Do you approve or disapprove of labor unions?

Question

Is anyone living in your household a member of a labor union?

Answer 1

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Although I spent many years within a Union, I once thought that
the time had come for things to change. I stupidly thought that
we could do without Unions. BUT .. I was wrong. Here's why .....

Case in point .. just recently I was advised that one of the Big 3
had stressed to all it's part suppliers that it now preferred to have
all parts come from "Non-Union" plants. It's an outright attempt
to force parts plants to shift their work to other places if currently
being made in a Union represented plant. And the sad thing ...
IT'S WORKING !!

People without knowledge have belly-ached and complained that
cars were so expensive due to the UNION. When, in reality, the
cost of a vehicle has very very little percentage attributed to the
wages paid to workers. The discounts are a lot more than the
wage amount attributed to that vehicle. But, as long as people
have no clue ... the car companies can pass the buck as to the
'real' reason a vehicle is priced like it is.

There is a NEW movement within Manufacturing today. I know,
I'm still connected. Now is the time for a lot closer look at the
Union and what it has to offer.

Disclaimer: The Local is only as good as the leadership that
is elected to run it.

So, now, I've changed my mind about the need for Unions. I think
they are just as much needed today .... if not more so ... than for
more than wages.

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Answer 2

Labor unions were originally created to protect workers' rights - a very noble cause. However, they can also cripple many businesses and systems when abused. Overall, I disapprove of labor unions for two primary reasons:

1) They can go "too far" and can cripple businesses by pushing too far, coming across adversarial instead of partnering with upper management to work towards a mutually beneficial resolution, and draining financial resources of struggling companies by demanding raises and more benefits during tight times (think airlines, NY MTA, etc.)
2) The can unwittingly promote and "protect" lazy, under-productive, and unmotivated people who are tenured (think teachers in public school systems who are ineffective and, at times, can be despised by the children and families they are expected to serve, whereas newer, highly engaging and popular workers, or in this case, teachers, do not reap any rewards until later in life if at all.

Once again, this does not mean that all unions are bad or poorly run, for example, Southwest Airlines has an incredible, invested unionized workforce and should be an example to all, but too many are not up to par and significantly contribute to poor customer service and troubled finances.

Answer 3

No one in my home a member of a labor union. My feelings on the issue of unions is negative. I do not feel as though they serve the purpose for which they were created. They were there for the employee, now the union is in place for the union officials. I believe that the notion of a union helping to save jobs is absurd, how many have been layed off in union shops over the past 5 years, take Goodyear, or even better, all of the U.S. automobile manufacturers. Ask former employees of these companies who were layed off by the thousands, then tell me that unions saved jobs.

Answer 4

Disapprove. No one in this household is union affiliated.
I cant see making a 3rd party rich on my labor. Unions may have been beneficial in their day. But I dont believe they do much for the common man today.

Answer 5

I think they're good because they help lazy and stupid people keep jobs that they're not qualified to do.
I didn't like working a union shop because it held me back. It takes to long to move up a labor grade.
I'm used to proving my worth and working my way up to top wages in less than a year on a job.
As a foreman I fired many unqualified workers who would have been saved by a union but the business would have gone bankrupt and put the good workers out too.

Answer 6

The problem with labour unions is that they drive up the cost of living for the communities they are in. Whether you are a millionnaire or a pauper, you still have to pay the same prices for groceries, utilities, housing, transportation, etc. Further, they do not create new jobs for new applicants in the community. The "new" jobs when they appear always go to those who have once worked there and been laid off, so it doesn't benefit the unemployed if more union jobs came to town.

Answer 7

In general I disapproave of labor unions. I see the fact that, in some cases, they are necessary, but in most places they are just anouther level of burocracy. As long as Employees and Management can work together under reasonable conditions, their is no need for a labor union. It is only when Management forgets that laborers are people, not just grunts, that a labor union is needed.

Answer 8

In the past, labor unions used to serve a purpose, to protect the workers from unfair employers.

Labor laws did away with the need for unions. But they still exist.

Today, they serve only to demand higher wages for doing less work.

Answer 9

I am a union member and and most of my family belong to the union like anything else out there it has its good points and its bad but in general I approve.

Answer 10

I live in central Wisconsin with alot of manufacturing. I believe Labor Unions help to set wages for proper living standards. There are way too many jobs here that pay way below todays cost of living. Can you honestly support a family on $7.50 per hour, with the cost of living as high as it is today? No way!
I believe Unions help to set such secure wages, so hard working people can live within their means, and support their families.