Are unions a dinosauer of the past regarding their function...?

Question

...today in America? Or, do you believe them to still have a place in a modern society? Do you believe union management is on the level or corrupt? Does the following, "International Brotherhood" sound a little communal/socialistic or of "last century" to you? Last but not least...do you believe that union management should be able to donate monies collected from members dues to support candidates of their choice?

Answer 1

They will try to destroy you. Look at the similarities between (let's just say an International brotherhood and that of the Freemasons.) Do not both feverishly support the ideology of "DEMOCRACY"? Your comment on socialism i believe is honestly not too far off base actually. What's best for the "common" good? Is there any coincidence with the areas of highest home foreclosures and that of having the highest percentage of union workers? Now they are trying to finish off the residential sector and put even more peril upon that of the american ppl. I believe all this is being done to make way for the North American Union. Don't take your frustrations out on the individual members of union organizations. Most as individuals are actually really good ppl not realizing the damage being caused by the very organizations they so support. Just keep in mind most these guys and gals are just trying to make a living for their families. What i would ask of them is to clean their houses up and out(meaning their organizations.) They are pulling some very dirty crap ladies and gentlemen. This i most certainly DO KNOW for sure. Clean House.

Answer 2

It depends on the Union and the workers they are representing. Some professions don't need unions anymore. Some need them drastically. If you are in a Union job and are paid adequately and have benefits, lucky you. Thank the people before you who had the good sense to organize and demand worker parity. And don't think for one moment that if the Unions had not forced Corporations into being equitable that they would have done so voluntarily. If workers had not joined forces we would still be working for fifty cents an hour, living in squalor, and unable to make ends meet. For example, WalMart, which fights union organization tooth and nail, yet makes more money in an hour than any other corporation in the world, still refuses to pay its employees an equitable and living wage or provide adequate benefits to all its employees. Corporations revolve around greed, and unless workers are able to organize and grab a piece of the pie they help to make, they would be perfectly content to let the workers suffer. Corporations consider blue collar workers as warm bodies, nonentities that are easily replaceable. Only through unionizing are blue collar workers able to be compensated for what they are actually worth.
Corporations have done a stellar job in convincing most people that unions are unnecessary. They use scare tactics and blackmail against their workers in order to keep unions out. They have the money and buy enough connections to hoodwink poor people that unions are not in their best interests. They have succeeded in making people believe against their own best interests.
As far as political contributions are concerned, most Unions, before supporting candidates, poll their members to see who has the most support and then support that candidate either with monies or endorsements.

Answer 3

In the US I would say they are a detriment. Now if unions would go to China, India, Mexico, and other places with poor working conditions and do there what they have done in the US. Then those jobs unions are so up in arms about going overseas would be staying here. In fact there might just be some jobs coming back.

NuCor Yamato has a plant in Blytheville AR that makes more steel than Pittsburg did in it's heyday. Toyota and other Japanese firms have plants in the US. But none of them are union. Most have production pay incentives. They have a complete open door policy. If you don't like what you are doing where you are you are free to leave any time. I don't know about other plants, but Blytheville has an extremely low tardy and absentee rate.

Answer 4

There was a time when people worked for one company for their entire adult life until they retired. A lot of times, their children would go to work for the same company too. This was when unions were really needed. They made sure that the employees that were loyal to the company got what they were due.

Now, times have changed. The employees leave the company to seek bigger and better jobs somewhere else. They stay there for a few years, then move on. If they don't like the conditions at one company, they leave for somewhere that is better. Because of this (IMO), the benefits you get from a union has drastically declines.

So to answer your question, yes, unions have become
"dinosaurs". Quality has become a big part of business, and you need the best people to get the best quality. Companies now have to offer better pay and benefits to attract the best people to work for them.

I worked for a couple unions when I was younger (right out of high school). I thought it was great because they made sure I was "taken care of". But now, I've learned that if you get out and the best you can, you can move up a lot quicker and higher than you could if you were part of a union. There is no way I could get to where I am now if I stayed with a union.

Answer 5

Today more than ever they play an important role in assuring working Americans a decent wage, benefits and a represented voice in Washington. With trade agreements gone awry allowing corporate greed to abandon America and its workers, the middle class is in a fight for its life. Don't think for one minute that you would have minimum wage laws, workmen compensation laws, or social security laws if it were not for the pressures that the Unions put on Corporate America back in the beginning days of organization of labor. Whether you have been a union member in your life or not your standard of living has been raised by the Unions maintaining a higher bar. Look at the working conditions and wages in countries that do not have organized and represented labor, do you think for one minute that it would be any different here in America if not for Unions? Even the white collar workforce in industry will tell you that the only reason they were nickles and dimes above the rank and file worker was a result of Union negotiated wages and benefits and the company's perception that management must maintain some disparity.

Answer 6

I've been a member of five different locals over many years.

I remember when the union was for making the boss live up to his promises and to protect the industry that employed it.

Now, Unions try to make employers live up to promises that they didn't make.

They do nothing to protect the industry they are in.

They make collective bargaining agreements that have the performance of the worst worker/member in mind.

The union has become not much more than the most expensive newsletter you'll ever get.

Answer 7

Being a libertarian, I think Unions are redundant and unnecessary, and counter-productive to the American way of life and the American economy.

Here's why: They are redundant because the government is supposed to protect the average American's rights. And that is all that is required to do. If a Union becomes a mob and tries to coerce their collective will upon a business beyond it's rights, then it becomes a legalized mafia, with extortion as the means to get what they want. It will destroy the business by asking more than it is willing to give and beyond it's contractual agreements.

They are counter-productive because they can demand too much from an employer and make the employer go bankrupt, or will be forced to shut down operations for lack of profits. Or, if it is a production job, the business owner will be forced to get cheaper labor elsewhere. If the business owner gets cheaper labor, or is forced to shut down, the Union employees will no longer have jobs. So, it defeats the purpose. America is founded on capitalism, and we became prosperous because of capitalism. If we try to destroy the foundations of capitalism by injecting communist ideals, we as a country will suffer economically and socially. We will go the way of communist countries - eventual destruction or implosion of the economy.

The idea of a 'need' based promotions and raises are communist ideas. You ask for more because you 'need' more, not because you are more productive or more efficient, or more profitable.

The idea of a 'merit' based promotions and raises are capitalist ideas. You get more because you are more productive, efficient, or profitable. You get more based on the results you create.

Answer 8

I think unions are corrupt and useless. And no, these so-called managers should donate to their favorite candidates from their own money. Shoot, I might want Clinton and they're backing McCAin.

Answer 9

Yes, they are. The facts stand that they back the North American Union and the creation of the "Super highway." Very scary that they are selling out the very people that they are "Representing"

Answer 10

There is still a place for them, but they are lagging on adapting to the modern workplace. They want to keep hanging on to the old ways, and all that does is further the decline of traditional American industry.