United we stand... still

After reading, and commenting on, my sister's blog post about the gaffe in her union policy regarding raises, I decided to write a little about my opinion on unions in general. (Full disclosure, though working for a different employer, I am a member of the same union, AUPE, as her.)

I've been a union employee for about 6 months now, and in my personal experience I haven't
noticed much difference, aside from them skimming a little off of my pay-cheque each month, and getting a bunch of extra reading material when I started my job. Sure, I got a card in the mail that entitles me to some token discounts at places around the province, all of which are either too far away to make them worthwhile, or are of no interest to me, but I don't really get the sense of someone "fighting on my behalf" or any of that other bull-puckey that is commonly associated with the concept of Unions.

I have no doubt that I enjoy many benefits as a result of previous union arbitrations, and I'm sure there are some who enjoy many day-to-day benefits as a result of their membership in this same union. However, I also feel that unions can be a hindrance. Allow me to explain...

I feel I should preface my argument with the disclosure that I am not a Communist, Marxist, Liberal, Progressive, or subscriber to the philosophy of wealth distribution. I'm sure this will be rightly apparent as I continue, but I thought I'd just throw that out there so people don't try to convince me of the value of unions by using those principles. You'll have to use arguments that support Capitalism, Free Market, Economic Conservatism, and the philosophy of "A man is worthy of his hire" to convince me. But I digress...

A union, in my observation only, with no regard to official definitions, is a group of people of similar employ that is led by a representative body that bargains with their employers to ensure that the rights and needs of the employee are met in a fair and satisfactory manner. Now I don't see an inherent problem in that concept; rather the problem comes, as it so often does, when the concept is put into practise. The problem comes when people of varying abilities, skill levels, work ethics, and - if I can be perfectly blunt - value to the employer are suddenly treated by the same set of guidelines. Sure, there is a variety of salary ranges depending on the positions held, but in nearly every other aspect they're treated the same. In this sense, a system designed to increase fairness can have the exact opposite effect.

Is it fair, for example, that everyone is entitled to the same raise regardless of job performance? I know they will make stipulations for exceptions, but they are rarely enacted. Is it fair that one employee might take 15-20 sporadic sick days in a year, and still get full pay, vacation, etc. while that person's co-worker, who feels guilty for calling in sick unless desperately ill, takes only 1 sick day in the same amount of time and is compensated identically? Is it fair that an employer's hands are tied when wanting to promote from within due to union regulations, finding it easier to look outside to fill a position that could deservingly go to a current employee? I know these issues aren't exclusively union issues, but I find that when a union is involved, an employer is less likely to "bend the rules" for a deserving employee, because they'll have to answer to the union for it, creating a hassle that an employer doesn't want to deal with. It is this same hassle that causes the exception stipulations to be rarely enacted.

I'm sure unions aren't all that bad for many people, and in many economically volatile occupations I'm sure they're a huge benefit. I just find them to be too counter-productive for my liking. I sometimes wish there was an easy way when you started a union job to "opt out" of the union. Of course, that would likely cause a rift between the union and non-union employees doing the same job and being treated differently. People would constantly be opting in and out of the union in order to suit their changing individual needs. This would likely be even more counter-productive than just leaving the union as is.

Anyway, what do you think? I'd like to hear some comments on your views of unions. Do you love them? Hate them? Are you somewhere in the middle? Or perhaps you either don't care or don't have enough experience with them to have an opinion. Do you think I'm right on the money? Or do you think I'm way off base and have no idea what I'm talking about (which is highly possible)?

Signs of the times

In case you didn't know, the following signs are not the same:

Update: Prospective passport picture perfect

For those who have been following my saga (see three previous posts), this post is a long time coming. Today, I went BACK to the Service Canada office to have my passport application screened and paid for. I sat there waiting for over half an hour, but in time I got called to go to the next available desk. There were a few nervous moments, as I had a different person screening my application this time, and she seemed a bit unsure about things after I explained everything to her. (She didn't exactly seem like a prime candidate to join the local chapter of MENSA, if that tells you anything.) Anyway, eventually we get things sorted out and they take the application, I make payment, and leave with receipt in tow. Now, the fact that I had to send in my Certificate of Canadian Citizenship in with my application means that for the next 5 or 6 weeks I can't even drive over the US border. Granted, I didn't exactly have any immediate plans to drive to the States, but it's always comforting to know the option is there.

Oh, and I went to the Rogers store. They had 2 8GB iPhones in stock, but I'm holding out for the 16GB. Unless of course the Blackberry Bold comes out soon. GAH!!! I can't decide!!! (Yes I can, I'm going iPhone! For now...)

Update: All's well that ends well! Well...

Ok, so here's the latest on the Sears studio saga... (trademark pending)

After work today, I headed over to Sears again. Lo and behold, the lights in the portrait studio were actually on!! Not only that, but someone was actually there!!! I calmly, yet sternly, explained the situation. I did use the word "ridiculous" a couple of times when explaining how I had to come back three times in order to get a refund or retakes. Well, the lady there this time was very understanding, and she offered to both refund my money and retake the photos. I was glad, because I would've felt bad yelling at her since she was so nice. Anyway, while we still had to take the pictures a dozen times or so, she actually made both a colour set and a black & white set of the best one for me to take to the passport office. Hopefully between the two sets, the passport people will be able to approve one of them. I'll find out tomorrow when I go to the passport office again.

Even the lady at the studio seemed a little unsure of why the equipment they have has such a hard time taking passport photos that meet the requirements. And I still wouldn't recommend getting your passport photos done there. That said, I'm satisfied with their eventual efforts to make amends. Stay tuned for the finale...

Update: Passport Photo Woes

Ok, so after I couldn't get my pictures retaken yesterday after work (see yesterday's post), I decided to try today. After work, I drove over to Sears. I walk in and once again the Portrait Studio was dark. This time, however, there was no sign, nobody there, nothing! I walked around to find anyone that might be able to help me. I found someone in the Electronics department who tried to call around, and eventually took me over to the Catalogue desk. Turns out that the Portrait Studio is contracted out, so they make their own hours, and just leave whenever they feel like it if they have no appointments. This is appalling!! The helpful electronics guy is going to make sure they stick around tomorrow, and I will also call in. When I go in there, I'm going to raise one hell of a fuss!! I wouldn't want to be the poor person working there tomorrow. They are going to refund my money AND retake the pictures, and I won't settle for anything less! I can't believe I have to go back three times because they just feel like closing up shop with no warning!
I've never heard of anything like that before!

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER go to Sears Portrait Studio in Lethbridge!!! (If they don't both retake my pictures AND refund my payment, I'm going to report them to the BBB!)

Adventures in passport-getting

I'm trying to apply for my passport so I can go to England in the fall (see post below). Part of this process, of course, involves submitting pictures that meet strict requirements. I think they possibly go a little overboard with these requirements, but nonetheless they are set in place and standard nationwide. These standards are well known to all photography studios in Canada, and I would think that any photographer that offers passport photos as a standard service would be capable of taking photos that fit the requirements. Unfortunately, I would be incorrect in that assumption.

I went in to Sears last Thursday to get these photos taken. Due to my aversion toward Wal-Mart and the evening hours in which I sought them, Sears seemed the logical choice. I walked in to the Portrait Studio, and was immediately taken to the actual studio to have the photo taken. I was quite pleased with the swiftness of the service. The girl adjusted the lights, snapped the photo, and said, "let's try another." She then repeated the process, and again wanted another. All told, she kept going back and adjusting the lights and taking more shots until she had taken about a dozen shots. Finally, she was satisfied. She printed them off, stamped the backs, folded each in a scrap of paper (to keep from smudging), charged my the $19 fee, and I was on my way with photos in hand.

After getting one signed by my guarantor, and finalizing the rest of my paperwork, I decided today to take them to the office in town on my lunch break. They don't process the application here, but they will pre-screen everything and take the payment. As I sat down with the lady today, she took one look at the pictures and said that she would have to reject them. Really?! After sitting for about 12 snapshots, the best one still wasn't good enough?! Anyway, she looked over the rest of the application, and said it was only the photos that needed to be redone, and that Sears should retake them for free.

After work, I decide to go straight to Sears and get them redone. I walk into the Portrait Sudio and there's a sign on the desk stating "Due to unforseen circumstances, the Portrait Studio is closed for the remainder of the day. We will re-open at 9:30am tomorrow. Sorry for any inconvenience." Inconvenience?!?! How about the fact that I have to come back and get these pictures retaken in the first place? Now that's inconvenient!

Moral of the story: don't get your passport photos done at the Sears in Lethbridge!!! (The lady at the government office said they've actually had a few issues with the Sears here.)

What to do... what to do...

So I've got a few dilemmas to figure out. Perhaps some of you can offer insight.

First, I'm planning a two week trip to England in the fall, and I need some ideas of places to go, things to see, etc. What are some places that are must-see, and what are some places that are better missed? In case any read this who don't know already, I was born in England, moved to Canada when I was 4, and haven't been back since. I'm very excited to go back, if only for a couple weeks. I'll have my dad with me for the first week, and then I'll be on my own for a week. Any ideas?

Secondly, the iPhone just made it into Canada. I'm trying to decide between the following two options:

1. I buy an iPhone.
2. I buy a Blackberry and an iPod touch.

The rate plans for the iPhone and the Blackberry are similar to one another (or they are now, after Rogers was pressured into lowering their projected iPone rate plans after much public outcry), and so it's really a matter of features. Do I want my main music player to be integrated into my phone? Do I want full GPS with route mapping and turn-by-turn directions (not included with iPhone)? Do I want to have the latest and greatest in gadgets? Should I hold off on the iPhone until they improve some of their issues? Should I look at an iPhone alternative (i.e. another touch screen phone)? Do I even want a touch screen phone, especially a touch screen only phone (I can text & drive fairly safely with actual buttons, since I don't have to keep looking at the screen)? Let me know what you think.