Florida Times-Union votes to unionize

I believe unions are great for industries with workplace hazards such as Trumpists ‘ beloved coal mines. But I never wanted to be in one when I worked in journalism. Heard stories about union pressure on members not to work > 40 hours etc. How does that work? That is not a time clock profession.

 

Pretty much my take on it, tap. I think seeing one of our union leaders sitting at the copy desk and refusing to do work in protest soured me.

 

I think unions are needed in this industry now more than ever.

I know at our place, we would’ve been further up the creek without the union stepping in over recent years.

They can slow the bleeding slightly. I’m for anything that facilitates that.

 

The exec editor at GateHouse paper called me and pitched a job the other day.

The salary he was permitted to offer was my 1984 salary, and it was non-negotiable.

 

That was an example. But I think that Gatehouse, and many other managements, would base decisions on whether to break a strike in part by how easily they could get replacement editorial material.

So for a union to win a strike they would probably have to successfully organize much of a regional group and try for a collective contract. And if the union does not have the power to conduct some from of a strike then they are essentially powerless.

 

Given that $1 in 1984 is the equivalent of nearly $2.50 today, that was a ballsy move on his part.

 

You're not serious, are you? It was the same number of dollar bills, then and now.

 

Inflation Calculator

"$1 in 1984 has the same purchasing power as $2.46335 in 2018."

 

I've always been if the thought that, yeah, you don't leave a game at halftime or leave a fire halfway through because you hit 40 hours. But at the same time, that mentality can be abused. If it's a regular 43+ hour job then the paper can either pay you or figure out a way to be more efficient with how they utilize you.

 

Penetration might be deeper (That's what SHE said! Sorry, couldn't resist) if they didn't put everything up for free on the Internet.
I realize a consultant probably told the paper's suits that the money would follow the hits, all while getting a big check for such wisdom, but giving stuff away for free only brings in money later when what you're giving away is addictive, such as drugs.