Political Views and Union membership

[Safety]

It’s hypocritical. No different than a conservative screaming they will do everything in their power to kill Obamacare/ACA, while enjoying the benefits Obamacare/ACA affords them.

[Green Arrow]

In a back and forth with @Green Arrow, I got to thinking about this subject. Especially in the past year I've had to work in union shops. Now, having said that, the union that I was with as a school bus driver barely did squat. But now, the ATU local I'm going to be in after my probationary period, is fairly strong. I will benefit from representation and also the benefits with the healthcare, pension, and so forth.
So my questions are this: As a Conservative, I believe in rewarding merit. This is one of the key sticking points I've had with unions that value seniority over merit. I believe BOTH should deserve consideration in some way. Also, how does a Conservative reconcile being a union member as they have traditionally favored the opposing political party? I just want to ensure that I won't be "encouraged" to vote a certain way.

First off, I apologize for poking fun in the other thread. It was a reflexive action, from years of knowing you as a poster and your viewpoints. It won’t happen again.

That said, I would discuss this with your union. Don’t give away your own political views, just ask them how they handle politics and the personal political views of their members. That is probably the best way to find out how your union specifically does things like that.

[Standing Wolf]

Unions, per se, are nothing more than an expression of the Constitutional right to free assembly, as I see it - as long as membership is voluntary and no one is being forced to financially support political causes with which they do not agree. In the past, unions have managed to manipulate the law to favor their own interests at the expense of their members' individual liberties and personal choices, but that trend is being reversed in the courts, and I think that's a good thing.

[Chris]

In a back and forth with @Green Arrow, I got to thinking about this subject. Especially in the past year I've had to work in union shops. Now, having said that, the union that I was with as a school bus driver barely did squat. But now, the ATU local I'm going to be in after my probationary period, is fairly strong. I will benefit from representation and also the benefits with the healthcare, pension, and so forth.
So my questions are this: As a Conservative, I believe in rewarding merit. This is one of the key sticking points I've had with unions that value seniority over merit. I believe BOTH should deserve consideration in some way. Also, how does a Conservative reconcile being a union member as they have traditionally favored the opposing political party? I just want to ensure that I won't be "encouraged" to vote a certain way.

Bell, Marxian Socialism in the United State, explains how unions are to a large extent responsible for sociam not gaining much of a stronghold here. Unions worked within the economic/political system to gain some of its rewards and took many workers with them who may have otherwise, as in Europe, gone to the Marxists.

[Captdon]

In a back and forth with @Green Arrow, I got to thinking about this subject. Especially in the past year I've had to work in union shops. Now, having said that, the union that I was with as a school bus driver barely did squat. But now, the ATU local I'm going to be in after my probationary period, is fairly strong. I will benefit from representation and also the benefits with the healthcare, pension, and so forth.
So my questions are this: As a Conservative, I believe in rewarding merit. This is one of the key sticking points I've had with unions that value seniority over merit. I believe BOTH should deserve consideration in some way. Also, how does a Conservative reconcile being a union member as they have traditionally favored the opposing political party? I just want to ensure that I won't be "encouraged" to vote a certain way.

It never effected how I vote. I don't let anyone tell me how to vote.

[Captdon]

Until you are really familiar with your union, you should keep your politics to yourself. A union can help you or undermine you. You don't want to be the member swimming upstream.

Twaddle. The people you work with don't give a rat's ass about your vote, They won't like it if you rant on. They don't care what you say. if you rant they will not like you.

Union leadership quickly forgets what it's like to work in the shop.

[Captdon]

It’s hypocritical. No different than a conservative screaming they will do everything in their power to kill Obamacare/ACA, while enjoying the benefits Obamacare/ACA affords them.

Twaddle. There is no benefit from Obamacare except for those who don't make much.

[Captdon]

First off, I apologize for poking fun in the other thread. It was a reflexive action, from years of knowing you as a poster and your viewpoints. It won’t happen again.

That said, I would discuss this with your union. Don’t give away your own political views, just ask them how they handle politics and the personal political views of their members. That is probably the best way to find out how your union specifically does things like that.

DON'T DO THAT EVER! You have nothing to gain and no sense in getting on anyone's $#@! list. No insult meant, @Green Arrow, but he should not do anything like what you say. No one in the shop cares.

[Boris The Animal]

DON'T DO THAT EVER! You have nothing to gain and no sense in getting on anyone's $#@! list. No insult meant, @Green Arrow, but he should not do anything like what you say. No one in the shop cares.

That's right, all I care about is driving bus and taking care of my passengers.

[Boris The Animal]

Unions, per se, are nothing more than an expression of the Constitutional right to free assembly, as I see it - as long as membership is voluntary and no one is being forced to financially support political causes with which they do not agree. In the past, unions have managed to manipulate the law to favor their own interests at the expense of their members' individual liberties and personal choices, but that trend is being reversed in the courts, and I think that's a good thing.

And I think that's what the recent SCOTUS decision was, an attempt to clarify the roles and responsibilities. As I've always said. As long as the union remains politically neutral and just do their jobs covering my arse, then OK.