Interesting comments. I am active UAW. I have a pension. The UAW has nothing whatsoever to do with my pension. Historically, unions formed and grew in factories in Michigan, where I live, because of working conditions and working hours, combined with low pay. Somewhere between here and there, the unions went south. Please, do not attempt to explaine unions if you do not know anything about same.
“Please, do not attempt to explaine unions if you do not know anything about same.”
I was an involuntary member of Retail Clerks International from 1971-1979. They had a couple of guys whose only purpose was to persuade people. They were good at it.
My father started the credit union for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Tampa. Disgusted by the corruption, he ran for the presidency of the local. Several men from the union appeared at our door one night while we were having dinner. My father took a snub-nosed revolver out of his pocket and went to talk to them at the front door. They wanted him to step outside. He, a combat veteran from WWII convinced them to leave. At work he had a constant guard of supporters. He lost the election, which relieved my mother no end.
Yes, there were bad conditions which led to the formation of the unions. But my experiences with them and on subsequent jobs as an engineer, was entirely negative.
I am pleased that you retired with your pension. I believe if it were not for the intervention of the government that your pension would have been at severe risk as many of those pensions were the slush fund of the Mafia and corrupt officials.