Should we get rid of all unions in the United States?

Answer 1

yeah, who cares about workers rights, liveable wages, overtime, and reasonable hours. Unions may not be perfect, but we have a debt of gratitude owed to them for forging the way so that people aren't lynched by mangers and forced into dangerous working conditions.

China is beginning to unionize because people are being exploited terribly. I am sure in 100 years some ignorant chinese people will say "what good are these unions," but only after people have manageable work hours and benefits...

Answer 2

We should not get rid of all unions in the U.S. Many unions still provide a great deal of benefit to the workers they represent. Of course, some union leaders, just like some managers, politicians, lawyers, law enforcement personel, clergymen (or women) and many other people who attain some measure of power, are driven more by personal enrichment rather than using the power granted them to benefit the people who gave them that power. And of course, we hear most about these people when they end up on the news after having done something really stupid or illegal (like corporate CEOs who live lavish lifestyles by raiding the corporate coffers, or clergymen who turn out to be pedofiles). The fact is, though we hear these horror stories, the majority of people in these positions are assigned duties, they perform them professionally, and they perform them well.

Union leaders are often the scapegoats for why corporate America is sending all of the jobs overseas, but they are really only one piece of the pie. Corporate profiteering, availability of natural resources, reduced government regulation, and incentives offered by foriegn governments all contribute. And that list is not exhaustive.

Unions provide a service to people they represent, though sometimes the benefits of that service can be buried under egos, legal wrangling, and media mud-slinging.

Not all industries that need union representation have it, and this is one of the drepressing aspects of modern unions. Of course, on the other side of the coin, there are some industries which are overly burdened with union representation, and it can hurt the workers in the end.

There is a big debate these days about the direction that unions should be taking for the benefit of their members. Should unions spend time and effort lobbying the lawmakers in order to increase their power so as to improve conditions for their current members (and fill the union coffers), or should they focus on increasing their numbers, and in so doing, increase their negotiating power with lawmakers, and management.

Many people feel that a large number of underpaid, and overlooked workers are being neglected by unions these days, as unions see benefit in representing a small number of highly paid, highly skilled workers. Why represent 5000 tomato pickers who make 8,000 dollars a year and are able to pay 80 dollars in union dues yearly, when you can represent 1000 airline pilots who earn 120,000, and are able to pay 1200 dollars per year in union dues.

This is one of the big problems with some unions these days.

Answer 3

Whether pro or con on the issue of unions, the answer is no. The freedom of association is a basic right of our Constitution. the question strikes at the base of our society.

Answer 4

Some might think they raise the bar of competion. Others might think they don't have the consumer in mind at all, and are only looking out for themselfs. Could we live without unions? I don't know that answer.

Answer 5

We should get rid of unions on the same day we quit seeing COE pay rise while worker pay remains status quo.

Answer 6

YES!

Answer 7

what good are they?