http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304434104579382541226307368
If you view unions as a good thing, do they simply need to improve their messaging? I find the following takes instructive:
"Unfortunately, politically motivated third parties threatened the economic future of this facility and the opportunity for workers to create a successful operating model that that would grow jobs in Tennessee," Gary Casteel, the union official in charge of the VW campaign, said in a statement.
What does the target demo think of their allegedly missed opportunity to create "a successful operating model that would grow jobs in Tennessee"?
"If the union comes in, we'll have a divided work force," said Cheryl Hawkins, 44, an assembly line worker with three sons. "It will ruin what we have."
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"I just don't trust them," said Danielle Brunner, 23, who has worked at the plant for nearly three years and makes about $20 an hour—about $5 an hour more than new hires at GM, Ford and Chrysler plants.
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While it is tempting to give Mr. Casteel credit for a successful operating model that grows jobs in Tennessee (by running a union that made workers in Michigan unemployable by comparison), I don't think that's what he had in mind. I continue to believe that instead of debiting worker's paychecks for union dues (which apparently Ms. Brunner is doing just fine without their help, by comparison), the companies should countermatch the amount the unions would charge in company stock/options granted to their workforce. That pushes ownership of the company down the org chart and puts everyone on the same page and pulling the rope in the same direction. If companies do a better job taking care of their own people than unions will never get a foothold, and we can avoid repeating the mistakes of the rust belt.
If you view unions as a good thing, do they simply need to improve their messaging? I find the following takes instructive:
"Unfortunately, politically motivated third parties threatened the economic future of this facility and the opportunity for workers to create a successful operating model that that would grow jobs in Tennessee," Gary Casteel, the union official in charge of the VW campaign, said in a statement.
What does the target demo think of their allegedly missed opportunity to create "a successful operating model that would grow jobs in Tennessee"?
"If the union comes in, we'll have a divided work force," said Cheryl Hawkins, 44, an assembly line worker with three sons. "It will ruin what we have."
***
"I just don't trust them," said Danielle Brunner, 23, who has worked at the plant for nearly three years and makes about $20 an hour—about $5 an hour more than new hires at GM, Ford and Chrysler plants.
---
While it is tempting to give Mr. Casteel credit for a successful operating model that grows jobs in Tennessee (by running a union that made workers in Michigan unemployable by comparison), I don't think that's what he had in mind. I continue to believe that instead of debiting worker's paychecks for union dues (which apparently Ms. Brunner is doing just fine without their help, by comparison), the companies should countermatch the amount the unions would charge in company stock/options granted to their workforce. That pushes ownership of the company down the org chart and puts everyone on the same page and pulling the rope in the same direction. If companies do a better job taking care of their own people than unions will never get a foothold, and we can avoid repeating the mistakes of the rust belt.