I need an official ruling on whether or not I'm supposed to feel bad for/add sympathy for scabs. They aren't actually part of or protected by the union, right? Mostly non-floor, salaried people who typically do other jobs that aren't union labor?
Good question as I think many posters who aren’t to familiar with this type of labor management relationship are using terms and pay examples using their own definitions and thoughts to try and make a point. In my book my definition of a scab is a wage employee working in a union shop or facility who chooses not to belong to the Union. Iowa is a “right to work state“ meaning the employee is not forced to join the Union. These non union members will be covered under the labor agreement the same as the union members. In other words, the Non union guy will get the same pay increases, additional holidays, benefit increases etc. without paying any dues, that the union members do.
A bigger issue that always galled me and many union employees is that under Federal Labor Laws the union is required to represent the scabs in any issues of employment including representation for discipline. It was always amazing to see that non union employee get their butt in a jam and the first thing they do is run to the union for representation. Legally the union has to represent them and to grind it even more, if that non union member feels the union didn’t do a good job he/she can file NLRB charges for discrimination in representing them. Sorry for the rant but most people don’t know those ins and outs about scabs.
I would not consider salaried employees having to work on the line as a scab. They have to do what they are directed to do and I can’t argue that one.
Additionally, I wouldn’t take too much from thar earlier posted earnings statement one way or another. I have never seen anything that looks like that, but mostly the figures mean very little without knowing other info such as rate of pay, layoff info, hours worked, OT worked etc.