I should preface this rant with the fact that I have nothing personally against the union. I imagine that they have their uses, and do indeed serve a purpose when a legitimate need arises.
I work in a smaller store unit where two of the other gals I work with will either A. run to management or B. call the union rep at the slightest notion that they've percieved they have been wronged somehow. It's so annoying. Sometimes they just make things up.
This is usually in regards to hours and shift times. These two will literally trip over each other to get to the office, or on the phone with the union if their schedule isn't absolutely the way they want it, or more specifically, if I'm getting something they think I don't deserve. I'm the newest person there... almost over a year now, and the other two aren't all that much farther ahead of me in terms of senority. Like only a few months.
Mgt has pretty much had it with them, and won't even talk to them in many cases, so now they are pestering the union for every little whim they have.
I work my behind off every day, and my dept head realizes this. Every once in a while, he tries to throw me a bone with an extra hour here or there, or a special request, but these "union whores" try to cut me off at every turn with their pettiness.
Since when does a few months of senority mean more than hard work?
@#$%ing people just "working the system"
Anyone else have to deal with this? What do you do?
I should preface this rant with the fact that I have nothing personally against the union. I imagine that they have their uses, and do indeed serve a purpose when a legitimate need arises.
I work in a smaller store unit where two of the other gals I work with will either A. run to management or B. call the union rep at the slightest notion that they've percieved they have been wronged somehow. It's so annoying. Sometimes they just make things up.
This is usually in regards to hours and shift times. These two will literally trip over each other to get to the office, or on the phone with the union if their schedule isn't absolutely the way they want it, or more specifically, if I'm getting something they think I don't deserve. I'm the newest person there... almost over a year now, and the other two aren't all that much farther ahead of me in terms of senority. Like only a few months.
Mgt has pretty much had it with them, and won't even talk to them in many cases, so now they are pestering the union for every little whim they have.
I work my behind off every day, and my dept head realizes this. Every once in a while, he tries to throw me a bone with an extra hour here or there, or a special request, but these "union whores" try to cut me off at every turn with their pettiness.
Since when does a few months of senority mean more than hard work?
@#$%ing people just "working the system"
Anyone else have to deal with this? What do you do?
Thanks
Unfortunately, that is one of the drawbacks of working in a union. Seniority is a wonderful system that rewards people for the years of service they have put in, but it can backfire. I've seen senior people who are not capable of performing the job, but cannot be removed because of seniority.
It's even more fun when management decides to use somebody with seniority to block somebody from bidding on a job if they dont want somebody to have the job or are trying to keep somebody from another store from bidding in.
It seems like your manager is trying to ignore the problem in hopes that it goes away. Depending on the type of person your manager is, I would sit back and let them continue playing with the union. It could turn into a situation where these "union whores" get upset, file a grievance, the union treats it as the Little Boy Who Cried Wolf" because they are sick of hearing it, and maybe your manager decides to make them miserable.
Out of curiosity, which department? This sounds like something that happens in a lot of deli's, but I could be mistaken. If it isn't, hope they get sent there. Some people at our store have quit because they have been moved there.
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"The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent the positions, strategies or opinions of The Kroger Co. family of stores."
I understand how senority rewards people for time served, and it makes sense. I just get so irate that people pull that card when they really haven't worked there much longer than myself.
We have great managers, that's one lucky thing at least.
I understand how senority rewards people for time served, and it makes sense. I just get so irate that people pull that card when they really haven't worked there much longer than myself.
We have great managers, that's one lucky thing at least.
I guess I'm just whining. Sorry
Don't be.
Best thing to do would be just tolerate it as much as possible and eventually if they are given enough rope they will hang themselves. From what you described it seems management is tired of listening to it and eventually your union rep will be as well. Just sit back, wait for it to blow up, and stay out of the way.
__________________
"The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent the positions, strategies or opinions of The Kroger Co. family of stores."
Thats Kroger and welcome to it and their mo.. I found along time ago, the harder you work these people, the more work you'll get given to you.
Seniorority is everything. It pretty much means a free ticket to hang around and draw(not work) for a paycheck.And a hefty paycheck at that. I have seen the most laziest and sorry people with halfa$$ work ethics thats been there 10 years + and still be there just because it union. They'd of been fired anywhere else or for any other grocery retail chain.
But one, the gravy train will come to an end. Nothing lasts forever.
As a Key Associate with a lot of seniority, I assure you playing Store Police won't get you anything other than resentment from the people you work with. Do your job to the best of your ability. Don't do other peoples' jobs or concern yourself with whether other people are doing theirs. That's managements' responsibility, and if you think you can do it better, become a manager.
OP, if you have a problem with your schedule, regardless of why, talk to the manager about it. If you aren't actually bothered by what you're being scheduled, leave these two twits to management, which according to you have no more love for them than you do. Otherwise, you're far more like these two than you imagine, complaining about what you think other people are getting because you don't think they should get it.
Sadly they have every right to pull senority. However we have a couple like that in my store and they get no respect what so ever from management. Any time they go to them with a problem or an issue, they are pretty much ignored.
Management isn't perfect but if your manager cares at all about his/her people then they will eventually see them for the **** that they are. They are taking advantage of the system.
Keep at it. Sooner or later you'll be the one with the seniority.
