If you are in a labor union, what are you doing to organize a union for none union workers?

Question

I have been in the labor force for 40 years, and noone ever approached me to organize or join a union. I would have joined. This is why unions atr losing their influence. Also, if you are a Teamster, why did you support Rona;d Reagan, George HW Bush and George W Bush, when they have been the union busting presidents?

Answer 1

Unions have had their value in the past, but nowdays its rare to find a union that is better than the employer.
AA & certain major automakers are the kind of exception though.

If I were union, I would in fact be making a lot less anyway, and would in fact be less secure in benefits & payrate and I make nearly $45/hr. As a software developer.

Now if I were still a Computer OPerator, it might be a different story, but even then I was making double what union operators in a nearby company made.

Answer 2

The Teamsters are smart enough to know that if one party or the other always gets their endorsement, then they are soon taken for granted. As I recall, they also endorsed the candidate that was likely to win -- which was obviously gonna be Reagan and Bush 41 in 80, 84 and 88 -- which no doubt is a very pragmatic concession to reality.

Might I point out that it was a DEM President who pushed thru NAFTA? But I digress.

Here in Michigan, the only function of unions is to negotiate severance packages. Aside from public employees, the big unions are all losing jobs at a very rapid rate. The UAW, for example, used to have more members in Flint, Michigan than they now have got in the entire GM corporation. The Teamsters haven't been the same since Jimmy Hoffa came up missing, causing the Feds to crack down on the Mafia connections.

My brother was a union steward in a shop that got swept up into the Firestone - Bridgestone deal. He could quote chapter and verse of the union contract to his bosses, and being a big mouthy guy, was happy to stand up to the management. Well, that factory is gone, his job is gone, that company is now managed in Japan.

The same goes for the 1400 people that USED to work here in my city for Goodyear, before that closed down. About that time, another union shop took 500 jobs to Korea, mostly to get away from a very nasty union.

So the question is raised, why join a union if all they do is to take money for dues, and spend it for candidates that you don't like (in your case, GOP guys, and in my case, the Dems)????

Answer 3

It is the unions responsibility to organise union membership with it's candidates. Usually when a new employee starts in a workplace, the company will give you an application form to join, but some won't. Employers dont like unions... WHO KNEW?? The shop stewards( teamsters/ union representatives) have the responsibilty to ensure that all employees are aware of union actions/existance and should be openly communicating with you either through personal conversations or notice boards etc etc. Without unions, employers wouldn't be pressured to pay you the wages/salaries you enjoy today. Just take a look at non-union countries like India and compare the rates of pay. there are also numerous benefits to unions, each offering different free services depending on the union. You should find out who your site union rep is and have a chat to them about your concern. Give him/her a rundown of your concern, by the sounds of it, they need replacing or retraining.

Answer 4

My hubby works for Fritto Lay which is a Pepsi Co. He is a teamster & we hate it! We pay alot per week in union dues & never get anything out of it. He make a couple dollars more a hour than non union but our insurance stincks, Also the teamsters have been notorous republicans.