Want a better retirement?

[sparkey600]

I've had the good luck (choices here remember that) to be in a trade Union for over 35 years. All of my health insurance has been funded at 100% Read this. No cost to me, including my whole family. EVER. I have an annuity or as some like to call a 401k funded at 100% at no cost to me. Then I have had a Local Union retirement benefit fully funded at no cost to me. Right now it's worth over $1300 per month. Then I have a NEBF retirement fund at no cost to me. When I retire, I'll be making more money than I'm making right now. My point is this. Employer's keep telling their employees that Unions are a bad thing, You have to pay dues which scares a lot of people a way. Union dues are a small percentage  of your take home pay, usually under 5% total and that's correct. Most Unions get their members upwards of 20% back in their pay through collective bargaining It's bad for owners bottom line. Unions support workers. Employer's hate Unions. I support Unions 100% I've lived this my whole life and I'm glad I did.

[Kali Sensual Reiki]

@sparkey600 Above  what you said, and your life experience with saving for retirement is important and this is something that the ladies really need to focus on! Ladies, if this is all that they’ve done for a living “ escorting”? Sorry to say , you are gonna have a hard time  collecting,  Social Security! I u used to work in the accounting field. I did accounting up until 2019 when my eyes start to get bad.  If any, you guys are financial planners or brokers of any sort? I would love to have you step forward, speak up and share what you can to help the ladies! If you can provide service to some of these ladies to try and get them to  invest for their futures, that would be great. ❤️

Edited November 21, 2023 by Kali Sensual Reiki

[BuddhistPunk]

20 hours ago, sparkey600 said:

I've had the good luck (choices here remember that) to be in a trade Union for over 35 years. All of my health insurance has been funded at 100% Read this. No cost to me, including my whole family. EVER. I have an annuity or as some like to call a 401k funded at 100% at no cost to me. Then I have had a Local Union retirement benefit fully funded at no cost to me. Right now it's worth over $1300 per month. Then I have a NEBF retirement fund at no cost to me. When I retire, I'll be making more money than I'm making right now. My point is this. Employer's keep telling their employees that Unions are a bad thing, You have to pay dues which scares a lot of people a way. Union dues are a small percentage  of your take home pay, usually under 5% total and that's correct. Most Unions get their members upwards of 20% back in their pay through collective bargaining It's bad for owners bottom line. Unions support workers. Employer's hate Unions. I support Unions 100% I've lived this my whole life and I'm glad I did.

Depends on the industry.  Our union does very little.  Every contract they give more and more away.  Our union leaders believe in meeting with company reps and talk about how they can work together, while the national guys spend time negotiating until they come to an agreement years after the contract ends.  The last time, the union was telling us to vote for the agreement instead of striking.  Even when the member voted to strike, the union did what they could to avoid it.  No wonder members left to a union that doesn't hold a contract with the employer.

 

Would be a better deal if there wasn't so much government regulation that makes the union practically useless.

[sparkey600]

A couple of things here....If you guys aren't happy how you are represented, then vote new membership in that will represent your membership as you would like to be presented. It's pretty simple actually. What Industry do you belong to? Wondering? Local 68 IBEW can help you people when your Union is not. There is Solidarity amongst all of the trades. Reach out and you will see they will help you and your Brothers and Sisters. ALL of the Industries need to be heard. Local 68 will help you. Reach out!

[ilovewomen]

I soured on unions in 1974. I was a member of Local 435 Delivery, Warehousman, Drivers.

Left the company I worked for to go to Coors where I had better pay and benefits.

I do believe that if a company takes care of its employees, then a union may not be needed.

That said, it’s great to hear how good you’ll have it when you retire. That is the way it should be.

 

[Might As Well]

Unions?  To each their own, but this isn't the 1800's where we need to protect kids from working the textile looms in the country.  Unions have become special interest groups that dont have the Customer or the Business as their focus.  They are there to take care of their members, which is most times at the sacrifice of the Customer or Business.

"Hey...we all get a 3% raise!"  All the slugs cheer.  The performers or top performers are like "Really?  Without this stupid Union, we would have had 6% increases."

See someone with a union background on their resume?  Sometimes by accident those resumes get lost.

[Happymon]

On 11/21/2023 at 1:11 AM, sparkey600 said:

I've had the good luck (choices here remember that) to be in a trade Union for over 35 years. All of my health insurance has been funded at 100% Read this. No cost to me, including my whole family. EVER. I have an annuity or as some like to call a 401k funded at 100% at no cost to me. Then I have had a Local Union retirement benefit fully funded at no cost to me. Right now it's worth over $1300 per month. Then I have a NEBF retirement fund at no cost to me. When I retire, I'll be making more money than I'm making right now. My point is this. Employer's keep telling their employees that Unions are a bad thing, You have to pay dues which scares a lot of people a way. Union dues are a small percentage  of your take home pay, usually under 5% total and that's correct. Most Unions get their members upwards of 20% back in their pay through collective bargaining It's bad for owners bottom line. Unions support workers. Employer's hate Unions. I support Unions 100% I've lived this my whole life and I'm glad I did.

I glad it all worked out for you, but if you really think all those benefits were "at no cost to you," you're seriously ill-informed. I don't believe there is anything "free."

[Kali Sensual Reiki]

@Sparkey600, I'm so happy you have everything mapped out for you and your family. I also have a savings plan with life insurance and annuities with a modest Roth IRA account and small stock investments through Black Rock. I feel as though I am an exception. I fear for other ladies in the business who are not actively planning for their futures. Go on ahead and laugh at me if you wish. Mind you, my investments are simple for my future. And my future is closer than the majority of the ladies.  Yet, this is vital, ladies, and it is better to start early than later. I am thankful I at least started when I did—enough of me on this topic. Just happy I can afford to stay in Colorado  if I wish after retirement. 

[mustang]

And then there was the strike called against Yellow Freight, and the company simply closed their doors, sold their holdings and equipment and put several hundred workers out of work.

[sparkey600]

On 11/23/2023 at 7:58 AM, Might As Well said:

Unions?  To each their own, but this isn't the 1800's where we need to protect kids from working the textile looms in the country.  Unions have become special interest groups that dont have the Customer or the Business as their focus.  They are there to take care of their members, which is most times at the sacrifice of the Customer or Business.

"Hey...we all get a 3% raise!"  All the slugs cheer.  The performers or top performers are like "Really?  Without this stupid Union, we would have had 6% increases."

See someone with a union background on their resume?  Sometimes by accident those resumes get lost.

You couldn't be more wrong. You sound like the old bosses I had when I was a young man "Unions are bad" "You have to pay Union dues" You don't want to do that!

All a bunch of bull shit! Junior, I have to tell you something. If you trust your employer with doing what's best for you and you're family you've made a grave mistake. Employers care about one thing. They're bottom line. If you make too much money, you WILL be replaced. No matter what you're fancy pants degree sez otherwise.,

You will be on your own, you and the Corporation goon squad. Think about that.  Me, I've been Union for almost 40 years. Going to retire making more money than I'm making now. You are making a very GRAVE mistake about you future bases on what your employer is telling you about Unions, They want to pay Absolutly less money, why wouldn't they?  

[sparkey600]

11 hours ago, Happymon said:

I glad it all worked out for you, but if you really think all those benefits were "at no cost to you," you're seriously ill-informed. I don't believe there is anything "free."

Sounds like you are ill informed to me. What part of better paid and all insurance and retirement paid at 100% do you not get? Just wondering?

I've been a Union member for 45 plus years. Employers have been lying to people 50 plus years. Which side of the fence are you on? Curious here? 

Every benefit is included in our salary. Every one.

I raised two kiddos with my wife 40 years at no cost, glasses, dental, health insurance. I'm going to be retiring making more money than I'm making right now. Does this sound like something that a regular employer might want for their employees? Of course YES! They love us more than money and hope for us to do better in retirement. Dude. I really like you on here, love you're posts, love how you are doing in life in general. I Absolutly HATE your take on a concept about you something you obviously have no experience with. Unions care about their members and pursuer what said membership thinks is important. Businesses try to make as much money as they can. And we wonder "why is there so much homeless" Gee, I wonder....    Nobody can live on 20 bucks an hour any more.

[sparkey600]

On 11/23/2023 at 7:44 AM, ilovewomen said:

I soured on unions in 1974. I was a member of Local 435 Delivery, Warehousman, Drivers.

Left the company I worked for to go to Coors where I had better pay and benefits.

I do believe that if a company takes care of its employees, then a union may not be needed.

That said, it’s great to hear how good you’ll have it when you retire. That is the way it should be.

 

I'm lucky. But I made my luck happen!

I hope you might have the opportunity to be in a Union in the future bud!

Best wishes to you and your family!

[Might As Well]

3 hours ago, sparkey600 said:

Sounds like you are ill informed to me. What part of better paid and all insurance and retirement paid at 100% do you not get? Just wondering?

I've been a Union member for 45 plus years. Employers have been lying to people 50 plus years. Which side of the fence are you on? Curious here? 

Every benefit is included in our salary. Every one.

I raised two kiddos with my wife 40 years at no cost, glasses, dental, health insurance. I'm going to be retiring making more money than I'm making right now. Does this sound like something that a regular employer might want for their employees? Of course YES! They love us more than money and hope for us to do better in retirement. Dude. I really like you on here, love you're posts, love how you are doing in life in general. I Absolutly HATE your take on a concept about you something you obviously have no experience with. Unions care about their members and pursuer what said membership thinks is important. Businesses try to make as much money as they can. And we wonder "why is there so much homeless" Gee, I wonder....    Nobody can live on 20 bucks an hour any more.

Notice how the union slug never mentions taking care of the Customer or the Business.  Without those?  Your job...union or not....goes bye bye.

[Might As Well]

4 hours ago, sparkey600 said:

You couldn't be more wrong. You sound like the old bosses I had when I was a young man "Unions are bad" "You have to pay Union dues" You don't want to do that!

All a bunch of bull shit! Junior, I have to tell you something. If you trust your employer with doing what's best for you and you're family you've made a grave mistake. Employers care about one thing. They're bottom line. If you make too much money, you WILL be replaced. No matter what you're fancy pants degree sez otherwise.,

You will be on your own, you and the Corporation goon squad. Think about that.  Me, I've been Union for almost 40 years. Going to retire making more money than I'm making now. You are making a very GRAVE mistake about you future bases on what your employer is telling you about Unions, They want to pay Absolutly less money, why wouldn't they?  

Like I said...to each their own.  Me?  53 with a net worth of $1.6M.  2-3 years from now will be $2.0M and growing.  Multi-millionaire.  All from savings, 401k's, IRA's, stocks, stock options...etc.

True story from 1995.  1 of our 400 locations was in the process of going union and I was brought in to help/see what was going on.

As the vote grew closer, I went out to the main office area and moved things around up front and started measuring the wall...looking for an outlet....etc.  One of the organizers asked what I was doing.  "Oh nothing man.  Just measuring off where the new time clock system will go.  Once the union gets voted in, everyone will be off incentive pay, just straight hourly and will have to travel in to clock in each morning and then back at the end of the day to clock out once your route is done.  BTW, how's the organizing going?"

A few days later, I was in the parking lot with a measuring wheel and another organizer asked what I was doing.  "Oh nothing man.  Just helping the fence guy with measurements so we can gate in the yard.  You know the drill...once the union comes you won't be able to take your truck home as a benefit.  You'll be driving in pretty early to clock in, get in your company truck and then run your route.  End of day?  Will have to drive back to the shop, clock out and then drive all the way home again in your personal vehicle.  No biggie."

And that's just 2 examples.

Later that month the vote failed - and by a wide margin.  Over the next year or so and by a strange set of circumstances the 4 organizers were all fired at different times.  Weird how that happened.  The Company is almost 100 years old and is still free of unions.

[Happymon]

11 hours ago, sparkey600 said:

Sounds like you are ill informed to me. What part of better paid and all insurance and retirement paid at 100% do you not get? Just wondering?

I've been a Union member for 45 plus years. Employers have been lying to people 50 plus years. Which side of the fence are you on? Curious here? 

Every benefit is included in our salary. Every one.

I raised two kiddos with my wife 40 years at no cost, glasses, dental, health insurance. I'm going to be retiring making more money than I'm making right now. Does this sound like something that a regular employer might want for their employees? Of course YES! They love us more than money and hope for us to do better in retirement. Dude. I really like you on here, love you're posts, love how you are doing in life in general. I Absolutly HATE your take on a concept about you something you obviously have no experience with. Unions care about their members and pursuer what said membership thinks is important. Businesses try to make as much money as they can. And we wonder "why is there so much homeless" Gee, I wonder....    Nobody can live on 20 bucks an hour any more.

My comment was not intended to open up a debate about the merits of unions, only to comment on your understanding of the hydraulics of economics. To claim that your benefits came at  "no cost" to you simply cannot be true. I'm sorry if that smarts, but there is no such thing as "free." That's not a cynical view, it's the way things are.  Somewhere, someone produced your apparent gifts. I guarantee they didn't do so for free. And in some similar way, perhaps remote, indirect and unclear, you paid. 

[Might As Well]

16 hours ago, Happymon said:

My comment was not intended to open up a debate about the merits of unions, only to comment on your understanding of the hydraulics of economics. To claim that your benefits came at  "no cost" to you simply cannot be true. I'm sorry if that smarts, but there is no such thing as "free." That's not a cynical view, it's the way things are.  Somewhere, someone produced your apparent gifts. I guarantee they didn't do so for free. And in some similar way, perhaps remote, indirect and unclear, you paid. 

Bingo!  Pretty sure @sparkey600 also started another thread about how things are soooooo expensive and that the providers should consider lowering their rates in order to get more business.  

Union slug does not factor input costs that have to be passed along to the Customer.  Kind of like how all of the union slugs "freebies" like "I raised two kiddos with my wife 40 years at no cost, glasses, dental, health insurance" are all being passed along to the Customer.  Dude will read this and be like "nooooo....that's not how economies work.  Im a union guy.  It's different."  LOL
 

 

[Might As Well]

On 11/24/2023 at 6:37 PM, mustang said:

And then there was the strike called against Yellow Freight, and the company simply closed their doors, sold their holdings and equipment and put several hundred workers out of work.

Exactly.  Union slugs put thousands out of work with the strike that they threatened.  

[sparkey600]

On 11/25/2023 at 4:53 AM, Might As Well said:

Notice how the union slug never mentions taking care of the Customer or the Business.  Without those?  Your job...union or not....goes bye bye.

Why would you call me a Union slug?

You don't know my work ethic or my devotion to my customers one bit. 

I've BUILT my personal and processional reputation on one thing. Helping my customers succeed in their endeavors.

Yeah, you are a multi millionaire because you say you are. I'm sure you are telling the truth, why would you lie?    

[sparkey600]

On 11/25/2023 at 1:08 PM, Happymon said:

My comment was not intended to open up a debate about the merits of unions, only to comment on your understanding of the hydraulics of economics. To claim that your benefits came at  "no cost" to you simply cannot be true. I'm sorry if that smarts, but there is no such thing as "free." That's not a cynical view, it's the way things are.  Somewhere, someone produced your apparent gifts. I guarantee they didn't do so for free. And in some similar way, perhaps remote, indirect and unclear, you paid. 

It does not "smart" in any way. I've received all of the benefits I have previously outlined an no expense to myself. Ever. What do you not get here? Its's included in our hourly wage. Why is that hard for you to understand? This is one of the things that I do NOT understand. People think "Oh God. this is too good to be true" And it's a benefit we Union Members get for YEARS. Your employers have been LYING to you for years. WHY? Because they don't want you JOINING A UNION AND HAVING A BETTR LIFE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!!! Why, simple because that drives up their cost. WHY because they have to pay you more. WHY? because you are now part of a collectible bargaining Union. They HATE that they have to pay you a fair wage and a decent retirement. WHY? Because greed rules this world. 

Happymon, It's you that doesnt't understand the "hydraulics" of economics where it pertains to regular people. I hope you get it now. The company I work for is Union and is a very successful company. I should know because I do all of the financial projections for them every month. We are a multi state company employing 2000+ Union employees that have a great work ethic. We love our partners and are lucky to have them. Our Project Management Team numbers in the hundreds. We strive to make our partners deliver their projects on time and under budget. This is our passion as a team. We love what we do.

Again. Our members pay NOTHING for all of their benefits, it's included in their hourly wage. Always has, always will be. Yes, nothing is free for sure. Benefits for our Union brothers and sisters are a negotiated benefit tied to their wages. Which means nothing is withheld from their paycheck. Ever.

I get what you are saying because everything does have a cost. At least this way all of the cost is predetermined into the weekly check and everyone agrees to it.   

Instead of making 100 bucks and hour, they make 74 bucks an hour with retirement and killer health insurance.

[Might As Well]

5 hours ago, sparkey600 said:

Why would you call me a Union slug?

You don't know my work ethic or my devotion to my customers one bit. 

I've BUILT my personal and processional reputation on one thing. Helping my customers succeed in their endeavors.

Yeah, you are a multi millionaire because you say you are. I'm sure you are telling the truth, why would you lie?    

You are a slug, because you are part of a Union.  Simple as that.

And Im not a multi-millionaire.  That will happen in the next 2-3 years.  If you could comprehend my post, that would have helped you.  A $1.6M net worth?  That's a millionaire.  I've checked that box.  Having a net worth of $2.0M and above?  That's a multi-millionaire.

And net worth?  That's assets minus liabilities.  Get that....union slug?

Edited November 27, 2023 by Might As Well

[Might As Well]

Unions.  An idea so awesome that membership continues to head towards zero.  Graph below.

Edited November 27, 2023 by Might As Well

[sparkey600]

No one here get's Union benefits. No One. Might As Well, with all of his 9 plus posts claims to be a millionaire and everyone here falls in love with him. Is he telling the truth? I doubt it highly.

All I can say is take care of you're selves. People like this steal from you but no one here really cares about that. So, live your life and do everything you can to make a few bucks. You will need that few bucks as you try to retire. Good luck to you, I'll offer no extra comments or discussions on how people might need more because nobody here seems to think that. I hope you are all smarter than that. But I think my hope is lost.....  Just saying. Most folks here care about what an individual here tends to think. I for one like to help l the homeless, I and my wife do a lot of things every week. Coats, cash etc.  Unions are GREAT!

[Might As Well]

8 hours ago, sparkey600 said:

No one here get's Union benefits. No One. Might As Well, with all of his 9 plus posts claims to be a millionaire and everyone here falls in love with him. Is he telling the truth? I doubt it highly.

All I can say is take care of you're selves. People like this steal from you but no one here really cares about that. So, live your life and do everything you can to make a few bucks. You will need that few bucks as you try to retire. Good luck to you, I'll offer no extra comments or discussions on how people might need more because nobody here seems to think that. I hope you are all smarter than that. But I think my hope is lost.....  Just saying. Most folks here care about what an individual here tends to think. I for one like to help l the homeless, I and my wife do a lot of things every week. Coats, cash etc.  Unions are GREAT!

I don't doubt for a second that you are telling the truth about being in a union.  You would be verrrrry wrong to assume that Im not telling the truth about my net worth.  You'd also be wrong if you assumed that myself and many, many, many other people in positions of hiring do not systematically root out all union supporters from their ranks.  

[Mustang87]

No union benefits for me. I do get my healthcare through the VA. Just no dental. I also get VA disability.  All it costs me was 10 years (and a knee and a shoulder).  So I think I'm ahead of the game. 

[Hobby Hobbit -Banned]

Judging from your moniker, you're an electrician. With an argument to be made for W2 unionized trade workers making more than non-unionized, my question is, how much do independent electricians make? Much more. I've paid upwards of $125 an hour, if I could get one they are so busy. Of course, you have numerous benefits independent contractors must pay for 100% out-of-pocket, and that's huge, but is the trade-off worth it? IDK https://www.forbes.com/sites/eriksherman/2021/08/28/union-incomes-may-seem-better-than-non-union-but-are-they-really/?sh=7ad4d6666b5b

I once worked for a CWA shop that allowed pay scales based on tenure, a major no-no considering we all paid the same amount in dues, "negotiated" away college reimbursement, and so much more they were basically in bed with management, so what good were they?

Edited November 28, 2023 by Hobby Hobbit

[Hobby Hobbit -Banned]

8 hours ago, Might As Well said:

I don't doubt for a second that you are telling the truth about being in a union.  You would be verrrrry wrong to assume that Im not telling the truth about my net worth.  You'd also be wrong if you assumed that myself and many, many, many other people in positions of hiring do not systematically root out all union supporters from their ranks.  

The Hobbit's noticed the only thing he takes at face value is groveling for pussy. 😄

Edited November 28, 2023 by Hobby Hobbit

[Might As Well]

1 hour ago, Hobby Hobbit said:

The Hobbit's noticed the only thing he takes at face value is groveling for pussy. 😄

HAHA!  I got an actual real laugh from that reply...well done.

[sparkey600]

On 11/26/2023 at 5:53 AM, Might As Well said:

Bingo!  Pretty sure @sparkey600 also started another thread about how things are soooooo expensive and that the providers should consider lowering their rates in order to get more business.  

Union slug does not factor input costs that have to be passed along to the Customer.  Kind of like how all of the union slugs "freebies" like "I raised two kiddos with my wife 40 years at no cost, glasses, dental, health insurance" are all being passed along to the Customer.  Dude will read this and be like "nooooo....that's not how economies work.  Im a union guy.  It's different."  LOL
 

 

16 posts? Keep trying Junior, keep trying.

[Might As Well]

5 hours ago, sparkey600 said:

16 posts? Keep trying Junior, keep trying.

Fair to say no one here except you gauges success on the number of posts one makes to TOB.  

[Hobby Hobbit -Banned]

8 hours ago, Might As Well said:

Fair to say no one here except you gauges success on the number of posts one makes to TOB.  

Nah.

"This highway leads to the shadowy tip of reality: you're on a through route to the land of the different, the bizarre, the unexplainable...Go as far as you like on this road. Its limits are only those of mind itself. Ladies and Gentlemen, you're entering the wondrous dimension of imagination. Next stop..."