Shady Agencies and Temp Svcs.
Here in Dallas, we really need protection from shady agencies and temp services that bill themselves as "consultants". Instead of facilitating the employer/employee relationship they hinder it - and charge a fee to do so.
The larger companies (GTE/Verizon, EDS, JC Penney, NorTel, etc.) use agencies to protect themselves from employment laws... and they end up with the kind of employee they deserve. We workers end up without insurance, retirement and other necessary "benefits". Then, we'recast off like dirty laundry.
Often, I've had to sue an agency for my last paycheck because the agency has a hard time collecting on a mis-matched placement. The state of Texas doesn't allow for punitive damages in these cases - which is more often than not VERY warranted.
Finally, a union may not solve these problems, but it gives a (misnamed) "contractor" another venue for voicing a complaint and having it heard and answered.
