What are the disadvantages of having a union shop?

Answer 1

I think unions were formed back then to protect the workers from being taken advantage of by the companies. Now we have minimum wage laws and OSHA which protects us from a dangerous working environment.

Some disadvantages of having a union shop were mentioned earlier such as the union leaders not having the same interests as the workers or the company. Another disadvantage is that if there is a disagreement and the workers go on strike, the company will suffer. Employees who do choose to work instead of going on strike will be ostracized by other co-workers. A unionized worker does tend to get higher pay but part of that higher pay goes to pay union dues.

Answer 2

Unions have their place in a few industries still, mostly where hazardous conditions are the daily fare...like coal mining, oil rig work offshore,and so forth. Conditions for most factory -type jobs don't cry out for the type of improvements that were once lacking...The real danger lurking out there right now are Public Employee Unions; primarily because of the lopsided tilt these unions show towards favoring one political party over the other. When you think about it how can political candidates run on a platform of reducing the size of government when the dues collected from the union line the pockets of these candidates. And for someone in the "wrong" political party joining one of these unions is literally the same thing as paying hundreds of dollars a year to vote for a person you do not want in office. Union shops primarily raise liability costs for the employer, and reduced benefits in the long run for the employee. There is enough regulation to keep you honest without having to go Union.

Answer 3

Sometimes the interests of the union leadership are not aligned with your interests.

Also, in the union shops I have worked in, the rewards went to those who were chummy with union leaders, slackers, and those who worked to game the system, not necessarily the best and most productive workers.

Answer 4

You pay union dues (and realize that some of your co-workers are shop stewards getting paid for union activities on the job site not for doing real work).