Time to Vent

[ptemko]

Time to VENT. I work in a union shop. When I was hired in Jan of 2006 the then GM said that I would get a raise after 3 months and then another after 6 months. Me being gullible didn't think to get that in writing. New employee asking for a written confirmation just is not right in my books. Well the union starts taking my union dues right away no problem there. Come April 1st the union employees get a raise across the board from shop helper all the way up to Service Technician. Of course I do not get a raise along with 4 other Service Technicians. The union tells us we are not covered by the contract because we are not fully qualified refrigeration mechanics. So no raise. I went to the new GM since the one that hired us was let go and he says he will give us a raise but the union is stopping him.
I go to the union and hit them with a non representation grievance. They say the company never asked if they could give us a raise. I go back to new GM and he pulls a 180 and and says he doesn't have to give us a raise because we are not fully qualified yet.

My question is am I not covered by the union contract as far as wage increase go or am I stuck at my starting wage till the company gets off there A** and starts getting us qualified as they had promised. Which they have made no attempts to start in the year I have been there. :mad:
Here is my list of training
• Ultimate Technical Academy – Refrigeration Technology
• Success Academy Training Systems – Power Performing Technician
• Mohawk College – Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning for HRAC
• Hi-Mark Occupational Skills Training Centre Ltd. – Gas Technician 2 License
• Hi-Mark Occupational Skills Training Centre Ltd. – Gas Technician 3 License
• Hi-Mark Occupational Skills Training Centre Ltd. – ODP/CFC Certificate
• Richelieu Valley Regional High School – Diploma – QSSD
• Certified Oxy-Fuel Safety Training
• Certified Propane Safe Handling, Storage and Use
• Certificate in Transportation of Dangerous Goods
• Certified Forklift Truck Operator
• Certified Overhead Crane Operator
• Certificate in Lockout Training
• W.H.M.I.S Training and ISO 9001-2000

[shaun66]

I think the problem is the union, CLAC or whatever it is called doesnt seem to function as a real union.
we hired a kid from your company just over a yr ago, he told me he was at a CLAC meeting, and told them he was getting 4/hr under union scale, CLAc told him nothing they could do

[HVAC Teacher]

Our union's (Steamfitters) pay scale is just a minimum. The contractor can pay you whatever they want over scale. Most good mechanics won't work for base scale.

[ptemko]

I was with CAW union in GE refrigeration of appliance for 22 years and have never seen anything like this CLAC union. I have done some reading about them and they are a company union to keep the big trade unions out. To me they are a big joke. So I am in between the company and the union. Each one telling me something different.

[vbhvac]

That is exactly why i dont like unions