Hello David -

[...]

DD>  CA> The 'land of the free' does not mean legal binding contracts can
DD>  CA> be ignored nor does it mean we give away our trade to anyone who
DD>  CA> has the guts to claim journeyman status.  I doubt your country is
DD>  CA> any different in that regard.
DD> 
DD> In this country our companies are not obliged to enter into such contracts

Wrong.  If the employees vote to be represented by a union then the company
is obliged to negotiate in good faith with that union.

DD>  DD>> I haven't belonged to a union for nearly 20 years (and I 
DD>  DD>> have been still working nearly all of that time (I had a 6 
DD>  DD>> week "break" in '88).
DD> 
DD>  CA> Don't get too sick too often, don't suffer a disabling injury, 
DD>  CA> don't ever slow down, and definitely don't get too old.  Can
DD>  CA> you manage all of that?
DD> 
DD> I don't need a union to cover me for that. I am legally entitled to so muc
DD> sick leave per year (accruing), and our anti discrimination 
DD> laws disallow dimissal on the grounds of age (supposing I 
DD> can still do the work).

Laws must be enforced to be meaningful.  You must be quite young.

Charles.Angelich 
...
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