What do you think of labor unions?

[FLA]

As a nurse, I helped push for unions when they would come knocking. But the hospital system I worked for would have meetings with managers deriding the unions and scaring the nurses that they would be worse off (totally not ok for management to do that). Even when we got the NYS worker's union willing to take us on (a good union), the nurses still ran scared. I blame the lack of unionization for low salaries and crappy benefits that have not kept pace with similar careers with powerful unions, as in teachers and the police.

[97guns]

I've worked in a couple of union shops and liked the support and security that the union provided. What I did not like about it was pressure from co workers to slow down my pace, I had always been a productive worker and took a lot of pride in giving the company it's monies worth in my salary.

[frugal saver]

I am totally anti-union. I agree that historically they have their place, but my two experiences have been totally negative.

Growing up, my mother worked for the phone company, but didn't belong to the union. Even though the union was supposedly "fighting for their wages" the only way we could get frivolous things like new shoes was when the union staged their yearly walk-out and my mother worked 7 days a week during the strike. I don't know what the union was ever actually fighting for, but it wasn't decent wages.

As an adult I worked in the public sector and paid dues for many years to SEIU, although I was never a member. I hated them with the passion of a million purple shirts. I sat and watched while they fought tirelessly to protect and defend the non-work of every drugged out/wacked out employee there, while I sat and did extra to make up the slack. I watched them fight their RESPECT campaign to protect workers from the harassment of being asked to do work, or being given work to do if they had nothing on their desk. I watched employees who's main goal in life was to come to work and do absolutely nothing--with the full backing of the union.

The union takes in millions of dollars a month and spends outrageous amounts for Democratic candidates all over the country. They have absolute power in California because they contribute so much money to the overwhelmingly Democratic electorate that they can never be challenged lest the money dry up.

No, I don't support unions. Maybe there are good ones somewhere else.

[97guns]

we had a lot of great perks at my last union job, free steel toe shoes and a dozen socks every quarter, full turkey dinner for thanksgiving, $400 a year allowance for clothes washing and i'm sure more i cant remember. for my non degree, barely graduating H.S. a 8n9on job was the best

[josey]

The idea of having a union is formed for the protection of the employees. The voice of the hard-working labour can be heard outside only through unions.
But, Now, It has lost its significance.
Presently, I don't belong to any unions.

[tripods68]

I'm not anti union completely. I believe in worker's rights. I don't make the NBA or NFL salary, not even closed (). But Union performs important functions in labor negotiations, benefits, pension, or in case of discrimination cases. If you have an employer who is willing to break labor laws, and not pay its employee right, belonging to a Union helps workers in this instances.

I belong to SEIU 1000. Yes even Financial Analyst can be part of Union .
My wife is a member of CNA (California Nurse Association).

[DaveInPgh]

I'm not anti union completely. I believe in worker's rights. I don't make the NBA or NFL salary, not even closed (). But Union performs important functions in labor negotiations, benefits, pension, or in case of discrimination cases. If you have an employer who is willing to break labor laws, and not pay its employee right, belonging to a Union helps workers in this instances.

I belong to SEIU 1000. Yes even Financial Analyst can be part of Union .
My wife is a member of CNA (California Nurse Association).

I don't disagree with you but it all depends on the employee and the union. Some unions are much stronger than others. And not all employees are considered equal when it is time for a union to go to battle

[GoodSteward]

I was part of a union when I was working in KY for a chicken factory. I drove the forklifts on the farms. All I ever heard was bickering and fussing about things. I was fine with how things were. However, I was told if the union goes on strike I have to go with them and sit outside with them. I did not like the fact that I would be required to rebel if they couldn't come to an agreement for the wages for the next three years.

I know the union is based on an idea that helps people and has over the years, but what actually ends up happening now, from what I've witnessed, is a lot of drama and self-entitlement.

[Outdoorsygal]

I was part of a union when I was working in KY for a chicken factory. I drove the forklifts on the farms. All I ever heard was bickering and fussing about things. I was fine with how things were. However, I was told if the union goes on strike I have to go with them and sit outside with them. I did not like the fact that I would be required to rebel if they couldn't come to an agreement for the wages for the next three years.

I know the union is based on an idea that helps people and has over the years, but what actually ends up happening now, from what I've witnessed, is a lot of drama and self-entitlement.

Just responding to what I bolded of your post above. It's not rebelling, it is not a war. It's just business.
I can see how you would feel trapped... feeling you don't have much of a choice in the matter

[QuarterMillionMan]

The plumbers union that I once belonged to was a very powerful union, and they still are. Paydays were every Fridays at noon. One time the employer was not able to pay the crew at the deadline. The union representative showed up at the jobsite shortly thereafter and ordered all the plumbers to stop working. It was only a matter of hours before the plumbers had pay checks in hand and went back to work. The plumbers union doesn't mess around.


It's examples such as the one above that unions represent the whole organization. I didn't think unions represent individuals as a single entity until belonging to the SEIU, especially when an employee is a major screw up.



In my current capacity as a supervisor in the public sector, I've had subordinates who had to be disciplined for sleeping on the job, coming in 2 hours late, leaving 2 hours early, bullying, or even telling me to fxxx off, etc. Each and every one of those subordinates I had written up. They filed a grievance with the union to try and block the write up from entering their human resources personnel file but to no avail. At the grievance hearing the employee showed up with their union rep. On my side I had 2 high ranking administrators, 2 or 3 human resources personnel, legal counsel, etc. Each and every time the grievance was denied and eventually the employee put in a transfer request to a different dept, or in one instance got terminated. However, I didn't think that the union rep would go up to bat for a rotten apple but it surprised me that each and everytime the union rep showed up. I'm aware that as long as the employee is a union paying member in good standing that the union might back them up but to back up dirt bags such as them made me rethink how the unions operate.