dfattack
Well-known member
As a business owner myself...I couldn't have said it any better.
As a business owner myself...I couldn't have said it any better.
snobuilder
Well-known member
LVT is where it's at today fella. It is fast, fairly cheap and easy....but if you insist on ceramic and I'd assume in your bathroom then I'd recommend putting down a heating element to warm those tootsies on them cold and barren days/nights in ND.
Now please excuse me....I have a store to open.
Have a nice day and maybe give menards a try.
FWIW - agree LVT is the way to go. Put it in my basement 3 years ago and super happy. Way better than tile - warm on the feet, doesn't crack, easy to clean up!
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And that is why since then I have not bought a GM vehicle.
When we start talking about pensions, people have been "surviving" a lot long then we use to, creating an upside down effect with these funds. They than became a considerable amount of an unfunded liability. The private sector, ie shareholders, realized this and needed to phase out this liability. Hence, for the most part, private pensions went away. However, the public sector is slow to adapt, and to a certain extent, in cases held hostage in public unions. The difference between the private and public worker, is the tax payer is the one strung out for the bad deal, not the shareholder. Again, total compensation package often for the public union gig is well above the wage of the private working doing the same task, something is amiss. In this particular case with the truck drivers, they are negotiating way above the private market on what to carry over, which is screwing the tax payer. To me, it is that black and white. What the city board really needs to do, is settle this contract, then have it renew in May where the city can't be held hostage over potential snow fall. But then again, not to often have I seen the government work in a smart way.
snobuilder
Well-known member
In bold....that what actuarials are for.
My FIL worked for the local county as a mechanic and drive/operator from the late 70's to the early 2000's. They did not get paid more than the private sector equivalent at the same skill level. Exactly the opposite. There were concessions given at nearly every contract date. Supposedly in exchange for job security.
If the management side of the table agrees with and signs the bargain, it is up to them to follow through with the deal made. If they didn't bargain in good faith with a funding plan then it is squarely on them not the guy with the lunchbox.
Couple highlights from this article... Those states are just in terrific financial shape aren't they....
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/479400-union-membership-falls-to-record-low-of-103-percent
[FONT="]With $1,095 in median weekly earnings, union workers out-earned nonunion workers' median $892 salaries by 22.7 percent.
[/FONT][FONT="]BLS found that over half of all the nation’s 14.6 million union members were concentrated in just seven states, even though those states only accounted for a third of the workforce.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Those states included California with 2.5 million unionized workers, New York with 1.7 million, Illinois with 0.8 million, Pennsylvania with 0.7 million, and New Jersey, Ohio and Washington, each with 0.6 million. [/FONT]
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https://thehill.com/policy/finance/479400-union-membership-falls-to-record-low-of-103-percent
[FONT="]With $1,095 in median weekly earnings, union workers out-earned nonunion workers' median $892 salaries by 22.7 percent.
[/FONT][FONT="]BLS found that over half of all the nation’s 14.6 million union members were concentrated in just seven states, even though those states only accounted for a third of the workforce.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Those states included California with 2.5 million unionized workers, New York with 1.7 million, Illinois with 0.8 million, Pennsylvania with 0.7 million, and New Jersey, Ohio and Washington, each with 0.6 million. [/FONT]
[FONT="]
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I think we might agree here. What I believe, in most private sectors, there has been a "correction" made with union contracts in recent years - to more align with what actuarials are stating life might last, or other factors. What hasn't happened in many places is that "correction" has not occurred in the public sector unions, with some exception. This did happen in WI a few years back and gave the local governments back control of those costs, right where it should belong. And if the local governments would like to pay the public sector union job an inflated wage (be it hourly, benefits or pension), so be it. The tax payer, or more so the voter, can agree to that with their elected official.
snobuilder
Well-known member
we all got money to support such things as $324,000,000 9 year contract for a baseball pitcher but our garbage man is grossly overpaid......smh….lol
Apples and oranges. We CHOOSE to support our local sports teams. When we don't like what they are doing, we choose not to support them. I think they are grossly over-paid. But it is simply economics. Do you know why the women's soccer makes a lot less than the men's soccer team? Because there isn't nearly the market, or reach as men's. Economy 101.
In most cities, we can't choose if we want the garbage picked up or not, and to pay for it. It is simply part of our tax bill. What we pay him or her, should be market value for that particular skill set. Nothing more, nothing less.
I will take this conversation down another path I know an awful lot about. These folks had better be bringing some sort of value to what they do, or they will be replaced by artificial intelligence. Let's discuss fast food employees who went on strike in Canada. I might not have all my facts perfectly accurate, but they were demanding something like $15/hour. The powers at be (believe it was the city or province) gave in and they were all making $15/hour. Guess what? That particular job skill set isn't worth $15/hour and the alternative is AI. Seldom in Canada will you see someone actually taking your order. It is done on a kiosk. Anything that can be automated will be when the value of the skill set doesn't demand what you are receiving in compensation. Simply put, a lot of people who were taking orders are now out of a job. Was that really the smart thing to do? But I guess who is left are not making $15/hr.
Same will happen to the garbage pickup. The days of collecting more than one is worth are going away. So one needs to find that skill set that DRIVES value or can't be replaced by machine and AI, or you will be left on the curbside. One does not have to like this trend, but it is happening either way. I know myself embrace change and jumped on board. Fighting it will only put you on the side.
snobuilder
Well-known member
A garbage strike will affect 100% more ppl than a sports league strike. ...reality
plenty of "artificial intelligence" being created an overpriced semester at a time if you ask me. fast food and cell phones are both road hazards. I'd promote neither.
soccer players get paid?
Your fast food employees are unionized in Canada?
$15.00 an hour ain't squat and the cost of a machine to replace a human far outweighs that rate. It also moves us further down the path of zero face to face human interaction which will be the inevitable death of society as we know it.
so what do we do with all of the humans that the likes of you are eager to replace with alla yur AI....who pays for there existence when machines replace them?
nixon saw the huge burden and threat of China way back in the 60's and that administration understood that they needed jobs to appease and control an eventual global threat if that country starved in the nuke age. Really quite remarkable where it took us.
we need jobs or society rots. we need expendable income if we want to thrive. biggest problem I see is the self serving egos of the well educated that need to look down at the calloused handed in society that do your bitch work....well educated?...not really.
Have a nice day....come again.
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Agree! Eisenhower economics! You have to have more haves, than have nots to make the economy grow. Too many more have nots, than haves, economy doesn't grow! The economy is just like a tree, it grows from the roots, yes, the bottom.
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Agree. It just never worked out as promised, never does, and never will! Every time VooDoo Economics policy is tried, it always ends in failure, recession, and explosive national debt! Running a business as this, and the same exact results, failure. There is no way around it, figures don't lie, however liars figure.
snobuilder
Well-known member
Yes, you bet, and history provides all the truth in what I posted.
ICT Sledder
Active member
There’s definitely still a place for unions today, and their origins a century ago make complete sense. It’s also true that some of the work norms we enjoy today were originally brought to the table by the unions many years ago.
That said, when they represent folks that aren’t employed in either a dangerous and/or skilled labor field, and they demand pay and benefits far outside the realm of what the same individual would command in the private sector, then the pendulum of power has swung too far in the other direction. You’ve lost me (and I would hazard a guess the huge majority of other Americans) at that point.
Work is work. It’s not supposed to be fun. If your job doesn’t pay enough it’s likely not because your employer is an arse; it’s more likely that your skills and/or education don’t merit a higher salary. Improve yourself and find a different job. This is America, you’re free to do so. There’s pell grant and loans for college, or apprenticeships in the skilled trades. There’s no caste system here holding you back; life is what you make of it.
That said, when they represent folks that aren’t employed in either a dangerous and/or skilled labor field, and they demand pay and benefits far outside the realm of what the same individual would command in the private sector, then the pendulum of power has swung too far in the other direction. You’ve lost me (and I would hazard a guess the huge majority of other Americans) at that point.
Work is work. It’s not supposed to be fun. If your job doesn’t pay enough it’s likely not because your employer is an arse; it’s more likely that your skills and/or education don’t merit a higher salary. Improve yourself and find a different job. This is America, you’re free to do so. There’s pell grant and loans for college, or apprenticeships in the skilled trades. There’s no caste system here holding you back; life is what you make of it.
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Yes, just looking for a fair balance, and all is well.
Very well said!
I have refrained from commenting on this topic, due to the strong emotional argument from both sides of the fence. There are very valid arguments from each side of that fence. That being said, we should all acknowledge the mantra, "those who don't learn from history, are condemned to repeat it".
Whether you agree with unions or not, history proves that labor unions created the "middle class". Without labor unions, there is no such thing!
I think it's fair to say that the majority of people reading this board fall into the "middle class". Whether your a union member, small business owner, manager, CEO, whatever....your monetary value has been influenced by labor unions. Be it directly or indirectly.
Well said!
snobuilder
Well-known member
Agree.