Apple rumored to be initiating 'union awareness' training for retail managers

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Comments

  • Reply 21 of 85
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ruel24 View Post


    Funny that Germany is ripe with unions, and yet they're very successful. Besides, you're completely wrong.



    Germany is a pip-squeak of a country compared to the U.S., economically speaking.



    How many new, booming industries have come out of Germany since WWII? Not many. How many from the U.S.? Oh let's see, there's been biotechnology, the mainframe and mini computer industry, the the personal computer industry, the internet, the air freight industry (fed ex, ups), fast food, music, movies, etc. etc. etc. If the U.S. had Germany's overall economic activity, it would be a disaster for us.



    Also, Germany can better afford the massive economic drag that comes from high unionization because Germany barely spends a dime on its own defense. That's a historic aberration -- strong, independent nations have always had to spend vastly more money than Germany does on defense, but Germany has gotten away with spending nothing because the U.S. has footed that bill.



    We've been their protector since WWII, but that's coming to an end, and I can't wait to see Germany (and the rest of Europe) go into violent seizures as they try to maintain their rich socialist welfare entitlements while also keeping credible militaries at the ready. This will be fun.
  • Reply 22 of 85
    If Apple lets Unions in you can say goodbye to customer service. Walk up to a unionized Apple Genius... "I'm sorry sir, I'm not the one that handles the RAM issues, you'll have to see the motherboard specialist".



    Not to mention the demand for higher wages, contract negotiations, etc. That will drive the cost of Apple products even higher.



    I like Apple the way it is. No thanks.
  • Reply 23 of 85
    realisticrealistic Posts: 1,154member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ruel24 View Post


    Are you serious? What industries? The auto industry? You mean, it wasn't the bean counters that decided a $0.10 part on a Ford Pinto was too expensive and led to deadly results? You mean it wasn't the poor engineering that went into those cars like the Pinto, Vega, Monza, and just about every other model? You mean it wasn't the inept management that didn't understand why people preferred Toyotas and Hondas? You mean it wasn't the designers who gave us forgettable designs? You mean it wasn't overpaid CEOs who were more worried about bonuses and shareholder value instead of product? You mean it wasn't the cheap interiors and bland exterior designs? You mean it wasn't a culture of crying about emissions regulations instead of innovating around those regulations? You mean it wasn't the fact that one company had 60% market share with only 2 other competitors? You mean it wasn't the fact that they simply designed and manufactured cars that rattled and squeaked and had purposely designed-in flaws, requiring you to spend money to fix them?



    You mean to tell me it was the UAW that screwed up the US auto industry? I had no idea...



    I'll give that all the problems you mentioned were real, whether they were or not. Please tell or preferably show me how the UAW solved JUST ONE of the problems that you mentioned? You can't because the UAW didn't solve any of them.



    You make unions merit and performanced based instead of all about longevity and seniority and I'll support unions.
  • Reply 24 of 85
    jd_in_sbjd_in_sb Posts: 1,600member
    Years ago I read that the way Amazon dealt with unionizing order-fulfillment centers was to shut down the centers.
  • Reply 25 of 85
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AjbDtc826 View Post


    Strong unions = strong economy. Notice how crappy our economy is? It's cus our unions are crappy. Workers spend money- not owners. Buy American. Support our neighbors and our own jobs.



    !!!!!!!
  • Reply 26 of 85
    Not gonna touch this one with a 10ft pole. Go attack each other over your political biases. I'm going to play Angry Birds.
  • Reply 27 of 85
    United we stand divided we fall.



    Time will tell.
  • Reply 28 of 85
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AjbDtc826 View Post


    Strong unions = strong economy. Notice how crappy our economy is? It's cus our unions are crappy. Workers spend money- not owners. Buy American. Support our neighbors and our own jobs.



    Quoted for Truth. The strongest economies, the best living standards, and the best-functioning democracies are found in countries with strong unions: the Nordic countries and Germany. This doesn't mean unions bring wealth and happiness to everyone, but it's no coincidence. Mostly it's about a balance of power, which is badly lopsided in corporate America.



    The Chinese are saying Europe is suffering from "sloth"? Well, the Chinese of all people surely know how to do things the innovative and ethical way. LOL.



    As for the unions moving American jobs to China, um, no. The American corporations moved the jobs to China. And once Chinese labor becomes too expensive, they'll move to the next place. Some are already doing it, opting for Vietnam, for example, instead of China. Big corporations are like a swarm of locusts. But they sure are happy to see so many simpletons are ready to lose it all just to defend them from those horrendous unions...
  • Reply 29 of 85
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by k2director View Post


    Germany is a pip-squeak of a country compared to the U.S., economically speaking.



    How many new, booming industries have come out of Germany since WWII? Not many. How many from the U.S.? Oh let's see, there's been biotechnology, the mainframe and mini computer industry, the the personal computer industry, the internet, the air freight industry (fed ex, ups), fast food, music, movies, etc. etc. etc. If the U.S. had Germany's overall economic activity, it would be a disaster for us.



    Also, Germany can better afford the massive economic drag that comes from high unionization because Germany barely spends a dime on its own defense. That's a historic aberration -- strong, independent nations have always had to spend vastly more money than Germany does on defense, but Germany has gotten away with spending nothing because the U.S. has footed that bill.



    We've been their protector since WWII, but that's coming to an end, and I can't wait to see Germany (and the rest of Europe) go into violent seizures as they try to maintain their rich socialist welfare entitlements while also keeping credible militaries at the ready. This will be fun.



    Who do you think is going to attack Germany and Europe? Are you seriously proposing that Europe should spend in excess of one trillion dollars on defence? You are delusional.



    Germany is the second largest exporting country in the world after China. Germany and Europe are no laggards in innovation, but maybe they don?t brag about it so much.



    Size is not the be-all or end-all of success. The wellbeing of the general population is and Scandinavia and North Western Europe scores a lot higher than the good old USA.
  • Reply 30 of 85
    cash907cash907 Posts: 893member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AjbDtc826 View Post


    Strong unions = strong economy. Notice how crappy our economy is? It's cus our unions are crappy. Workers spend money- not owners. Buy American. Support our neighbors and our own jobs.



    Commenters that are too young to remember what NYC was like under the boot of the corrupt unions in the 70's are so cute.
  • Reply 31 of 85
    ericblrericblr Posts: 172member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton View Post


    Not gonna touch this one with a 10ft pole. Go attack each other over your political biases. I'm going to play Angry Birds.



    Good idea! I'm right behind you:-)
  • Reply 32 of 85
    cash907cash907 Posts: 893member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Realistic View Post


    You make unions merit and performanced based instead of all about longevity and seniority and I'll support unions.



    AMEN!! I said goodbye to unions forever when I was 26, and lost a promotion I had worked my ever-loving ass off for to someone from a completely different department, simply because they were hired 3 DAYS BEFORE I WAS. He systematically ruined every streamlined procedure I'd set in place that had things running perfectly, and managed to single-handedly piss off our four top customers badly enough to push them over to our competition, all in a single meeting. To top it all off, the department head had the stones to bitch ME out, because I didn't do a good enough job training my boss. Bosses train employees, not the other way around. I told him, and my "boss," that if they wanted me to do that job, they should have given it to me in the first place. Quit that POS, took out a loan, and went back to college so I could be my own damn boss and never have to place my livelihood into the hands of morons like that ever again.



    Anyone that actually has some morals and a healthy work ethic knows exactly what we are talking about here. Unions are the havens of slackers and masters of least effort required as a way of life individuals. They are also run by seriously corrupt bastards, as has been made clear by recent scandals in Chicago and NYC. As far as Apple retail stores go, the ONLY reason unions want a piece of that pie is because it would bring in millions of dollars in dues, and give them power and influence over one of the most profitable companies in the country. If you think this has anything to do with improving the lot of Apple employees, go look at the Apple employment page, and see just how much better even the lowest part time retail store employee has it in terms of pay and benefits compared to their counterparts at Best Buy, Fry's etc. Any Apple employee that has the nerve to bitch about their situation in this economy needs to be fired on the spot, and escorted out the door by security guards in black turtlenecks, so someone who actually wants and would appreciate that job can have it.
  • Reply 33 of 85
    ivkivk Posts: 46member
    Weekends

    All Breaks at Work, including your Lunch Breaks

    Paid Vacation

    FMLA

    Sick Leave

    Social Security

    Minimum Wage

    Civil Rights Act/Title VII (Prohibits Employer Discrimination)

    8-Hour Work Day

    Overtime Pay

    Child Labor Laws

    Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA)

    40 Hour Work Week

    Worker's Compensation (Worker's Comp)

    Unemployment Insurance

    Pensions

    Workplace Safety Standards and Regulations

    Employer Health Care Insurance

    Collective Bargaining Rights for Employees

    Wrongful Termination Laws

    Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967

    Whistleblower Protection Laws

    Employee Polygraph Protect Act (Prohibits Employer from using a lie detector test on an employee)

    Veteran's Employment and Training Services (VETS)

    Compensation increases and Evaluations (Raises)

    Sexual Harassment Laws

    Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

    Holiday Pay

    Employer Dental, Life, and Vision Insurance

    Privacy Rights

    Pregnancy and Parental Leave

    Military Leave

    The Right to Strike

    Public Education for Children

    Equal Pay Acts of 1963 & 2011 (Requires employers pay men and women equally for the same amount of work)

    Laws Ending Sweatshops in the United States



    Those evil unions! Look at all those horrible things they have fought for!
  • Reply 34 of 85
    Unions allow employees to bargain collectively over wages and working conditions. Unions have been positive in establishing the 40 hour work weeks, a safe work place, a living wage, and health and retirement benefits. Both union and non-union workers have benefited from unions. My UPS driver is a union member, the pilots that fly our planes are union members, firefighters, police, and even symphony orchestra members belong to unions. Unions aren't inherently evil, and I didn't see them involved in the S&L scandal or the credit default swap crash. I would hope that Apple recognizes that union members are consumers, too.
  • Reply 35 of 85
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Charel View Post


    Who do you think is going to attack Germany and Europe? Are you seriously proposing that Europe should spend in excess of one trillion dollars on defence? You are delusional.



    Germany is the second largest exporting country in the world after China. Germany and Europe are no laggards in innovation, but maybe they don?t brag about it so much.



    Size is not the be-all or end-all of success. The wellbeing of the general population is and Scandinavia and North Western Europe scores a lot higher than the good old USA.



    Never mind the fact that neither Germany nor Japan can have a standing Army put a cog in the original poster's comments about Germany spending on military defens(c)e.
  • Reply 36 of 85
    hill60hill60 Posts: 6,992member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by hvance View Post


    If unions come to Apple you can kiss the retail business goodbye. I for one will never enter another Apple store. I will mail order my Apple products. No union has EVER made a company more productive, competitive or innovative.





    People aren't slaves, in civilised countries they have every right to organise and select who they want to represent them.
  • Reply 37 of 85
    Do you like having a weekend? Do you like having a job that gives you healthcare and other benefits? If so, thank the unions.



    If you don't have those benefits, you should probably organize and get a union.
  • Reply 38 of 85
    blastdoorblastdoor Posts: 3,258member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by wizard69 View Post


    Europe is basically falling apart right before our very eyes. Even the Chinese said they where suffering from sloth recently. Europe is not a model for anything remotely successful as far as public policy goes.



    Thanks for giving us the Fox News interpretation of what's happening in Europe. It's always nice to know what the ignorant and sanctimonious are thinking.



    Here's what's really happening. The Europeans are facing two significant short-run problems. First, they are trapped by the Euro. Second, they are suffering from the delusion of "expansionary austerity". Neither of these has anything to do with "sloth". And ironically, the second is a delusion shared by right-wing Republican tea-party types.



    Regarding the Euro: a common currency without labor market mobility and a common fiscal policy had lead to disaster, as predicted by Americans and Brits back in the 90s.



    Regarding the delusion of expansionary austerity: European policymakers have fallen victim to the delusion that raising taxes and cutting spending will create jobs by somehow instilling "confidence" in business that the government is Serious about cutting deficits. There's no basis in theory or evidence that this works in the context of a depressed economy, but they're doing it anyway, and destroying their economy in the process.



    Outside of these two massive policy failures, though, there are a lot of things that some European countries do very well with respect to policy. France has the safest and most advanced nuclear power program on the planet. The Germans (and others) have some of the best policies to facilitate a move away from fossil fuels. The Germans have an excellent system for educating highly skilled technical workers. The French have one of the best health care systems in the world.



    Of course, I don't know why I'm wasting my breath. The stunning ignorance and small-minded moralizing displayed in your post indicates that you are totally incapable of comprehending anything that I've written here.
  • Reply 39 of 85
    hankx32hankx32 Posts: 121member
    I think Steve would literally climb out of his grave, tell everyone they were shit, fire them all, including the top brass and the board, cry like a baby, change the name to Zombie Computer, and run the entire thing himself, possibly keeping Jony Ive around for new designs.
  • Reply 40 of 85
    mcrcnmcrcn Posts: 27member
    Most Apple store employees do not work full time and like most retails jobs they do not make a lot of money. Once they see how much the union dues will cost them, they will really hate working for Apple.
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