I worked at a company 23 years and was terminated because I was accused of sending another employee a threatening E-Mail. When I was accused of this incident I immediately contacted Yahoo because I didn't send the E-Mail and I wanted to know who sent the note. Yahoo stated at the time that they were unable to let such information unless I was law enforcement or government. I stated it was to keep my job that I had been on for 23 years . They told me their hands are tied they couldn't do anything. I told my Union about it and the sat on it for 6 months until the Company came down and said I'm not able to set foot on any property or talk with any employee. My sister worked there for 19 years and was terminated a year later. I find out in December of 2016 that my yahoo Email had been hacked by a company employee. It was the cousin of the alleged person who received the E-Mail. The Firing Manager was the nephew of the person who received the E-Mail. Should I hire an Attorney and present all evidence I have and go after the company?

I saw a construction strike once, where all these unioners were standing outside keeping anyone else from entering the worksite. One guy was trying to go in and they physically pressed him against a fence until he collapsed. I saw this with my own eyes. I don’t see how it can be legal to keep other people from getting a job! Don’t ever join a union, it’s just evil

I've Never been for Unions. It's just that the Majority of the jobs that I had in the past were Civil Service. I would have rather kept my $35.00 twice a month fee , But ( I Can't Believe I Am Actually Saying This ...OMG ) My Union, including the president and Union Lawyers stood by me and supported me in my last incident on that job. It was Jan 14, 2016. A day that changed my life... I went to work Happy as a Lark, it was Pay Day. Started my work all happy and everything, Then "This Manager Person " This particular manager and I Do Not Get Along, Never Did. One of the reasons was because She Never Knew how to Speak to the employees, RESPECTFULLY... Well to make a Long Story Short, by the time I got Finished With Her and the Rest of Her Cronies who Came To Her Aid, I was Suspended Without Pay for 3 months. I had to go to a Hearing. I told the Union Lawyers that I wanted to Resign, Quit... I was fed up, tired and tired of fighting... I had a 2 day hearing. The Union Lawyers were Great. They fought for me tooth and nail... Also I had a Very Good work record was late only 2 times in 18 yrs. Had all my Doctors Lines Each and Every time I was out, carried over Vacation Time, Volunteered when they needed people to work overtime...Well in the end I went back to work in April of that year. I had put in my retirement papers during the time that I was on Suspension. Great Advice from my Union Lawyers and Retired on July 8, 2016. So for me the Union came through, so paying that monthly fee was worth it in the long run...I also would like to add that since I suffered with Depression ( all of my life ) I made sure it was well documented in my FMLA's, Doctors notes, Doctor Lines, in all my 18 yrs. on that job. When I had my hearings it was brought up by the Lawyers that I suffered with depression. The lawyers said that they were well aware because it was documented over the years.

The little guy gets the shaft these days. I don’t understand why they can’t pay teachers and teacher’s aides more. It seems like instead of increasing the pay of those who actually DO the work, they just hire more and more useless administrators. What’s the point of being in a union if it only benefits those at the top??

I was laid off on Dec. 16 after 18 years of hard work and exemplary annual reviews at a national nurses association. I'm a graphic designer and was hired to do a publication, but over the years, as the other two designers on staff left, I absorbed a lot of their work. My job description was updated in 2010 to include working for other departments. At one point, I was the only designer on staff doing almost all of the work at the association. Then 4 years ago, they had a complete turnover in the marketing department, which resulted in half of my work being outsourced. No one bothered to tell me what was going on, and when I asked my manager, she told me to "stop harping on it." I was assured I was an essential member of the team and my position was secure. Then I was ambushed one day by my manager, director, and HR, informing me that the publication and my position were being eliminated. Knowing that there was still plenty of graphic design work at the association, I asked if a new position was being created for me like they've done in the past. They offered me nothing, refused to answer any of my questions and ignored the union contract that states they would try to find more work before any layoffs will occur. No one else who worked on the publication was being laid off... why just me?! Another question that was ignored. I felt so disrespected and humiliated. The union wasn't able to save me and they were blown off by HR as well. My only hope is to file a grievance now. I have to wonder, "Why me?" I was never reprimanded or had any conflicts with anyone there. I can't help but feel that it was because I've had many medical issues over the past 10 years that's required me to take sick leave (which I had plenty of), and utilized my medical benefits quite a bit. They would never admit this, but I still have to wonder if my medical history encouraged them to cut me. I didn't get any other answers, and since there is still graphic design work, why have I been kicked to the curb? Due to my disabilities, it's going to be difficult to find another job that I can do with the accommodations I require. After 18 years, I feel like I'm going through a divorce or death. It's ironic that the nurses have pulled the plug on me. BTW, know anyone looking for a graphic designer?!

I’ve been working as a teacher in a public school for the past year. When I signed on, the lady interviewing me assured me that though the starting pay seemed low there would be a pay increase “very soon, any week now.” Well it’s been more than a couple weeks, it’s been about 52! She says there is nothing she can do because it is up to the union to negotiate the contract… Has this happened to anyone else? It seems unfair to promise a raise and then never get one.

Hi everyone. I came to work Friday afternoon at 4 PM. Manager accuse me of smelling like alcohol. I had had absolutely nothing to drink that day, however I had got out the evening before. That night I had three Tom and Jerry's in a six hour period, and was home in bed by midnight. The management team decided to take me to the hospital for a breathalyzer which they wouldn't do. I was then brought home and I'll have missed my Friday night shift Saturday day shift to shift yesterday and will be two shifts today as they want to have a meeting won't let me return to work. This meeting has not been set. Is this even legal? I am waiting to hear back from the union but have been unable to contact the rep there. Meanwhile I don't know how I'm gonna pay my rent, and I was not intoxicated in anyway . What can I do?

Last July I took a promotional position at a school district. It was a split job between 2 depts that shared my time. In all my years of working multiple jobs....I found myself in the middle of 2 mgrs that didnt like each other. And, the job they created was a portion of someone who was not giving up the work to me as planned. Instead I found myself being questioned over silly little lies she would create. Of course I was able to prove my innocence with all the back up documentation I kept. Then I was stuck with one manager tells me to do this, and the othe manager gets mad at me for doing what my manager told me ti do. This went on for 4 months. Then naturally the other manager starts to be rude and take a tone with me (fyi-he is already on a program for his inability to work with people and was pulled from his last title to avoid getting fired) ...when he acted this way towards me and shouts out demands to me from across the room....I waited til he returned and asked if I could have a word with him. He agreed....so we went into the office with both managers and I told him that I will not tolerate being talked to by him or anyone in that unprofessional manner....especially since I see that he doesnt talk to anyone else like that. Long story short....ever since that day...him and I have had no issues and talks to me respectfully. Oddly, the other manager who doesnt like him either....and up to that point was impressed with my work....he now is cold and doesnt speak to me and few times in casual conversation in front of staff...cuts me off and now is micromanaging me. I feel like im in the twighlight zone cuz I dont know what the heck is going on. Ok, another long story short....I learn from a complete outsider that because I stood up for myself...they now are trying to get rid of me just like they du to a friend of theirs that previously worked for same mgr. She pushes and pushes me to go to Union President. Im so weak and feeling completely loss of pride in my work after these months of being questioned. But, I finally turned toward the Union President....and OMG he tells me he has known for awhile that thus was going on....and he was waiting for me to come ask for help. He further explains that its not me, he went thru exact same thing when he worked for them. At this point, Im now on medical leave while I felt I was mentally going crazy wondering what is going on. The Union President knows my worth and has appointed me Chief Job Steward starting in January when I return. He also has put the managers and their Director on notice to back off of me. I also learn that what is going on is that the managers never wanted my position and they are doing everything they can to say it doesnt work. So now the situation is getting even worse that now they still need to get me out of there before the union can place me somewhere equivalent. So I have the managers and hunan resources mad at me and shocked that i turned to union. Is all of thud worth the stress and emitiin fatigue....and the doubts it puts in my head of who to trust here anymore....I took a huge cut in my confidence that I wasnt good enough for good paying jobs...how can I even interview when my confidence isnt there....can anyone please tell me what you would do if it were you? Im 49, female....needing goid paying job until I pay off my home and for 3 more years. My previous jobs have been Exec.Admin to VP at major phone company, School Secretary, Buyer,/Quoter, I also solely supported an Insurance Agent as his Office Mgr, and now hold Life Insurance license, and I also hold Master Teacher permit from working at a womens shelter. In addition to being Assistant Director for their childrens program, I held 2 other titles as Client Coordinator and Front Office Admin. For 3 years I worked 2 jobs, day job 40 hrs and evening/weekends at shelter for 32 hrs. I appreciate any advice as I will take them all constructively to help make my decision before Im too return to that environment in 1 week. GOD BLESS & HAPPY NEW YEAR (I hope)!!!

Seeking opinions and/or advice, C.K.F.

You don't know what you are talking about!! Pay to work! Bull , seem there is a part of the story that is not being told, I was in a union, those who use and leave and try to come back in , may have to pay what was due when they left, that only comes from the group the members voted on to judge us all , by rules we all as a body vote on. If you can take care of all the after medical , legal , matters on your own , great for you. I myself been Thru a lot of things over the years . And thanks to the brother hood , me and my family made it. It's great to have someone taking care of things for you when you are out for what ever reason. Things a lot of you have now when you work you wouldn't have now. Like overtime, lunch breaks , safety regulations , better pay , hospitalization by the job when needed , holiday pay , Child labor laws , right To Work regardless of race, religion, age discrimination, Women rights . And the list goes on. Getting a true education of labor will really show you what the big business happen trying to stop for years. Yes, some unions got it wrong. But the people who organize must always control the rights of all the workers fairly. That's Union or non-union .

I was so excited to get a new job, but then they told me that in order to start working I am going to need to pay $400 to the union AND that they will deduct money from my check every month! WTF, really?? They want people to pay to work?!