What are the pros and cons of working in a union?

Question

What are the pros and cons/ups and downs of working in a union?

Answer 1

Here's the thing about Unions.

When they started, they were great. They started in the early 1900s due to the unsafe working conditions, low wages, and the basic corruption of manufacturing companies.

Guess what, Unions did their job. There are barely any unsafe working conditions (if there are, call OSHA), wages have gone beyond fair to the point where they are now "unfair" to the companies, and corruption is very easily smelled out due to our communication advances.

I seriously believe that unions started out as a benefit to the American worker but are now a legal form of Mafioso that charge companies unrealistic wages and demand things that are not going to happen just to get paid.

In the current era the sad thing is - all unions do is destroy companies trying to make it. I know this because my sister neglected to join a union for grocery store workers but unfortunately the majority did join the union. That grocery chain is now out of business.

Unions use bully tactics to get people to join. If a union is present at a certain place of business and you do not join, they will threaten you (and I mean threaten your life) to join. When my sister did not join they did everything they could to get her to join. My sister, being the tough chick that she is, did not fold to them and ended up winning since the union destroyed the chain.

Also, unions DO NOT care about their members. There is so much stuff we do not see that goes on behind the scenes. I know a lawyer who is a union rep that told me that all they want (the union) is money. They will negotiate to get union members a 1% raise for the next 20 years, in order to unify the union...what does this mean? It means that the union makes millions of dollars to get you a 1% raise per year...WOW! Thank you for that! In Texas you get at least a 3% a year raise and there are no union fees. All union leaders want to do is make an agreement with the industry, they don't care if you benefit or not, as long as you sign up so they can "represent" you (which means you will be paying union fees of up to $50.00 a month…let’s see 20,000 union members at $50.00 a month – that’s $1,000,000….ONE MILLION… A MONTH!!!! – for a $1.00 a year raise, and the guarantee I won’t get fired…AGAIN, THANK YOU UNION!!!).

In recent times, companies (and entire industries) have been willing to agree to a union workforce because they know all they have to do is guarantee a 1% raise and not to fire anyone. Why would you want to fire someone if they are contractually obligated to accept a 1% raise when the industry standard is 5%?

More and more businesses are moving south, and they have four reasons why:

1)No unions.

2)Less time off for "winter days."

3)Southerners don't feel like they are owed something (I am a converted southerner and realize that the North has a sense of "you owe me.")

4)Lawyers do not get paid as much in the south because unions are less prevalent and less likely to convince the working man they need a union.


So, in conclusion, unions are bad. But, if you choose to join one, that's fine with me. Just realize that your company will soon be moving to Texas and I will be running it.

SEE YOU DOWN HERE Y'ALL!!!

Answer 2

Unions Pros And Cons

Answer 3

The good thing about working in a union is that your job is protected. After the first three months (I think this amount of time varies) it is very hard to get fired :D. You're protected by your union. This is because your employer can fire you for no absolute reason within the three months and you cannot sue or do anything to get your job back. After the 3 motnhs your union backs you up, so to speak. The major downside to being in a union is that you cannot get wages based on how well you work. Everyone starts at the same wage and gets a raise every 500 hours or something. It's not a very big raise (maybe a quarter per hour) but really, unions are mainly good.

Answer 4

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RE:
What are the pros and cons of working in a union?
What are the pros and cons/ups and downs of working in a union?

Answer 5

I'll probably get mod'ed way down for this, but don't forget that a union is a business in itself. The union comes first, then the people it's supposed to represent.

All this extra security and benefits (if any) come at a price too. Job security is a double edged sword because it also means that the people that are under-performers have that same security. Bring down the efficiency of the company, and you bring down the profits. Bring down the profits far enough, and..well all the job security in the world won't help you if the company goes under.

Answer 6

Pro's:
1. Higher than average wages and benefits
2. It is almost impossible to get fired
3. The longer you are at your job the "safer" you are (i.e. most layoffs cut the newest workers, pay raises and promotions are less difficult to obtain, etc)

Con's
1. Dues are outrageous
2. Some unions are very corrupt
3. Some unions are very political and may "represent you" in a way you do not want to be represented

Answer 7

Cons: Not much pay.
Pros: GREAT insurance!

Answer 8

go to your local plumber union Union is the only way to go!!!!!!!!!!!! they should be listed in the yellow pages

Answer 9

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