points by 10111001 1 day ago | 0 comments
> This just sounds like replacing working for one large corporation with working for two large corporations.
Even if that's the case, one is at least one is technically accountable to you.
I mean, I suppose you could simply a trial by getting rid of the defense attorney (instead of having two lawyers, you just have one), but I don't think any defendant would think that was a good idea. You'd get really efficient "justice" though, like in China.
Personally, I'm extremely opposed to letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. Though it seems like the union he was in could use more direct democracy or something. Having something like an "on-site steward" seems like it would be really challenging for electrical work, where I'd imagine you'd be moving from job-site to job-site frequently.
A major problem in Unions is that cronyism is even good'ole'boy'er than the general US population's. My only touting of "join a union" is for would-be apprentices to "learn the ropes" about construction. Get paid to learn; retire elsewhere... [†]
They no longer allow this (at least not in 520), but I soon realized the best "life balance approach" to being IBEW was: enter in their non-traditional student pathway (i.e: olderfolk, CW/CE) and then never progress beyond 90%er [•] – to me, the extra 10% pay wasn't worth all the headache of working with management to coordinate jobsite goals. Many "ninety-percenters" remain, grandfathered (but slowly retiring).
[†] LU520's payscale isn't among "the best;" if you're in an area where your ticket-out is $70+/hr, then retiring IBEW probably makes sense...
[•] with Mad Respect for my boy Johnboy; hope you're retired by now!