Work scare tactics

[Reynolds]

Is there such a thing? Anyone dealt with anything like it?

Couple months ago we had a big meeting with the president of the company, and there were two main topics. First one was how shitty the economy was, and how there are no jobs out there, especially in the surrounding counties here. He said it was something like 10% higher than the rest of the country (Which I have heard nowhere else).

Second topic was how there were new Obama administration laws going into effect regarding Unions. In a last ditch effort to save unions, they can pretty much trick you into joining a union without you voting one in, and they're all shady. Next thing you know you're paying dues up the ass, yadda yadda.

Right after that they basically started treating us like shit, firing people left and right, and not even filling the void left by those vacancies. They just make whoever is still employed pick up the slack. They cut the pay of some people that weren't effected. Now the busy season is over, and we're still working 11 hours a day. Just announced we're working six days a week starting next week.

So my theory is "Tell them there are no other jobs, and unions are evil, that way they're forced to stay working here and put up with any shit we dish out at them"

Maybe I'm paranoid, but the business for the company is flat to low growth, not negative growth, and they have a much smaller payroll, so they're still making money.

[Farmer Dave]

Best way to find out if its bullshit or not is to dust off the ol' resume. Isn't the best time to look for a new job when you don't really have to find one? If nothing is out there then you put up with the current conditions.

[Thebazile78]

That's completely unethical but not unheard of.

Depending on the industry you're in, there may be jobs out there. Definitely start looking.

Also, the National Bureau of Labor Statistics just published its 1st Quarter 2009 unemployment numbers the other week; you can check your local area's statistics online at

http://www.bls.gov/lau/

Good luck, dude.

Being anxious about the economy on your own is bad enough, but when your company treats you like a baby treats a diaper, it feels really bleak.

[ToiletCrusher]

There is anti-union propaganda at my new place of part-time employment.

And, they do treat the majority of the employees like shit. Seems that if you are slightly intelligent, they stay away from you because you might challenge them and question policy but the not so with it ones get kicked around.

Oh, I work in a grocery market for extra money.

[Thebazile78]

....

Oh, I work in a grocery market for extra money.

Grocery stores down here are all unionized and you pay into union dues automatically.

Unless, of course, things have changed dramatically in the 12 years it's been since I last worked as a grocery checkout clerk.

[ToiletCrusher]

Grocery stores down here are all unionized and you pay into union dues automatically.

Unless, of course, things have changed dramatically in the 12 years it's been since I last worked as a grocery checkout clerk.

This is my first time in about 7 years working in one.

I worked for Tops which was unionized. Wegmans is not and apparently neither is Pricerite.

[Thebazile78]

This is my first time in about 7 years working in one.

I worked for Tops which was unionized. Wegmans is not and apparently neither is Pricerite.

I thought Wegman's took care of its workers well enough, though, so maybe a union doesn't really benefit you because you're already getting the same protections from the company (or that's the idea, anyway). It's been ranked among the top 10 "best companies to work for" whenever those inane "best" lists are published for the past 5 years or so.

[ToiletCrusher]

I thought Wegman's took care of its workers well enough, though, so maybe a union doesn't really benefit you because you're already getting the same protections from the company (or that's the idea, anyway). It's been ranked among the top 10 "best companies to work for" whenever those inane "best" lists are published for the past 5 years or so.

Wegmans is the exception for a lot of this. Yes, they do treat their employees really well. But the service industry often sees the workers being taken advantage. Hence, a union stepping in. However, when I see an employer posting anti-union information, I find it a bit sickening.

[Thebazile78]

Wegmans is the exception for a lot of this. Yes, they do treat their employees really well. But the service industry often sees the workers being taken advantage. Hence, a union stepping in. However, when I see an employer posting anti-union information, I find it a bit sickening.

True to all points.

Anti-union posters could be perceived as being not only political speech but also unprotected speech due to the "captive audience" argument, though, so workers might have a Constitutional argument if they took it up with the ACLU.

[ToiletCrusher]

True to all points.

Anti-union posters could be perceived as being not only political speech but also unprotected speech due to the "captive audience" argument, though, so workers might have a Constitutional argument if they took it up with the ACLU.

I guess it's easy to get away with it when the store is in an urban environment with mostly minorities from a city with a relatively low SES. They don't know that it isn't appropriate.

[Reynolds]

Thanks.

Been working 11 hour days for months now, sometimes 12. Business slowly goes down this time of year. As it goes down, instead of giving us a break, they just let go of more people instead of giving us a break.