Union Time?

[vazira]

Unionizing appraisers, most of whom are independent business owners makes absolutely no sense. Unions are not for business owners, but are for employees, and most independent appraisers are business owners. What are they going to do, go on strike against themselves? As independent business owners, they could not collude on fees or set up a strike or boycott of any particular lender or AMC with out violating anti-trust laws.

Understood, though so are Electricians and Plumbers, Business with employees and apprentices. Good sample models. They seem to be doing better as an industry than us.

 

[timd354]

Understood, though so are Electricians and Plumbers, Business with employees and apprentices. Good sample models. They seem to be doing better as an industry than us.

Electricians and plumbers who own their own business are not union members (unless they are part time business owners who also are employees of another business). Unions are not for management or business owners....unions are for employees. BTW, I know people in the trades and I have always made more money as an appraiser than most plumbers and electricians who were not owners of a business in which they employed other electricians and plumbers. Unionizing employee appraisers (for example appraisers who are bank or AMC employees) could make sense, but unionizing appraisers who are independent business owners makes no sense whatsoever and will accomplish nothing.

 

[vazira]

I've been a member of the Teamsters and the UAW for periods in my past.

I've seen the 'good' they do.

A cold day in hell would come a lot sooner than the day I join another union.

So did my Father in law- he is retired now and has medical dental, Pension, and other group benefits.
Most retired persons I meet doing inspections (for Credit Union) seem to have great benefits and not just a tax bill at the end of the year.

 

[Gobears81]

So did my Father in law- he is retired now and has medical dental, Pension, and other group benefits.
Most retired persons I meet doing inspections (for Credit Union) seem to have great benefits and not just a tax bill at the end of the year.

I bolded the key word here. You are going to see less and less pensions as the years roll on. Just an unfortunate development that accompanies longer life spans. Also, similar to what TimD pointed out, just because appraisers unionize doesn't mean that they will get benefits, just more pay. Maybe CBRE and Integra would expand their benefits in the unlikely scenario of unionization, but it is tough enough to get a smaller company to take on a trainee in many cases. Guarantee them just full benefits, not even mentioning a future pension, and you will find no small companies taking on trainees anymore. Unionization will kill the industry, not only by external forces of seeing an acceleration towards mass valuation models, but internally by appraisers not taking on trainees.

 

[hastalavista]

The appraisal profession would benefit more from collective advocacy on appraisal issues than it would from collective bargaining on fees and/or benefits.

 

[timd354]

The appraisal profession would benefit more from collective advocacy on appraisal issues than it would from collective bargaining on fees and/or benefits.

That's the whole point....independent business owners cannot get together and collectively bargain anything....that would be collusion and a clear violation of anti-trust laws.

 

[djd09]

Corelogic breaks anti-trust laws. The union appraiser would just to have to pay more dues to cover the FTC fines.

 

[ucbruin]

The appraisal profession would benefit more from collective advocacy on appraisal issues than it would from collective bargaining on fees and/or benefits.

What would that be?

We want longer turn time; no listings?

 

[Deleted member 130081]

The appraisal profession would benefit more from collective advocacy on appraisal issues than it would from collective bargaining on fees and/or benefits.

I agree, a traditional union is not the only answer or form of organization that could provide good things for us. And as pointed out, there would be some laws to navigate in any form of organization. Pretty sure the NAR is not a union.

 

[Deleted member 130081]

What would that be?

We want longer turn time; no listings?

Well, we could start with what an appraisal is, and what it isn't. So far we don't even all agree on that.