Do we still need Labor Unions?

Question

Funny. All the heroes of 9-11, the firefighters and police, were union members. Want to tell me how you really feel about their work ethic?

Before unions, people could be worked 10 or more hours a day, 6 days a week, in whatever kind of miserable conditions employers felt like offering. You have unions to thank for 40 hour workweeks, two days off per week, and living wages. Experience has long shown that employees making a living wage contribute tremendously to economic growth, and that employers freed of constraint exploit their employees.

Answer 1

Unions do have a place in America, but unfortunately they have a bad reputation of just taking members dues and lining the pockets of union leadership.
I have worked for companies that took advantage of me for years, because I had no union to prevent it.
For example I was asked to work 50-60 hour weeks but paid for only 40 and considered salaried even though I made very little and had no managerial role.
So I would like to see unions make a come back, but not like the days of Jimmy Hoffa.

Answer 2

I am no expert on this subject but from what I have read it seems as though the unions began to "morph" as the years unfolded. They became so "entrenched" and so powerful that they themselves began exploiting the very people they swore allegiance to. Often failing both the employers and their employees by ignoring current economic realities and forcing "shut downs." All the while barking about..."Union good..Company bad"..throwing stones at the "scabs" who understood all too well the economic realities.....heck..how many of those "scabs" were former Union members i wonder?

Answer 3

Of course we still need labor unions.

If it wasn't for the unions, and the Democrats, we'd still be working 60 hour work weeks and bringing home $7.00 a week.

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Answer 4

No, with the labor laws that we have now, we don't. They were at one time a necessity to improve working conditions, wages, and hours, but not anymore.