Originally Posted by naytep  .... It seams to me that the union always views the owner as the enemy.
I would like to hear from someone who is in the machinist union or at least has had some direct experience with them. A fellow employer would be even better. |
Enemy may be a bit strong
but certainly not friend.
I joined the IAM back in 1966 and have a withdrawal card dated in the early 1970s. Most of the meetings I attended were involved in inter-union arguments about what trades could bolt together what parts in industrial plants. Subsequently they expanded membership to airline baggage handlers..I kid you not! The full name is International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Find some guys who work in aircraft maintenance facilities and find out what their union has done for them.
To answer your question about good machinist joining unions; ever heard of closed shops? When it is join or no job offer, you join. And belonging to the IAM is no guarantee of ability; they never checked my papers, I do have them having served a full apprenticeship, they just took my word for it same as for all the others.