Florida Times-Union votes to unionize

[tapintoamerica]

Sure it won't be a popular take with everyone, but when it comes to unionization, my priorities lie with my family first and my colleagues second. I would tread carefully if my job could be in danger.

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.

 

[jr/shotglass]

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.

 

[wicked]

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.

 

[Slacker]

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.

 

[LanceyHoward]

I have no idea what will happen here, but I'm sure Gatehouse won't be basing any decisions on how they could get Gators coverage from Gainesville or who would cover the Jaguars.

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.

 

[wicked]

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.

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

 

[Slacker]

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.

 

[wicked]

You're not serious, are you?

Inflation Calculator

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

 

[Baron Scicluna]

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.

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.

 

[fossywriter8]

That might be the weakest market penetration number I've ever seen for any major league market. Then again, this may be further proof that Jacksonville, which isn't any higher on the Nielsen chart than it was when the NFL curiously awarded it an expansion franchise, doesn't belong anywhere near discussion of major markets.

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.