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Topic: My union is trying to sell me a credit card!

crigaux
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2247

posted 26 January 2005 01:42 AM

Ok, people. I need to know if I am being ridiculous about an issue. I got a credit card 'offer' in the mail from the bank of montreal ... and my union. Apparently, as part of their 'service to members', UFCW gives my name and address to a friggin' anti-union BANK, so they can try and sell me a credit card. At first, I was just kind of annoyed, but after discussing it with my partner, I am getting more and more ticked off about it.

My partner seems to think that doing this is a valid and ethical way for UFCW to raise money instead of union dues, but I don't. I've always viewed unions (at least in a theroetical and possibly naive way) as mini-governments, (hopefully) democratic with union dues as taxes. If the government of canada started sending everyone credit card offers as a 'service', I would hope people would get rather annoyed.

Am I being irrational in A) being annoyed by yet another intrusion of advertising, and B) expecting my union to not act like business?

From: Hanging out at http://babblestrike.lbprojects.com/ | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

N.Beltov
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4140

posted 26 January 2005 02:18 AM

quote:
crigaux:
Am I being irrational in A) being annoyed by yet another intrusion of advertising, and B) expecting my union to not act like business?

Greetings, crigaux. I too (was) a member of UFCW and I can tell you that business unionism is pretty typical for that local. When my rep. found out that I had socialist views ...he pretty well acted as if he believed that people who connected trade unionism with socialism were space aliens. What a right-wing shit bag pork-chopper. Anyway, you've got reason to be annoyed but business unionism has a long history in that union. UFCW is an international union (translation: they have a US headquarters) and US ideology and US culture is, well, typical in a US-led union.

At least fuehrer number one (Bernard Christophe) and fuehrer number two (Colin Trigwell) have retired. Good luck and study your history!

From: Vancouver Island | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

spatrioter
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2299

posted 26 January 2005 02:24 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Mosaik offer NDP MasterCards?

From: Trinity-Spadina | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Negad
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7863

posted 26 January 2005 04:20 AM

Do you think Canadian lead unions such as cUPE are all very good?
They are bunch of power seeking self serving people that perpatuate racism to keep peopel of colour out of jobs that they are "suppose" to be at.
They can only tolerate if peopel fo colour are working on jobs such as cleaning hospital or hotel floors.
Why do youthink that there aren't that many peopel fo colour and abrogianls on better pying union jobs? Unions are activley and forcefully perpatuating racism at work palces. They are in solidarity with employers on this one.
Credit cards are not at all a surprise.
And US lead unions are not the only pigs.

From: Ontario | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560

posted 26 January 2005 08:21 AM

quote:
Originally posted by spatrioter:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Mosaik offer NDP MasterCards?

I don't know whether they still do, but I really hate it that they ever did.

We had a whole big thread on that particular subject here.

[ 26 January 2005: Message edited by: Michelle ]

From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

The Hegemo
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5176

posted 26 January 2005 09:47 AM

The union credit cards are a big thing down here in the States. In fact, they've even found their way into Andy Stern's "Unite to Win" plan, as a source of income to fund a concerted campaign against Wal-Mart:

quote:

Principle: A key function of the AFL-CIO should be to support a strategy to win good jobs in America that is larger than the members of any one union could accomplish on their own. The AFL-CIO should establish a center to support such projects and should allocate to the center all of its $25 million annual royalties from Union Plus credit card purchases. Challenging Wal-Mart should be its first project

http://tinyurl.com/6mez9

From: The Persistent Vegetative States of America | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

johnpauljones
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7554

posted 26 January 2005 09:51 AM

Many organizations offer credit cards because they get a cut of the interest rate that is charged to those who do not pay off their bill in full every month.

For example many universities get a couple of points from the over 15% or so level of interest.

Do unions get the some cut? If so maybe your question should be about where this money is going rather than why the union is offering a credit card.

From: City of Toronto | Registered: Nov 2004 | IP: Logged

Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560

posted 26 January 2005 10:37 AM

quote:
If so maybe your question should be about where this money is going rather than why the union is offering a credit card.

No thanks, I'll just stick with the question of why the union (or political party! Left-wing political party! God!) are becoming corporate whores by offering credit cards.

From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

vickyinottawa
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 350

posted 26 January 2005 11:02 AM

can we not have the discussion of the NDP credit card again? As far as I know, the program was short-lived. I am sure folks can think of more relevant ways to criticize the party.

From: lost in the supermarket | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560

posted 26 January 2005 11:23 AM

You're perfectly free to not read the thread if you don't want to discuss it.

From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

HeywoodFloyd
token right-wing mascot
Babbler # 4226

posted 26 January 2005 11:28 AM

It could be an interesting way to manage debt and credit spending. What if I had to carry an NDP credit card and Michelle had to carry a CPC credit card.

We'd never spend on credit again.

From: Edmonton: This place sucks | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

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