The act of talking up work in such a
way so as to convince others that many more union members are necessary to complete a task that a
single non-union employee could accomplish solo. Such
logic makes sense only to union workers themselves, contractor scum and those that they dupe.
Also applies when demanding irrational compensation for minimal effort. Principally centered around lavish health care plans, pensions and early subsidized retirements.
Boss - "Why does it take six of you to screw in that light bulb?"
Union worker exemplifying unionspeak- "
People have grown accustomed to a certain level of service with six of us. We'd be putting everyone's life at risk with any fewer. We need
one guy to hold and screw in the light bulb,
one to put up and take down the ladder,
one to carry the bulb screwer up the ladder,
one to wipe the ladder dude's brow and two to catch anybody that
may fall."
Boss - "That sounds
like unionspeak to me. Randy in accounting says he changes them by himself all the
time at home. Maybe I can just have him do it..."
Union worker - "That's a big risk. What if he fell, who'd catch him? What if the new bulb went out unexpectedly? Would Randy know what to do? Would you? You'
re putting lives at risk. We've never had an accident, not counting the bulb screwer's carpal tunnal. We've trained our whole careers for situations just like this. Now piss off. My union brothers and I are on our break."
