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Thread: North Carolina Lets Unionize!

  1. #1
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    North Carolina Lets Unionize!

    It’s so possible, we could join the Optical Workers Union. We could have our own Voice.

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    Good luck competing with the machines if you unionize. The average union worker in your local wouldn't get it done, you'd never win - you don't drive trucks. All we have now is becoming master tailors, craftsmyn, retailers, customer service specialists, HUMAN ELEMENT. customize.

    That ship has sailed.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tallboy View Post
    Good luck competing with the machines if you unionize. The average union worker in your local wouldn't get it done, you'd never win - you don't drive trucks. All we have now is becoming master tailors, craftsmyn, retailers, customer service specialists, HUMAN ELEMENT. customize.

    That ship has sailed.
    Wow, I feel your reply to a spirited post was ugly.

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    If you think that was ugly, you better not post controversial topics. That was light, but the truth. Some here want Opticians to be viewed as professionals and not tradespeople. Unions, for the large part, represent the trades. You obviously come down on the side of the trades if you prefer unionization. NC is a right to work state and unions struggle here. In my view that is a good thing. We just need a unified voice, and until the field has some consistency that won't happen and we will continue to decline every decade as we have for the last 3. Education and traning, and advancing what we do every day is the answer to our plight.

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    Quote Originally Posted by wmcdonald View Post
    If you think that was ugly, you better not post controversial topics. That was light, but the truth. Some here want Opticians to be viewed as professionals and not tradespeople. Unions, for the large part, represent the trades. You obviously come down on the side of the trades if you prefer unionization. NC is a right to work state and unions struggle here. In my view that is a good thing. We just need a unified voice, and until the field has some consistency that won't happen and we will continue to decline every decade as we have for the last 3. Education and traning, and advancing what we do every day is the answer to our plight.
    Okay, let me start over please. When I selected to self quarantine March 16, I was without any information, a web search led me to opticalworkers.org and from there I was able to keep updated. The truth is I work me, where I am paid the most for license. Yes, I have sales goals, I also have heart and a moral obligation not to let those goals hinder me from making the best lens recommendations, or No New glasses at all, my skills are appreciated by those I help every day. I understand what you are saying about Opticians not being what they were back in your day, but what I'm trying to understand is how this is going to help keep me financially now. Seriously, in this day, I'm really asking, why is a union for all eye care professionals such a bad idea for the majority of ecp's who work for Lux, Versant, and now VSP?
    Stay safe and Healthy

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    I know you mean well, and if I had years left in this field I would be worried too. Opticianry is in real trouble. It needs a true vision of what it could be, and the leadership to take it there. My generation sure let you down, and it may be time for me for me to give up, but I always saw Opticians as emerging professionals when I was in school. I note your name here, so I assume you went to one of the schools as well. Good for you. You had the opportunity to truly learn the material versus depending on one individuals limited knowledge. You came out many years after me, and things have changed significantly, but to me unionization signifies something very different than that professional image I always had in my mind, especially in NC....a right to work state. It may be too late, but I keep on fighting to get the message of education and professionalism to as many as I can. I don't blame you, and understand. But just think about it. I hope that as things evolve in the eye care delivery system, we can find a better place for us. One that will not allow us to be replaced by the barista at Starbucks next week with a few hours training and a PD ruler. But if that is all we are to be, the maybe a union is what we need. I wish you the very best in the future.

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    Quote Originally Posted by OptiStudent View Post
    Seriously, in this day, I'm really asking, why is a union for all eye care professionals such a bad idea for the majority of ecp's who work for Lux, Versant, and now VSP?
    Stay safe and Healthy
    Its a bad idea because the average optician will not be as good or valuable as someone who cares and works and studies as hard as you. They will bring you down, not hold you up, imho. I'm sorry you view that as ugly, but my state is an unlicensed and right to work state. My office succeeds specifically because we try much harder than most to be the best. I don't want to pay union dues, I got where I am by trying to turn what I do into a respected professional job.

    I think with electricians, HVAC, trucks etc - unions can be good. But what we do is much more akin to being a master tailor at its highest level, not a master electrician.

    I do think associations like the OOA and stuff are great, but strong arming consumers into getting products at the prices we decide is not going to work, imho, and will only hinder.

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    Unions are on a steady decline for decades and if it was not government employees the union membership would be half of what it is currently. There are professions that belong to unions i.e. nurses pharmacists optometrists and yes opticians as well. Being in a union does not lower the level of competence but it does put members in a heard. They are considered equal both in skills and ability which is surely never possible. You can never excel nor fall behind so how that basic premise works is against what we should believe, be the best and you shall be rewarded.
    The flaw in many statements in this thread is calling anyone who is involved in the eye ware delivery system an optician. If that is where the industry is than call it like it is no skills required to be called an optician.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Lensman11 View Post
    The flaw in many statements in this thread is calling anyone who is involved in the eye ware delivery system an optician. If that is where the industry is than call it like it is no skills required to be called an optician.
    Get the book, read it. Pass an ABO, then read a ton more learn patients. Read the book again. Be passionate about it, listen to people who know a lot more than you. When they yell at you wax on wax off, do it.This is a restaurant business now. If you don't want to go through all that work become an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist, they don't know how to do each other's jobs and they darn well can't do mine, at all. Heck one of them can barely refract wants to surgically create permanent monovision. Doctors should be respected not pressured by a retail union.

    Learn to cook, treat your clients/patients well and see what they say after they've been eating microwaved hot pockets their whole life

    Stay safe, wash your hands
    Last edited by Tallboy; 04-04-2020 at 05:20 AM.

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    The flaw in many statements in this thread is calling anyone who is involved in the eye ware delivery system an optician. If that is where the industry is than call it like it is no skills required to be called an optician.[/QUOTE]

    I never said that! I referred to “US” as eyecare professionals, and didn’t make tiers.

    You ain’t in North Carolina.
    Last edited by OptiStudent; 04-06-2020 at 11:52 PM.

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