While doing a google search, I came upon this comment about Unite Here and this website. After reading each and everyone's response, I just had to register and add my own "2 cents". Just to let you know alittle about myself first. I am a unionized worker and a member of Unite Here. Before the merger of the two unions, I was a member of H.E.R.E. I am letting you know this so all of the readers can accertain whether I have direct or indirect interests in writing here and if I have a prejudicial or alterior motive in my comments. I would like to think that I have neither of the afore mentioned.
A union was created to protect the employee's from maybe a few employers who did not realize that their prioty task is to take care of the employee's first and to let the employee's do the job task at hand.
There are some businesses where management have been properly hired and trained to do their job. When this is present, a unionized workforce is not necessary. In St. Catharines, this may just be the case of Local 2347. Of course, we realize that many management have not been properly schooled in this philosphy, due to the many different Unions and Locals that are present in the workforce.
I must try to keep this brief, so as not to lose anyone's interest in this subject. I am finding this very hard to do here. In my own personal interactions with H.E.R.E., I found both positive and negative aspects of the Union. After the merger, I also found both positive and negative aspects of the new Union. To list these experiences with both the old and new Unions would seem to be inappropriate. If I myself, can see the problems that existed and still exist, then the current management team of the Union have failed to run this marriage properly for whatever reasons they may or may not have. However the battle being currently staged ends up, the worker will still be the loser and won't benefit until these problems that exist are corrected. Before the merger, I noticed that the unionized employee's needs were not being addressed fully and to their own satisfaction. Time lines were not being met. After the merger, I noticed that the unionized employee's needs were finally being addressed, union stewards were being trained and meetings starting to be created more often. The employee's finally had more to say in the Union that they, themselves created. The new Union looked to be growing and learning from each other.
Now, as a very special man once said, "Now you know the rest of the story", here it comes. And I know I must be careful in my words here.
There may already be individuals for Unite and for H.E.R.E., that are engaged in the divorce of Unite Here. You know who you may be. You may of failed to protect the rights and future of the workers that did not speak or could not speak for themselves. You may have taken upon your own agenda to prosper at the cost of others and in the process, may of hurt the very workers you were put there to protect. Take a moment, and reflect back upon the things you may have said or done. When the next meeting or negotiation comes to fruition, THINK! Think of the worker. You, and only you, may be able to make a difference. For if you cannot see this, then marriage or divorce, it won't matter in the end. You will walk away from this without learning and we all lose. There is no magical "undo" arrow where you can erase the past but there is still the future which has not been written.
Good Luck,
Unionized Worker
