# Union workers are generally quite well paid. Why are they so often dissatisfied? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/union-workers-are-generally-quite-well-paid-why-are-they-so-often-dissatisfied/322129 "2005-09-17T17:58:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![The\_New\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@The\_New\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_New_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/union-workers-are-generally-quite-well-paid-why-are-they-so-often-dissatisfied/322129/61 "2005-09-26T08:05:22Z")
> [@Harmonix](#): > > You seem to speak as if everyone deserves to earn a wage they can support a family on(which I still think can be done on 40k). That seems a bit entitled to me. Wow, kinda taking the ball and running with it, aren’t we? When did I ever say that? I just said 40K doesn’t make you super-rich. I don’t think it’s a totally unreasonable, “let’s bash the unions 'cuz they’re so extreme” kind of salary. Do you make a habit of misconstruing what people say? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/union-workers-are-generally-quite-well-paid-why-are-they-so-often-dissatisfied/322129/62 "2005-09-26T09:57:43Z")
> [@The New Guy](#): > > Wow, kinda taking the ball and running with it, aren’t we? Ok, yes. I got carried away, sorry. > [@](#): > > I don’t think it’s a totally unreasonable, “let’s bash the unions 'cuz they’re so extreme” kind of salary. Depends on the job. Nurse? no. Teacher? no. Checker at a grocery store? yes. Push the button when it flashes? yes. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/union-workers-are-generally-quite-well-paid-why-are-they-so-often-dissatisfied/322129/63 "2005-09-26T11:03:29Z")
> [@Harmonix](#): > > You seem to speak as if everyone deserves to earn a wage they can support a family on(which I still think can be done on 40k). That seems a bit entitled to me. What does that mean? That working people shouldn’t feel that they deserve to earn a wage they can live on, raise a family on? Expecting to be able to live off your wages is entitled? ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/union-workers-are-generally-quite-well-paid-why-are-they-so-often-dissatisfied/322129/64 "2005-09-26T15:15:56Z")
> [@The New Guy](#): > > O.K., but I never said it wasn’t a _livable_ wage. As I explained, you can’t afford to buy a house on that income, and as I said, I disagree with the OPs assertion that it’s “damn good money”. Other than the fact that we’re obviously using a different definition of “getting by”, I don’t know what point you’re trying to make, other than busting my balls for no reason. Uh, I live in Michigan, in the Detroit area. You can certainly afford to buy a house on 40K per year. I bought my first home while I was making 35K per year. I was single, yes, and I had few expenses before I bought the house, but yeah, you can do it. You might not be able to do it as a family of 4 with no savings buying a house in downtown Chicago, but you can definitely buy a house on 40K per year. My mortgage was around 1100 per month with taxes and insurance included, and I had an 1100 sft ranch home on a 40 x 80 foot lot. It wasn’t new construction, but then, I considered that a plus. So it wasn’t a mansion, but it was certainly doable. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/union-workers-are-generally-quite-well-paid-why-are-they-so-often-dissatisfied/322129/65 "2005-09-26T16:01:08Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > What does that mean? That working people shouldn’t feel that they deserve to earn a wage they can live on, raise a family on? Expecting to be able to live off your wages is entitled? Not all jobs can support a family but it is ridiculous to say that they all should. Teenagers work in the mall, grocery store, or gas station after school. That $7 an hour can be great for them. If they get older and decide to start a family at that same job then they have a problem. That is not the fault of their employers. Why would it be good for anyone if we got rid of low wage jobs mainly populated by students and those just wanting extra cash if some people are foolish enough to support a family of four on it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/union-workers-are-generally-quite-well-paid-why-are-they-so-often-dissatisfied/322129.md?page=3)