cupofjoe1962

I know very little about unemployment so if someone can enlighten me, I welcome the input.

I have a lot of friends in various unions who spend the majority of the
winter on unemployment. They sign up and collect their checks. They
just sit around and wait for the union hall to call when a job becomes
available. When their unemployment runs out they sign up for an extention.

My brother inlaw recently got laid off and he is now on unemployment for
the first time in his life (He is 45). He has to attend a manditory training
class and provide a list of contacts and companies that he interviews with.

I find it amazing that the unions members do not have to jump through
these hoops because they appear to be the people who use the majority
of the unemployment funds.

If the union members spend 4 to 6 months of the year on unemployment,
shouldn't their unions be charged a higher rate for the services than companies
who keep their employers working year round?

I believe my brother inlaw can be on unemployment for 9 months and then he
can get an extention (3 months? I am not sure). Lets say he can be on unemployment for
12 months and then it runs out... He has been working full time since he got out of
college at 22. So he has worked 23 years and he will collect 1 year of unemployment
and then his services run out.

If a union worker is on unemployment 5 months every year from age 22 to 45, He would have
spent 9 years and 7 months on unemployment.

If you do not use the service shouldn't the money that your employer contributed be in an account
so that you can get your fair share if you need it?

If my brother in law needs it for 18 months he should be able to use it for 18 months considering
the amount that has been contributed in his name.

When he finds a job, the chances are he will not be back again next year like the usual suspects.

DarrylS

Here is someplace you can start..

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=elwdcons...mants&sid=Elwd

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FreeTedWilliams

Here's your short answer: The unions take millions of dollars from their members and turn around and give that money to the Democrats.

It always amazed me, that people who work outside in massachusetts, can somehow collect unemployment during the winter. hell teachers used to collect during the summer (I don't know if that is still the case, but being the money that the NEA funnels into the DNC, I can only assume that it is still true.

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Real World

From Mass.gov:

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"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him."
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Patters

This issue has absolutely nothing to do with unions. Seasonal employees, whether members of unions or not, are entitled to unemployment benefits. What makes you think that union members get treated differently than the rest of us when it comes to government benefits?

At any rate, what you point to is a problem in the system. Of course, our country needs seasonal workers (construction, farmworkers, etc.), so the answer may not be simple. It may be that employers of seasonal workers pay more unemployment insurance, but I don't know. At any rate, I think unemployment benefits and systems vary from state to state.

DarrylS

Don't assume.. you are wrong.. usually the feds set a lot of the guidelines etc.

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"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

FreeTedWilliams

Where did I say it was a "Massachusetts" thing? I didn't your wrong, again, All I said is that it is amazing that people who work outside in Mass, are allowed to collect unemployment during the winter.

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cupofjoe1962

Why don't the union workers have to attend manditorty training session provided by unemployment?

If you are on unemployment every year, maybe you are not too good at
your trade. I know a lot of union workers who work year round. If you are
not good at your trade, maybe you should go find a new line of work.
Hit the pavement and go interview.

Why don't they have a limit as to how often a worker can go on unemployment? The idea that an employee can go on spend 10 years of
a 25 year career on unemployment is unacceptable.

When someone who has lost their job for the first time in their career
hits unemployment (after working for 25 years) they should be entitled
to more than 30 weeks on unemployment considering the amount of money
that has been contributed in their name to the fund.

cupofjoe1962

A few years ago, I called a friend who is in the unions and we started talking
about the election. I asked him what he was going to vote on the ballot questions and he replied.....

Yes on 2 & No on 3.

I then asked him why and he replied.... that is what they told us to do at the union meeting.

I then asked him if he knew the question......
He had no idea, of question 2 or question 3.
He was just voting with the union.

I know refer to him as the Local Lemming !

DarrylS

About the teachers.. Mr. Moderator.. the reason why these workers collect is that there is no construction going on.. it is not a difficult concept, there have been many changes in unemployment and how it is handled, most of which is dictated by the federal gov't.. one of the big changes is that it is now taxed..

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"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.