#labormanagement

[ualocal467blog-blog]

6 Benefits Unionized Workers Earn Compared to Non-Union Workers

Being a member of a labor union can be beneficial, as unions are created by workers, not by employers. In these communities, workers use their collective presence to negotiate better working conditions. The main ones include better wages and workplace safety.

As a union member, each worker has a voice that employers hear. They have the power to create a happy, healthy, and rewarding community and stimulate economic growth in the process. What’s more, they help both union and non-union workers.

This is because unions set standards on wages and workplace security across the industry. All the benefits of collective bargaining positively impact both unionized and regular workers.

While regular workers are somewhat affected by the standards set by unions, they rarely receive the same benefits. If you’re looking for safety on the job, training, community, and an array of other benefits, you should think about joining a union. Here are the essential benefits that you’ll experience.

Wage Differences

One of the primary benefits that unionized workers get is better compensation for their hard work. Union members get higher salaries than their non-union counterparts. The main reason is that they negotiate wages on behalf of each union member. This way, everyone can get the paycheck they deserve.

Let’s say that someone doesn’t have excellent skills or too much experience yet. Maybe they have less formal education than their non-union colleagues. Well, they can still enjoy a higher paycheck than the same worker who is not a union member.

What’s more, unionized workers enjoy regular pay raises, especially when they keep training and improving their skills. Regular workers usually don’t have such a luxury, as their employers set their wages without ever consulting with them or asking for any input.

Workplace Safety

Higher wages may be enough to compel you to join a union, but workplace safety is another very important reason to consider.

Working under favorable workplace conditions is one of the top concerns of the majority of workers. It goes especially for plumbers, pipefitters, and refrigeration fitters. They’re in contact with plenty of tools and machinery that can cause injuries, so improving workplace safety is essential.

Union workers negotiate with employers on protecting a job site and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. They make sure that every employer is held accountable for any workplace injury or fatality. 

They also make sure that there is proper training. It involves educating workers on workplace hazards, proper use of equipment, and all the safety protocols.

Job Stability

Unionized workers enjoy a higher level of job stability than their non-union counterparts. They can keep honing their skills, knowing that their employer will invest in their long-term learning and development.

Regular workers usually don’t have such a sense of job stability – their employers can fire them at will, for no valid reason whatsoever. That could never happen in a union.

When you’re a union member, your employer can only ever fire you for “just cause”. There must be a valid reason for firing you, and there must be evidence proving misconduct.

Any misconduct must qualify as a legal termination, which means that there’s no room for discrimination. A union first uses a grievance procedure, or sometimes arbitration, to handle all grievances. Only after this can any disciplinary action take place.

Employee turnover is lower in unions. Knowing that your employer cannot fire you for whistleblowing, discrimination, or no reason at all makes for a happy and productive worker.

A Voice for Workers in Political Decisions

Being a member of a union means having a voice. A voice that is heard and can make a difference.

Every union member can voice their concerns and suggest workplace improvements. They can share honest thoughts and opinions on all matters that concern their union and workplace.

Unions provide democracy. Everyone is equal, and everyone has the right to make a difference. Every union worker can have a say in political decisions, as every policy will affect each one of them.

Non-union workers do not don’t enjoy this level of freedom and equality. Their employers rarely hear their voices, and they have no say in policy debates.

Improved Conditions for Diverse Workforces

Long gone are the times when workforces were homogenous. Discrimination is still present in many workplaces, but that is not the case in unions.

Diverse workforces thrive when they band together in a union. Age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, physical disabilities, and culture play no part here. No such differences will affect anyone’s ability to enjoy better workplace conditions, benefits, and higher wages.

Unions represent workers from all sectors and of all levels of education, and everyone has equal rights.

Retirement Security

Not every non-union worker has access to retirement benefits. Even when they do, they’re often not very satisfactory.

This isn’t the case with unionized workers. They have retirement security, as well as better retirement benefits than regular workers. 

Unions provide defined benefit pension plans and/or defined contribution retirement plans (401(a), 401(k), etc.). It gives them an excellent incentive, knowing that their financial future is secure.

Conclusion

Being a union member definitely comes with incredible benefits. Want to join a union of professional plumbers, pipefitters, and HVACR fitters? Are you looking for great income potential? Do you want safe working conditions and health insurance with retirement? Is your goal to get career training that will help you get a stable job?

UA Local 467 Union is here for you! Our Joint Labor Management Apprenticeship Training Program is certified and college accredited. We can help you become one of our most qualified union workers who are the best workforce in the industry. Contact us today and let us help you build a rewarding career.

[empcloudx]

What Is Workforce Management and Why Does It Matter?

Have you ever wondered how organizations keep everything running smoothly while getting the most out of their teams? It all comes down to strategically aligning people, time, and tasks for optimal results. This approach involves placing the right individuals in the right roles at precisely the right moments, fully prepared to deliver their best. It goes beyond just managing schedules and staffing, it’s about boosting productivity, cutting operational expenses, and enhancing employee satisfaction through dynamic, data-informed methods.

The Basics of Managing a Workforce

Workforce management refers to the processes, tools, and strategies used to plan, monitor, and optimize employee performance and resource allocation. It includes tasks such as:

Forecasting labour needs

Scheduling staff shifts

Monitoring attendance and compliance

Managing productivity

Handling time-off requests and payroll integration

Whether you're running a retail store, managing a remote tech team, or overseeing hospital staff, it helps strike the right balance between business demands and the capabilities of your people.

What Makes Effective Team Management Essential?

As the workplace evolves, staying organized and responsive isn’t a choice, it’s a competitive edge. Here’s what makes it so important:

Boosts Efficiency

With real-time data and automated tools, you avoid overstaffing or last-minute shortages. Each team member knows exactly where to be and at what time.

Reduces Costs

Better shift planning means fewer overtime hours and less reliance on temporary labour. You optimize resource use without compromising service quality.

Improves Employee Satisfaction

Fair scheduling, streamlined communication, and transparent policies reduce burnout and improve morale—key drivers of retention.

Enhances Customer Experience

Happy, well-prepared employees provide better service. It ensures frontline teams are prepared and empowered to perform at their best.

Essential Elements of a Strong Workforce Strategy

To build a successful workforce strategy, consider these essential components:

Demand Forecasting

Estimate staffing needs by analyzing past trends, seasonal shifts, and projected sales.

Smart Scheduling

Use automated tools to assign shifts based on availability, skill level, and labour laws, while accounting for employee preferences.

Time and Attendance Tracking

Monitor employee hours in real time with digital time clocks, mobile check-ins, or biometric systems.

Performance Analytics

Track KPIs such as sales per employee, time-on-task, or attendance issues to guide coaching and decision-making.

Compliance and Regulation

Ensure schedules and labour practices comply with local laws, union agreements, and internal policies.

Smart Practices to Improve Workforce Operations

Implementing a solid strategy takes more than systems. Follow these steps for real results:

Start with Clear Goals

Define what success looks like, fewer absences? Better productivity? Improved customer satisfaction?

Choose the Right Technology

Look for tools that integrate easily with your existing systems and offer mobile access, automation, and analytics.

Train Managers and Staff

Make sure all team members know how the system works and why it matters to them. Change management is key.

Monitor and Adjust Continuously

Use analytics to refine your approach. What delivered results last quarter may fall short next month.

Prioritize Flexibility

Especially in hybrid or shift-based environments, flexible scheduling builds trust and reduces attrition.

Modern Approaches to Workforce Coordination

From remote work to freelance talent, today’s evolving work landscape demands stronger workforce coordination. Today’s systems are not just about efficiency but agility, allowing businesses to scale, adapt, and compete in real time.

By harnessing AI and machine learning, modern workforce platforms improve demand forecasting and schedule optimization. Managers are no longer buried in spreadsheets, they’re making strategic decisions guided by live data.

Companies that embrace these tools aren't just managing, they're leading.

You can also watch: EmpCloud: One Platform for All Your Workforce Needs!

Final Takeaway: Use Smart Planning to Drive Growth

Strong workforce management is no longer optional. It serves as the cornerstone for a business that’s productive, engaged, and ready to grow. When done right, it transforms how your organization functions, from chaotic to coordinated, from reactive to proactive.

Whether you're a growing startup or an enterprise with thousands of employees, the time to refine your workforce strategy is now. And with modern tools and a thoughtful approach, it's more achievable than ever.

FAQs: Common Questions About Workforce Management

What industries benefit most from workforce management?

Retail, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and call centers benefit greatly, but any business with people and schedules can see improvements.

What’s the difference between workforce management and HR?

HR is responsible for recruiting, onboarding, and managing employee relationships. Workforce management is about operational efficiency-scheduling, attendance, productivity, and compliance.

Is workforce management software worth it?

Yes. It saves time, improves accuracy, and gives actionable insights, especially for growing or complex teams.

[concorderp]

labor Management Software One place for all your work.   📲Call Now: 9009155444 🌐Visit: http://concorderp.com/con.../module-group/labour-management/ . . .

[amsterdam-innovation]

Widgets or Decisions

Current labor management strategies for knowledge workers continue to organize labor as if dealing with a manual workforce. Unlike the transfer of raw material to widgets in the past, today's knowledge worker takes raw data and turns it into decisions. The consequence of this thinking is a continual knowledge drain as workers are hired and fired according to the cyclical nature of project based labor. As Roger L. Martin states in the October issue of the Harvard Business Review, “unlike manual labor [knowledge work] can’t readily be codified and transferred to others.” The result is an increase 85% increase in selling, general, administrative expenses (SG&A) at large companies since 1972. Meanwhile costs of goods sold (COGS) has dropped from 72% to 51% in the same time period. See below. COGS & SG&A over the Last 30 Years Image Credit: HBR, October 2013

The link which is accessible below is a great read helping to ground the sometimes fuzzy and harder to quantify knowledge labor in hard concepts.The cyclical nature of today’s labor unit, the project, demands new strategies of production and architectural space. We lose when the creative worker’s output is not distinguished from the manual labor unit of parts per day.

When clients are behind in understanding how to manage their own people architects and planners suffer too. It is no surprise that contemporary office space lags behind and often fails to meet the needs of a productive knowledge based worker and the fluid transformation of knowledge necessary in today's organizations. Only through strong engagement between CEOs and architects early on can innovative solutions to the 21st century office space be delivered.  Read more: Rethinking the Decision Factory

[margeretnqcloer-blog]

INSIGHT-Wisconsin clash spotlights US labor-management rift

OSHKOSH, Wisconsin Oct 13 (Reuters) - Oshkosh Corp has been a rare lifeline for the beleaguered United Auto Workers, one of the few American manufacturers to have added significantly to its ranks of well-paid union workers in a brutal decade for factory hands.But now, as the UAW renews conciliatory contracts with major automakers that have dismissed tens of thousands of hourly workers, union employees are turning against Oshkosh.Tim Jacobson, 32, is among the workers who have rejected a new contract forged by union leaders with the maker of military vehicles and fire trucks. They are marching in the streets of this university city on Lake Winnebago to denounce an employer that has nearly doubled its UAW staff to 3,100 over the five-year span of its last union contract.Jacobson himself was hired by Oshkosh two years ago, less than a month after he was laid off from a nearby Harley Davidson plant."What's disgusting?" Jacobson shouts, carrying an American flag as he leads a line of 150 workers at a recent rally downtown. "Union busting," the crowd responds.This seemingly paradoxical labor standoff stems from grievances almost unique to Oshkosh, whose profits have been flush in recent years, and from a broader animus between labor and management, both nationally and in particular in Wisconsin, where a clash over the power of public-sector unions transfixed the country over the summer."Frankly, a lot of people here are pissed off," Jacobson said. Workers complain that the new contract erodes work rules, security and seniority rights - such as a demand that workers can be required to work up to ten Saturdays per year. Particularly galling to them is the company's call for more temporary, non-union positions. When Oshkosh sought union approval to hire as many as 300 temporary workers starting in 2013 as part of its original contract offer, the workforce rejected it.The most recent rejection, on Saturday, was the second in a week. The company had offered as much as an 8.5 percent raise and $2,000 signing bonus to offset to rising healthcare premiums. Oshkosh had attempted to craft a similar deal in 2010, a year before the contract's expiration, and met resistance then as well.An outright strike is unlikely. UAW and Oshkosh officials returned to the bargaining table on Wednesday. A third deal, without any demands for temporary worker provisions, will likely be handed to workers this weekend, according to people familiar with the talks. These people expressed confidence that the third attempt for ratification will work.If it goes through, the victory for the UAW could well be overshadowed by friction it is facing with a much bigger member, Ford Motor Co .Dissent isn't a new phenomenon for the UAW. In Detroit - home of the union's core constituency - workers have shown a willingness to vote down automaker contracts in even the worst of times. And now, as Ford seeks ratification for a new deal that includes lucrative bonuses, there is widespread concern that workers there will vote no. As of Thursday, two Ford factories had rejected a proposed four-year deal, throwing its ratification into doubt.And with protestors on the streets of Oshkosh, Wisconsin where even the deep erosion of the industrial heartland has been kept at bay, the thread of distrust sewn into labor-management relations is proving difficult to sever.Oshkosh's desire to bring in temps follows a pattern set by most of the nation's industrial heavyweights, such as Caterpillar Inc, who want to meet shorter-term production needs without having to bring on another crop of permanent employees. Workers here firmly believe this will lead to an inevitable loss of union jobs."Our members have been getting very angry out there," UAW Local 578 President Nick Nitscke recently said while standing in the lobby of the Oshkosh hotel, the site of the labor negotiations. He pointed to a street corner where hundreds of workers have protested several times in recent weeks. "They do not want anything to do with temp workers."PICKET FEVERThis schism between the workers and their union has many outside observers scratching their heads, coming as it does with the rest of the country plagued by economic malaise.Oshkosh has been on a roll thanks to winning big contracts to build military vehicles in recent years, though it now faces new headwinds as government-spending cuts and increased competition squeeze the defense industry. Management has been hitting this theme hard.In a letter accompanying its first offer to UAW workers last month, Chief Executive Charles Szews said, "the company's offer takes into consideration today's economic realities for our principal customer, the U.S. Department of Defense, which is facing hundreds of billions of dollars in budget reductions." Workers are largely dismissive of that outlook.Like many others in the area, Rep. Gordon Hintz, a Democrat representing Oshkosh, sees the current conflict as at least partially influenced by the protests over public-sector unions that polarized public opinion, just 87 miles to the south in Madison. The Occupy Wall Street movement is also energizing workers, he said. "Does Wisconsin have picket fever? Yes, I think there is a little of that."A broader anxiety is also underpinning the workers' resistance, says Mike Schroeder, a longtime Oshkosh worker recently elected as a chief bargaining steward. "People have not gotten the entire story of what is really going on here. This isn't really about money," he said. "This is about job security."A significant portion of Oshkosh's workers here were hired as the company was scrambling to fill orders from the Department of Defense, while other Wisconsin manufacturers -- including Kohler Co., Harley Davidson, and Mercury Marine - were laying people off and, in some cases, hiring more temps. As a result, Oshkosh was able to hire skilled manufacturing workers who harbored a deep resentment toward non-unionized employees doing short-term work.

[lacreshaovyhill-blog]

INSIGHT-Wisconsin clash spotlights US labor-management rift

OSHKOSH, Wisconsin Oct 13 (Reuters) - Oshkosh Corp has been a rare lifeline for the beleaguered United Auto Workers, one of the few American manufacturers to have added significantly to its ranks of well-paid union workers in a brutal decade for factory hands.But now, as the UAW renews conciliatory contracts with major automakers that have dismissed tens of thousands of hourly workers, union employees are turning against Oshkosh.Tim Jacobson, 32, is among the workers who have rejected a new contract forged by union leaders with the maker of military vehicles and fire trucks. They are marching in the streets of this university city on Lake Winnebago to denounce an employer that has nearly doubled its UAW staff to 3,100 over the five-year span of its last union contract.Jacobson himself was hired by Oshkosh two years ago, less than a month after he was laid off from a nearby Harley Davidson plant."What's disgusting?" Jacobson shouts, carrying an American flag as he leads a line of 150 workers at a recent rally downtown. "Union busting," the crowd responds.This seemingly paradoxical labor standoff stems from grievances almost unique to Oshkosh, whose profits have been flush in recent years, and from a broader animus between labor and management, both nationally and in particular in Wisconsin, where a clash over the power of public-sector unions transfixed the country over the summer."Frankly, a lot of people here are pissed off," Jacobson said. Workers complain that the new contract erodes work rules, security and seniority rights - such as a demand that workers can be required to work up to ten Saturdays per year. Particularly galling to them is the company's call for more temporary, non-union positions. When Oshkosh sought union approval to hire as many as 300 temporary workers starting in 2013 as part of its original contract offer, the workforce rejected it.The most recent rejection, on Saturday, was the second in a week. The company had offered as much as an 8.5 percent raise and $2,000 signing bonus to offset to rising healthcare premiums. Oshkosh had attempted to craft a similar deal in 2010, a year before the contract's expiration, and met resistance then as well.An outright strike is unlikely. UAW and Oshkosh officials returned to the bargaining table on Wednesday. A third deal, without any demands for temporary worker provisions, will likely be handed to workers this weekend, according to people familiar with the talks. These people expressed confidence that the third attempt for ratification will work.If it goes through, the victory for the UAW could well be overshadowed by friction it is facing with a much bigger member, Ford Motor Co .Dissent isn't a new phenomenon for the UAW. In Detroit - home of the union's core constituency - workers have shown a willingness to vote down automaker contracts in even the worst of times. And now, as Ford seeks ratification for a new deal that includes lucrative bonuses, there is widespread concern that workers there will vote no. As of Thursday, two Ford factories had rejected a proposed four-year deal, throwing its ratification into doubt.And with protestors on the streets of Oshkosh, Wisconsin where even the deep erosion of the industrial heartland has been kept at bay, the thread of distrust sewn into labor-management relations is proving difficult to sever.Oshkosh's desire to bring in temps follows a pattern set by most of the nation's industrial heavyweights, such as Caterpillar Inc, who want to meet shorter-term production needs without having to bring on another crop of permanent employees. Workers here firmly believe this will lead to an inevitable loss of union jobs."Our members have been getting very angry out there," UAW Local 578 President Nick Nitscke recently said while standing in the lobby of the Oshkosh hotel, the site of the labor negotiations. He pointed to a street corner where hundreds of workers have protested several times in recent weeks. "They do not want anything to do with temp workers."PICKET FEVERThis schism between the workers and their union has many outside observers scratching their heads, coming as it does with the rest of the country plagued by economic malaise.Oshkosh has been on a roll thanks to winning big contracts to build military vehicles in recent years, though it now faces new headwinds as government-spending cuts and increased competition squeeze the defense industry. Management has been hitting this theme hard.In a letter accompanying its first offer to UAW workers last month, Chief Executive Charles Szews said, "the company's offer takes into consideration today's economic realities for our principal customer, the U.S. Department of Defense, which is facing hundreds of billions of dollars in budget reductions." Workers are largely dismissive of that outlook.Like many others in the area, Rep. Gordon Hintz, a Democrat representing Oshkosh, sees the current conflict as at least partially influenced by the protests over public-sector unions that polarized public opinion, just 87 miles to the south in Madison. The Occupy Wall Street movement is also energizing workers, he said. "Does Wisconsin have picket fever? Yes, I think there is a little of that."A broader anxiety is also underpinning the workers' resistance, says Mike Schroeder, a longtime Oshkosh worker recently elected as a chief bargaining steward. "People have not gotten the entire story of what is really going on here. This isn't really about money," he said. "This is about job security."A significant portion of Oshkosh's workers here were hired as the company was scrambling to fill orders from the Department of Defense, while other Wisconsin manufacturers -- including Kohler Co., Harley Davidson, and Mercury Marine - were laying people off and, in some cases, hiring more temps. As a result, Oshkosh was able to hire skilled manufacturing workers who harbored a deep resentment toward non-unionized employees doing short-term work.

[margeretnqcloer-blog]

INSIGHT-Wisconsin clash spotlights US labor-management rift

OSHKOSH, Wisconsin Oct 13 (Reuters) - Oshkosh Corp has been a rare lifeline for the beleaguered United Auto Workers, one of the few American manufacturers to have added significantly to its ranks of well-paid union workers in a brutal decade for factory hands.But now, as the UAW renews conciliatory contracts with major automakers that have dismissed tens of thousands of hourly workers, union employees are turning against Oshkosh.Tim Jacobson, 32, is among the workers who have rejected a new contract forged by union leaders with the maker of military vehicles and fire trucks. They are marching in the streets of this university city on Lake Winnebago to denounce an employer that has nearly doubled its UAW staff to 3,100 over the five-year span of its last union contract.Jacobson himself was hired by Oshkosh two years ago, less than a month after he was laid off from a nearby Harley Davidson plant."What's disgusting?" Jacobson shouts, carrying an American flag as he leads a line of 150 workers at a recent rally downtown. "Union busting," the crowd responds.This seemingly paradoxical labor standoff stems from grievances almost unique to Oshkosh, whose profits have been flush in recent years, and from a broader animus between labor and management, both nationally and in particular in Wisconsin, where a clash over the power of public-sector unions transfixed the country over the summer."Frankly, a lot of people here are pissed off," Jacobson said. Workers complain that the new contract erodes work rules, security and seniority rights - such as a demand that workers can be required to work up to ten Saturdays per year. Particularly galling to them is the company's call for more temporary, non-union positions. When Oshkosh sought union approval to hire as many as 300 temporary workers starting in 2013 as part of its original contract offer, the workforce rejected it.The most recent rejection, on Saturday, was the second in a week. The company had offered as much as an 8.5 percent raise and $2,000 signing bonus to offset to rising healthcare premiums. Oshkosh had attempted to craft a similar deal in 2010, a year before the contract's expiration, and met resistance then as well.An outright strike is unlikely. UAW and Oshkosh officials returned to the bargaining table on Wednesday. A third deal, without any demands for temporary worker provisions, will likely be handed to workers this weekend, according to people familiar with the talks. These people expressed confidence that the third attempt for ratification will work.If it goes through, the victory for the UAW could well be overshadowed by friction it is facing with a much bigger member, Ford Motor Co .Dissent isn't a new phenomenon for the UAW. In Detroit - home of the union's core constituency - workers have shown a willingness to vote down automaker contracts in even the worst of times. And now, as Ford seeks ratification for a new deal that includes lucrative bonuses, there is widespread concern that workers there will vote no. As of Thursday, two Ford factories had rejected a proposed four-year deal, throwing its ratification into doubt.And with protestors on the streets of Oshkosh, Wisconsin where even the deep erosion of the industrial heartland has been kept at bay, the thread of distrust sewn into labor-management relations is proving difficult to sever.Oshkosh's desire to bring in temps follows a pattern set by most of the nation's industrial heavyweights, such as Caterpillar Inc, who want to meet shorter-term production needs without having to bring on another crop of permanent employees. Workers here firmly believe this will lead to an inevitable loss of union jobs."Our members have been getting very angry out there," UAW Local 578 President Nick Nitscke recently said while standing in the lobby of the Oshkosh hotel, the site of the labor negotiations. He pointed to a street corner where hundreds of workers have protested several times in recent weeks. "They do not want anything to do with temp workers."PICKET FEVERThis schism between the workers and their union has many outside observers scratching their heads, coming as it does with the rest of the country plagued by economic malaise.Oshkosh has been on a roll thanks to winning big contracts to build military vehicles in recent years, though it now faces new headwinds as government-spending cuts and increased competition squeeze the defense industry. Management has been hitting this theme hard.In a letter accompanying its first offer to UAW workers last month, Chief Executive Charles Szews said, "the company's offer takes into consideration today's economic realities for our principal customer, the U.S. Department of Defense, which is facing hundreds of billions of dollars in budget reductions." Workers are largely dismissive of that outlook.Like many others in the area, Rep. Gordon Hintz, a Democrat representing Oshkosh, sees the current conflict as at least partially influenced by the protests over public-sector unions that polarized public opinion, just 87 miles to the south in Madison. The Occupy Wall Street movement is also energizing workers, he said. "Does Wisconsin have picket fever? Yes, I think there is a little of that."A broader anxiety is also underpinning the workers' resistance, says Mike Schroeder, a longtime Oshkosh worker recently elected as a chief bargaining steward. "People have not gotten the entire story of what is really going on here. This isn't really about money," he said. "This is about job security."A significant portion of Oshkosh's workers here were hired as the company was scrambling to fill orders from the Department of Defense, while other Wisconsin manufacturers -- including Kohler Co., Harley Davidson, and Mercury Marine - were laying people off and, in some cases, hiring more temps. As a result, Oshkosh was able to hire skilled manufacturing workers who harbored a deep resentment toward non-unionized employees doing short-term work.

[rebeckafschexna-blog]

INSIGHT-Wisconsin clash spotlights US labor-management rift

OSHKOSH, Wisconsin Oct 13 (Reuters) - Oshkosh Corp has been a rare lifeline for the beleaguered United Auto Workers, one of the few American manufacturers to have added significantly to its ranks of well-paid union workers in a brutal decade for factory hands.But now, as the UAW renews conciliatory contracts with major automakers that have dismissed tens of thousands of hourly workers, union employees are turning against Oshkosh.Tim Jacobson, 32, is among the workers who have rejected a new contract forged by union leaders with the maker of military vehicles and fire trucks. They are marching in the streets of this university city on Lake Winnebago to denounce an employer that has nearly doubled its UAW staff to 3,100 over the five-year span of its last union contract.Jacobson himself was hired by Oshkosh two years ago, less than a month after he was laid off from a nearby Harley Davidson plant."What's disgusting?" Jacobson shouts, carrying an American flag as he leads a line of 150 workers at a recent rally downtown. "Union busting," the crowd responds.This seemingly paradoxical labor standoff stems from grievances almost unique to Oshkosh, whose profits have been flush in recent years, and from a broader animus between labor and management, both nationally and in particular in Wisconsin, where a clash over the power of public-sector unions transfixed the country over the summer."Frankly, a lot of people here are pissed off," Jacobson said. Workers complain that the new contract erodes work rules, security and seniority rights - such as a demand that workers can be required to work up to ten Saturdays per year. Particularly galling to them is the company's call for more temporary, non-union positions. When Oshkosh sought union approval to hire as many as 300 temporary workers starting in 2013 as part of its original contract offer, the workforce rejected it.The most recent rejection, on Saturday, was the second in a week. The company had offered as much as an 8.5 percent raise and $2,000 signing bonus to offset to rising healthcare premiums. Oshkosh had attempted to craft a similar deal in 2010, a year before the contract's expiration, and met resistance then as well.An outright strike is unlikely. UAW and Oshkosh officials returned to the bargaining table on Wednesday. A third deal, without any demands for temporary worker provisions, will likely be handed to workers this weekend, according to people familiar with the talks. These people expressed confidence that the third attempt for ratification will work.If it goes through, the victory for the UAW could well be overshadowed by friction it is facing with a much bigger member, Ford Motor Co .Dissent isn't a new phenomenon for the UAW. In Detroit - home of the union's core constituency - workers have shown a willingness to vote down automaker contracts in even the worst of times. And now, as Ford seeks ratification for a new deal that includes lucrative bonuses, there is widespread concern that workers there will vote no. As of Thursday, two Ford factories had rejected a proposed four-year deal, throwing its ratification into doubt.And with protestors on the streets of Oshkosh, Wisconsin where even the deep erosion of the industrial heartland has been kept at bay, the thread of distrust sewn into labor-management relations is proving difficult to sever.Oshkosh's desire to bring in temps follows a pattern set by most of the nation's industrial heavyweights, such as Caterpillar Inc, who want to meet shorter-term production needs without having to bring on another crop of permanent employees. Workers here firmly believe this will lead to an inevitable loss of union jobs."Our members have been getting very angry out there," UAW Local 578 President Nick Nitscke recently said while standing in the lobby of the Oshkosh hotel, the site of the labor negotiations. He pointed to a street corner where hundreds of workers have protested several times in recent weeks. "They do not want anything to do with temp workers."PICKET FEVERThis schism between the workers and their union has many outside observers scratching their heads, coming as it does with the rest of the country plagued by economic malaise.Oshkosh has been on a roll thanks to winning big contracts to build military vehicles in recent years, though it now faces new headwinds as government-spending cuts and increased competition squeeze the defense industry. Management has been hitting this theme hard.In a letter accompanying its first offer to UAW workers last month, Chief Executive Charles Szews said, "the company's offer takes into consideration today's economic realities for our principal customer, the U.S. Department of Defense, which is facing hundreds of billions of dollars in budget reductions." Workers are largely dismissive of that outlook.Like many others in the area, Rep. Gordon Hintz, a Democrat representing Oshkosh, sees the current conflict as at least partially influenced by the protests over public-sector unions that polarized public opinion, just 87 miles to the south in Madison. The Occupy Wall Street movement is also energizing workers, he said. "Does Wisconsin have picket fever? Yes, I think there is a little of that."A broader anxiety is also underpinning the workers' resistance, says Mike Schroeder, a longtime Oshkosh worker recently elected as a chief bargaining steward. "People have not gotten the entire story of what is really going on here. This isn't really about money," he said. "This is about job security."A significant portion of Oshkosh's workers here were hired as the company was scrambling to fill orders from the Department of Defense, while other Wisconsin manufacturers -- including Kohler Co., Harley Davidson, and Mercury Marine - were laying people off and, in some cases, hiring more temps. As a result, Oshkosh was able to hire skilled manufacturing workers who harbored a deep resentment toward non-unionized employees doing short-term work.