@mdhunt8 A union has been talked about over the years by many fellow colleagues.
(CA) Well, itās finally come to this - unionization. After reading and writing on this forum for years and watching the notary industry change before our very eyes, Iām left wondering how anyone can come to the conclusion that unionizing offers a solution to the real and perceived problems we face as notaries.
Among the issues that appear unresolvable are the proliferation RON along with the widely and wildly variables of state laws that govern what we do. Moreover, the notary profession as we now know it will change dramatically in the next three (tumultuous) years ahead. Automation of the notarization process will supplant the work most of us do. Identification alone will become a problem as individuals elect to change gender, national origin, biological certainty and even race. The notary industry hasnāt even begun as far as I know, to grapple with this dopey-yet-real stuff thatās occurring now. And that, as an abstract, is just for starters.
Youāre gonna tell me that union leadership will resolve these issues:
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standardization (or regulation) of fees
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means to handle violations of any laws, rules, regulations
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centralized training and continuing education
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regional issues (weather, terrain, transportation among dozens of others)
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fuel costs, non-payment of fees, slow pays, sub-standard work product
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uniformity among title/lender/escrow companies to conform to āunionā standards
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organized work stoppages
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union dues (paid to whom and for what?)
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inevitable politicization of the union (yeah, that WILL happen)
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representation for each ālocalā; shop steward elections, turnover
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infiltration by criminal organizations (yeah, thatāll happen, too)
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loss of notary independence (coercion to join the union)
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lack of ability to enforce anything
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benefits packages administered by who - a central authority of some sort?
Need I go on? Look, notariesā working conditions change with every assignment we accept so thereās no way to improve on that. We canāt strike for better wages. We canāt complain about our working hours.
There are over 100,000 notaries in the USA Iām told. No three of them can agree on almost anything if what Iāve read on this forum is any indicator. Who in the world is gonna pull all those folks together, get 'em to agree on anything and then represent them to - who? - the title companies??? As our adversary???
GMAFB
They donāt tell me what to accept that is my choice. No one is getting robbed people make up their own minds on what to accept or not.
I donāt know. Would you like to apply for the job? 
Seriously though, I agree with you. It will never happen.
Iād rather do my own fees and negotiating. There are just way too many variables across this vast country to even think about āone size fits allā. If anything needs regulating, itās signing services!
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Yet, āone size fits allā is exactly what the signing services do when they blast their packages to the notary.
Yepā¦annoying as all get out, isnāt it? Which is why SS should be regulated. Should have enough reserve cash to pay within 2 weeks and there should be a test for ācommon senseā.
The better signing services do pay within 2 weeks (or close enough). The schedulers, however, most likely have never actually done one of these signings themselves, so they have no idea whatās involved. They just go by the company guidelinesā¦..this much for Refi, that much for Heloc, that much for Seller, etc., with no regard for the variables involved.
Iād rather do my own fees and negotiating. There are just way too many variables across this vast country to even think about āone size fits allā. If anything needs regulating, itās signing services!
I AM WITH YOU 100%
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I worked in a union environment and felt that representation never really was beneficial for my behalf. As an entrepreneur a union representation will not optimize my profitability. Their dues will be just another expenditure that will take money from my business.
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