Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Omaha Steve's Labor Group

Showing Original Post only (View all)

Duncanpup

(14,717 posts)
Thu May 8, 2025, 05:26 AM May 8

Found old Union driver paystubs from 1989. They outlawed slavery and gave us right to work. [View all]

This is no bragging I’m not built that way it is just pure disgust in that wages have not kept pace for the middle class.
As a union combo man in 1989 which is dock work and delivering local freight pick up and delivery i made $15.85 hour anytime after 8 hours time half anything over forty hours time half back then as today working under union card.

I had to work those local bids as back then because as truck driver you had to be twenty three years old to cross state lines.
And at age twenty four i did go line haul in running terminal going out of state.
Where you go from your terminal to foreign terminal in different state then go on rest bed in hotel then go back out that night.

And at that company and in that time Bush recession early 90’s i didn’t have seniority to run turn bids where you’re leaving you freight barn going out grabbing freight to return home daily.

So i looked up what wage you would need to make in $2025 to compare for inflation from 1989 the websites i looked at.
Today in 2025 you would need to be making between $38 to $42 hourly was the two websites i looked at.

So i looked up several Non union carriers hourly start wage today for city combo man anywhere between $26 to $33 hourly.
The one non union carrier all straight time no time half the other carrier time half after forty five hours.
And there is no eight hour days in freight usually ten to fourteen hours a day.
Yea they outlawed slavery and replaced it with right to work.
When i started if i remember there was maybe 30 union carriers today maybe three left in L.T.L freight. And maybe four union carriers left on the grocery side not sure on fuel haulers maybe some car haulers still organized.
Federal minimum wage is $7.25 hour since 2009 all of this we can trace back to Reagan.
I remember how freight crashed in Dubya Great Recession big layoffs in union freight I remember then being offered a job driving non union.

Fortunately i was in position that i declined that job. Yet the irony was if i took the non union driving job I’d been making around the same cash as i was on unemployment.

I do not know what point I’m trying to make in this dyslexic terrible punctuation ramble yet I’m just as you thinking W.T.F. And we have been on the receiving end of trickledown for decades.
And the republicans have bled us dry and now we have come to the point there is no blood left let’s take the middle class off of life support shut off the oxygen pull the plug.
Here is something that will screw up your head space and timing.

A fellow union freight guy mentioned at a breakfast for retirees and active union workers in freight.
In that this new round tax cuts Trump and repigs pushing will really help us.
And he followed it up with all the cash will be making because of tariffs tax we will soon stop having to pay income taxes.
I replied to him go work scab why do you even pay two hours union dues a month because the bullshit that just came out of your mouth makes me wanna stab you in your throat with my breakfast fork.

Have a great day D.U. Community well try to and the word of the day is.
TARRYFYING.

5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Omaha Steve's Labor Group»Found old Union driver pa...»Reply #0