next..... Either way I suppose that's what I'm going to be doing.....

[mcmama]

This really stinks - and since it is not the company, it is the union that is picking your pocket. Likely they can no longer afford to keep part timers on the health insurance, just like corporations. Gosh, see what happens when a union becomes big business!

[MissyChrissy]

I'll tell you what...I hate unions. I was in one for 4 1/2 years & they got nearly $100/month from me during all that time...and I still got laid off. I think, if you get laid off or lose your benefits, they have to pay the dues back...'cause they failed!

AND-around here, the retired folks that were promised the moon are screwed. The union is pushing for the retired workers to have to pay more and more of their insurance, when the deal WAS that they'd have 100% coverage until they died. Initially, it covered the spouse as well, but the union got rid of that. Now, they want the former employees to pay their own insurance premiums...and because they're no longer employed, they don't have union representation.

Unions do nothing but take your money & offer false promises. Negotiate yourself, without them. That's my opinion on the subject.

[mcmama]

MissyChrissy, you inspired me to move the union good or bad idea here:

http://forums.families.com/union-yes...&postid=874101

Have at it!