I want to first say that i am in favor of unions and have been doing research into them for my industry (trucking).
But the other day i had an encounter with a union worker that left a sour taste in my mouth.
I understand that damn near everyone is overworked and underpaid, and i dont know this person or her pay rate, how her day had been, nothing.
But there were about 10 trucks in front of myself that needed paperwork signed out on, copied and then given to the drivers before they could leave.
Waiting is part of my job and i understand that, but when someone came in that had been there for three hours and asked when the paperwork would be ready, and the person im speaking of says in the most rudest, condescending attitude “it will be ready when i feel like it”…. It leaves me thinking that this union member is nothing but a bitch, lazy, and a disgusting person.
Sure, we all want to end work and id love nothing more than to sit around gardening in a big ass greenhouse all day alongside my horses and livestock, but right now… We need that paperwork.
I also watched her. All she had to do was stamp the paper, put the time out on it (aka put down TO: 15:00 etc), then copy it and hand it back to the driver along with sticking the copied piece into a stack to her right. So its not like the computers were down, copy machine was broken, or it was some elaborate holy hell process (because i have waited over an hour for my paperwork to be printed out…thanks Kimberly Clark and your mile long bill of lading)…. She was just sitting there enjoying the fact that she had power over people.
It hurts my soul and makes me frown as these drivers are on a time clock that can not be stopped. Once you start your 14hr clock, a lot of companies won't allow you to stop it with an 8/2 or 7/3 split. You have to do the whole 14hrs non stop.
So now most of these drivers are behind 3+ hours because she didnt want to.
It sounds childish and irresponsible.