[themolecularman]

I think it's more the fact that there aren't alternative options.

Other comments have already explored how America has a "union monopoly" system for lack of a better term: where unions exist, the labor pool that is non-union is often extinguished.

> what's wrong with saying that?

If the alleged screw is flooding your home and you're on the phone with a contractor who says "it'll be Monday morning", it's safe to assume that the contractor feels safe because there's no competition out there that will come out to finish the job due to the union monopoly or other rules/regulations that the unions have established to make them the only turn screwers.

Unions in the United States gained a bad rap from things like this, and I think that's what the OP's intent was with their comment.

[adriancr]

> If the alleged screw is flooding your home and you're on the phone with a contractor who says "it'll be Monday morning",

Free market would dictate you say back: "double pay" or hire another contractor.

[svieira]

Which you can't do because the rates are established in law and the only people who are allowed to do the job are people with a certificate that is only provided by the union. Regulatory capture happens with unions as well as with bosses.

[adriancr]

Who told you that?, sources?

Overtime pay is a thing everywhere including union jobs.

I'm based in Europe and i get overtime pay if I'm forced to work late/weekends. One of the nice things of unions everywhere.

If i dont want to or cant work late, there are colleagues that will jump at 150% pay rate.

Companies can hire contractors at any point but these expect much higher wages to deal with the almost no protections and doing their own taxes.

Otherwise employer could hire a second shift as they do with manufacturing and pay normal wage there.

There is no such thing as union certificate or things of the sort. Union is there just to negotiate basic contract applied company wide and make sure you are not abused.

Working in software.

[bluGill]

You are going to deal with overtime for one screw that takes you 30 seconds? Sure if we are talking about a lot of time, but one screw is a few seconds and you go home.

[adriancr]

I thought we were talking reasonable people. No reasonable person would do what you said - leave a 30 second task to put in one screw for another day.

And even if they did, if it only takes 30 seconds and no extra effort... why can't the person asking do it or get someone else?

Also, if you need to leave on the hour to make other commitments why should boss be able to force you to stay without compensation? (bus schedule, pick up children and spend time with them, pick up spouse, go to concerts, meet friends etc)

Taking it to the extreme is what you already see in shops and warehouses, etc, where they need to stay, unpaid, for a couple of hours to secure things and clean up...

[triceratops]

> No reasonable person would do what you said - leave a 30 second task to put in one screw for another day...why can't the person asking do it or get someone else?

From what I've heard of US unions (never been in one myself) they're quite strict about not allowing this kind of thing. Certain tasks can only be performed by particular union employees. I suppose they consider it a slippery slope. But again, it's also possible that in the story we're discussing the union member just didn't like this person enough to do them a favor.