Are UNIONS still Neccessary?

Question

It seems like they destroy everything they touch; Public Education, The American Auto Industry, Textiles & Manufacturing jobs.

The number one job of a Union is to protect bad employees from being fired. How is that good for any organization?

If you are a slacker, it makes sense that you would want to join a union - but are they good for America?

(Penelope Disclaimer – I never, I mean NEVER report anyone for abuse or violations so feel free to say what you want. Unlike Yahoo Answers, I am for free speech.)

Answer 1

good point - Unions are for Slackers who demand high pay, great benefits, good vacations, and a plush retirement plan.

who are the politicians who still support unions ? Republicans or Democrats ?

Big exceptions to the rule are - Fire Fighters, Police, and Teachers. Those good people would never get proper cost of living raises if their unions didn't fight for them. But that's because local governments are always trying to screw them out of what they deserve.

Answer 2

Are Unions still neccessary?

There are jobs that need to be done that one will not get rich from. Police, Firefighter, teacher, construction worker, car maker, etc.

The number one job of a union is to provide good working conditions for the employees. Not to protect bad employees from being fired.

Without Unions, you would not have the benefits, days off or even a decent livable wage.

More and more employers:

. demand more of the employees time without further compensation

. provide less benefits to do the job

. fire people for personal reasons having nothing to do with the job.

. promote people based on personal reasons having nothing to do with the job.

. discriminate, despite laws.

You also have to keep in mind that a collective bargained agreement between the workers and the employer is agreed by both parties.

If the American Auto industry is going downhill, it's not because of the Unions. It's because nobody is buying American cars.


Yes there are corrupt Unions. There are also corrupt Corporations.

Answer 3

Its not like the late 1800s and early 1900s where people get paid a $1 a day in dangerous job positions. Some countries are like that today. Take a look in Africa, some in Asia, and some in South America. Most unions are filled with a lot of greedy people who wants more. For some or perhaps most comapanies, they could not afford to pay the salaries so the only choice is to fire or go bankrupted. Unions are only needed when a company takes extreme actions like hiring more high school drop outs instead of college educated people or cutting skilled jobs (accountant for an example) salaries to minimum wage. These situation I just stated are very rare. We are in a good country with generous companies. I dont think Unions would do any good in preventing Lazzie-fare economics anyways.

Answer 4

While I'm somewhat anti-union, I do believe that the idea of the union is good. Workers gained their rights because of unions, however their growth, power, and bullying tactics turn some unions into oppressive machines that take more from business and education than the members put into it.

There has to be some sort of regulation on unions just as there exist for business. Unions are supposed to be a friend to the worker and should be a friend to business as well because without the business, there will be no worker and therefore no union.

Answer 5

No they are not, I have never liked unions and I had to join one in the past.

I agree they keep bad employees employed and managements hands are tied when it comes to disciplining employees. I have no problem going into managements office by myself and taking my butt chewing or write up if I screw up. I don't need a union rep to stand there and do nothing.

Unions were fine until the 70's then when hi-tech started taking over and production jobs declined and corporations hire and fire on merit as opposed to union rules.

Answer 6

Unions are not destroying these industries the industries are collapsing on themselves Unions are very vital in the industries and keep a lot of jobs in American hands some unions are not really good for certain things but they protect workers rights and they may keep bad employed from being fired but they also keep a lot of people from being homeless and with out jobs some of the unions keep some industries from going completely automated and they would put 10's of thousands of people out of jobs.

the modern unions are failing because of slackers a union only works if everyone in the union is united. So the slackers the join the union usually don't support everyone else and it will end up screwing the union over and the union will let those people go so things normally work out in the end.

Unions also keep wages at a decent rate so the employees aren't undercut and lose money its why alot of industries need it.

Answer 7

I agree with your observation. I can't name a union that isn't corrupt. On the other hand, the employment contract that my boss tried to force down my throat amounted to indentured servitude. The little turd imports Chinese engineers on H1B visas and regularly forces them to work 16 hour days. One guy told me he worked till midnight and wasn't allowed to even take a break to feed himself. He asked me not to say anything because he didn't want to be sent back to China. The only thing that saves me is being the token white guy.

The solution that exists today in the form of unions is not working well, but that doesn't mean the problem no longer exists. Market forces have worked well so far in my field, but employers are working furiously to import or outsource to cheap labor to the point where people with 4 and 8 year degrees work just above the poverty level.

With unions, the pendulum has swung too far, but I promise you, without them the pendulum will slam back the other direction so fast it'll make your head spin.

Answer 8

Not if the Democrats get their way. Big government and the Nanny state will take care of all our needs. The Union would have little power.

Yet if the Union dues start going directly to the DNC....

Answer 9

unions are not necessary, god i am with you on this teachers union thing (statistically the longer a student stays in the american public educational system the worse he does relative to other countries) but its no use trying to pry liberals away from their cushiony jobs....they were necessary when orignally implimented, but like all things, once they got too much power they became corrupt and greedy...bastards (i love hearing form a femal con)

Answer 10

No and this is why the left protects them so they both retain power.
Unions take money from their members and give it to the Democrats and make it very hard for the members to give this to Republicans. Sound like Communism it is. And the unions members are not smart enough to be rib of these communist

Answer 11

Yes they are needed.

And not its not Unions that destroy everything they touch, its corporate greed and Republicans.

Public Education ruined by Every Child Left Behind.

American Auto Industry ruined by CEOs who couldn't budget for pensions yet chose to take home million dollar bonuses.

Textiles & Manufacturing jobs shipped to China and Mexico.

The number one job for the Union is to ensure fair pay and working conditions.

If you are an idiot then only can you think that they are not good for America.