>>Bret;
>>
>>Oh yes - a "minor point". Starting salary is $80,000 and the foreman (union) is around $166,000). These are of course starting salaries.
>>
>
>The Union will not have any fans from those who can't relate to 80K per year and up. I feel that automation needs to be in place, but only after those retire. The present workers should be allowed to work, but not back filled when gone. But the Union will cease to exists if that occurs. So I can see why they are fighting for there very life.

Bret;

Companies make business decisions every day. Loosing 10,000 workers is no big deal in Silicon Valley. There are 10,000 ILWU members on the entire west coast. I would not wait for them to retire. Upgrade and fire.

A company I worked for (Ampex) had over 20,000 people. One day in 1990 they fired 16,000 of us. Today they are down to 50 people. So I feel nothing special for the ILWU and its outmoded technology. They hold many in ransom due to their antiquated methodology and demands. Why should so few individuals have so much control?

You are so right about the union management. They have to protect themselves.

Tom