Unions Suck

[RadioPatrol]

The Last Union Town - Philly Mag

The Last Union Town
The city has long been held economic hostage by trade unions that overcharge for everything from building skyscrapers to screwing in light bulbs at the Convention Center. Can a reform-minded mayor and a surprisingly feisty City Council stop them?

By Matthew Teague

Page 1 of 11

Frank Keel recently placed an enormous hand on a hallway wall in City Hall. The broad-shouldered spokesman for Philadelphia’s electricians union grimaced, and literally leaned on the corridors of power.

“We’ll be all right,” he said.

Inside its chambers, City Council considered what might at first seem like just another bit of legislative drudgery: whether to allow non-union workers to bid for jobs at the new Convention Center expansion. But everything that led up to that moment — and much that followed — signals a turbulent time for unions, and so likewise for the City of Philadelphia.

In the hallway, Keel shook his head, incredulous at the very idea. “We expect to see this — this problematic amendment about non-union workers — removed,” he said.

A few days earlier, a couple of blocks away, the same electricians union had been outbid for a job repairing a bit of wiring at the Five Guys burger joint. The electricians are headed by John Dougherty, one of the city’s most vocal and visible union leaders, who has a reputation for rough tactics when it comes to union business. The union — Local 98 — sent picketers who insinuated that the restaurant was unclean due to a vermin infestation. The restaurant manager posted a small bill on the storefront, titled, “What is Really Happening Outside?” It said there were no vermin anywhere inside and never had been; also: “We are being picketed by members of the electrical workers’ union (Local 98) because they are upset that a Local 98 subcontractor didn’t win a contract. … The Local 98 bid was three times higher than the bid by the winning subcontractor.”

[AK-74me]

In general they do suck. I always love this time of year when the cry baby union workers come in and write graffiti all over the bathroom walls, while a welder will wait around for an electrician to show up to plug the welders tools in.

[RadioPatrol]

Originally Posted by AK-74me

In general they do suck. I always love this time of year when the cry baby union workers come in and write graffiti all over the bathroom walls, while a welder will wait around for an electrician to show up to plug the welders tools in.

Yeah they more or less said the same thing in the article

Carpenters have to make a concrete form for the bricklayer ....

[smoothmarine187]

Let's get rid of qualified union workers and hire a bunch of scabs, you get what you pay for

[AK-74me]

Originally Posted by smoothmarine187

Let's get rid of qualified union workers and hire a bunch of scabs, you get what you pay for

And you pay ALOT for just about the slowest movers I have ever seen. Then only to have them support the (D) with blind fury just tops off my love for them. Yeah they are awesome.

I can understand that if you are in a union your judgement is clouded though, it is OK.

[smoothmarine187]

Originally Posted by AK-74me

And you pay ALOT for just about the slowest movers I have ever seen. Then only to have them support the (D) with blind fury just tops off my love for them. Yeah they are awesome.

I can understand that if you are in a union your judgement is clouded though, it is OK.

Like I said, you get what you pay for. Go out and hire some asswhipe off the street and see what kind of quality craftsmanship you get

[AK-74me]

Originally Posted by smoothmarine187

Like I said, you get what you pay for. Go out and hire some asswhipe off the street and see what kind of quality craftsmanship you get

Right so all workers that represent themselves in the work force do shotty work. Got it. Thanks.

[smoothmarine187]

Originally Posted by AK-74me

Right so all workers that represent themselves in the work force do shotty work. Got it. Thanks.

I'm glad you finally understand I'm not saying that all union workers are great, believe me, I have met alot of worthless people.

[wmburdette (Premo)]

Originally Posted by smoothmarine187

Let's get rid of qualified union workers and hire a bunch of scabs, you get what you pay for

Why not just bypass the qualified union workers and hire qualified non-union workers?

[wmburdette (Premo)]

Originally Posted by smoothmarine187

Like I said, you get what you pay for. Go out and hire some asswhipe off the street and see what kind of quality craftsmanship you get

Why not exercise the same diligence in hiring non-union workers as you would for union workers?