Why don’t Pharma Reps create a Union?

That’s nice and all buddy...but can you answer the original question? Why are sales reps not protecting their interests by creating a Union?

 

I retired last year with 37 years in pharma. The talk of forming a union started before I entered the industry. The reason a union never happened is simple. No one ever made an attempt to form a union! Simple as that. As a group, reps are extremely lazy. Oh they talk a good game, but that’s it. A union will NEVER happen. Never.

 

I like this person, they are funny, amusing...like forming a union will halt the technology and innovation that is making the pharm sales rep obsolete...

 

There is no reason for a union... we are well compensated, we do not work in hazardous conditions, we have a lot of autonomy, and while the job sucks a lot of the time it isn’t a fault of the industry, it’s the environment - o what is a union going to do demand that our customers make time to see us?

 

Why would any Pharma Rep even want to be in a Union? A Union would actually require you to show up everyday, put the time in daily and work! The Union Hall is NO WAY going to protect any one or Industry that works 2-4 hours a day but is required to put in 8. Lets be real here people of what you are asking to be protected! You want a Union to protect your cushy work life style where you leave at 11am and return home at 2:30 and there isn't a pharma rep out there that works Friday!

Be careful what you are asking for currently, you have the greatest gig in the world and if a Union was in charge 99% of the Pharma Reps wouldn't make it past the signing of the Union Contract since the requirements would be to actually put in the time and work.

I mean seriously has anyone thought this through?

 

Because Unions are a dying scam from the old days, that’s why

 

they used to say there’s no union greater than the Soviet Union.

And that died years ago. I just wish the remnants of it would end soon.

 

Bingo! Why pay dues to make union bosses rich? What possible benefit would a union be to us?

 

You two have been watching way to much "Irishman". Now I'm not for at Pharma Union at all because that is just nonsense but there are hundreds of unions out there that represent different work groups collectively. Just to name a few "Pilots Union, teachers union, steam fitters" They help achieve goals of fair pay, improved work rules, and a better quality of life and safety. Unions are alive and well around the world and they protect workers from many of the lies and scams Corporations try to pull on employees. I would say the only benefit I would see in a Pharma Union is that you would NO LONGER have DMs trying to pull some of the childish silly stunts they do instead it would be a stable daily work environment where you went to work did your job and have no need for DM Childish behaviors.

 

Never heard of the Irishmen. I agree with your statements.
Unions served their purpose. They saved workers from becoming slaves. I was a union rep while teaching. The teachers union is what is wrong with education today. The union watered down or eliminated competence standards for teachers, made it all but impossible to fire the incompetent, immoral , and downright awful teachers. Common Core is a joke and a colossal failure. Standardized tests are the only thing being” taught” in schools and the yardstick for teachers....like the useless metrics in pharma.
Much the same can be said for government workers’ unions. Made it impossible to be fired and ensures a fat pension and benes for life.

My beef with the unions is they’ve “socialized” the work force.

 

Completely accurate - unions today are a complete scam. In private sector, less than 5% are in unions (and many of those are forced upon employees).

 

The Teachers Union did not create or install Common Core. Those came down from Government Officials.. get your facts straight. Along w/ all the metrics teachers are judged on. I'm mean your above post is so far off the mark it's Fake News.

Talk to an "Under Paid" teacher they will tell you it's all crap but their hands are tied. Don't ever blame a teacher.

And just think what you are saying about who gets "FIRED" . Look what these DMs do, do you think they are firing the right people? No. There are good and bad employees in every Industry you are not going to get away w/ some people at any level trying to get away w/ something. But giving the power to the DM to do as they please to Reps is a big part of how the Industry got to where it is now.

I'm not sure if you understand socialized either because in order to get the big fat pension you have to put in 30-40 years in some of these jobs and that is not socialization. Since those Gov. workers don't have a 401K in some instances. What would you like them to do? Even Pharm jobs had a PENSION SYSTEM up until 2009ish and the recession so was Pharma socialized?

 

Just think if there was a Pharma Union these Pharma Companies would still have a pension system. Instead the C-Suit gets to divy up 10's multi-million bonuses yearly and the stock hasn't moved in 20 years.

Tell a Cop that put in 20-25 years and has been put in LIFE threatening situations several times during his career his pension is socialization crap. Or, Better yet go tell a 20 year retired Military Army Officer that severed in Desert Storm that his pension is a socialized piece of Sh$$.

Underpaid teachers that for 30 years had to put up w/ little brats kids that the parents wouldn't discipline and keep in line but instead try to blame everything on teachers. Tell us they didn't earn their pension?

The above poster is another reason Pharma is looked down upon, just moronic uniformed speak.

 

Cops and soldiers deserve all they can get. Always exceptions to any side of an arguement. Teachers?, maybe 40-50 % of them may earn their pension, the rest, no way. The US education system pales in comparison to much of the world. Half the kids can’t read or do basic math despite all the money spent. Making $50k and up for 180 days of work is a pretty good deal, and 80% of their salaries after 30 yrs isn’t bad. You must be one of the few that thinks automobile companies and banks should be bailed out with taxpayer money.
Go ahead, unionize. Then be prepared to be out in the street.


Unions were a good thing in the beginning. They made jobs better paying, more secure, safer, and provided a future income for them and their families. All great things. The present problem is they’ve become a business, and their C- suite members are no different than any other corporation.
You’re just one of the overpaid, soon to be obsolete, pharma reps who have no ideas what a real job is. Pharma is looked down upon because of their greed, and Pfizer is one of the greediest. It’s profit before patients. Once Medicare gets the OK to negotiate prices, it’s all over. Enjoy it while you can.

 

Pharma is unstoppable. Politicians are paid billions by them. Never happen. When two political parties agree on a bill, you can guarantee Americans are getting fucked.

 

Cry me a river. I understand “socialized” completely. It’s gimme, gimme, gimme.
You show up for work on time, every day. You work hard, give a day’s work for a day’s pay. I show up late 2-3 days a week, loaf as much as work, actually earn half of what I’m payed. I take all my sick days, sick of not, because I’m entitled to them. At the end of the week, my paycheck is the same as yours. The union protects me as much as it protects me. The difference is you earned it and I didn’t.
That is workplace socialism.
How many people in your district fit both of my examples? That is why pharma went to the pods, mirrors/partners, etc. They know half the reps work and the other half plays.

 

You are the uninformed one. Cops, soldiers, firemen, teachers, government workers are not payed the higher wages/ salaries BECAUSE they have a pension.
They don’t necessarily need a 401k to save, it’s done for them with their pensions, and it’s guaranteed. They have no worries of market recessions, crashes, etc. as we do with our 401k’s.
Private employment always has and will continue to pay better. If those who prefer
“public service” are unhappy with their careers and pay, they can always leave and join the private sector. Most do not....wonder why?

 

OMG. And he makes up his own definition to fit needs.

 

You were axed with all the other Wyeth Lambert bums. Bye Bye loser!

 

Didn't you say this?

"The union watered down or eliminated competence standards for teachers, made it all but impossible to fire the incompetent, immoral , and downright awful teachers. Common Core is a joke and a colossal failure. Standardized tests are the only thing being” taught” in schools and the yardstick for teachers....like the useless metrics in pharma.
Much the same can be said for government workers’ unions. Made it impossible to be fired and ensures a fat pension and benes for life."

Now you have an new spin? Some people like "Public Service" it has nothing to do w/ a pension. Some really want to be a teacher or a cop. In addition these people can always do IRAs.