Who here is a member of a union?
 

I am going to apply for a job that I believe highly suggests me to join a union.

Who here has NEGATIVE THINGS to say about working for a union.

Re: Who here is a member of a union?
 

They take money out of my check, that's all I know about my union. I get raises pretty regularly and unexpectedly though because of them...

Re: Who here is a member of a union?
 

Benefits > sacrifices. For electrical work in my area an experienced journeyman might make $25/hr. A journeyman in a union will make $40/hr. Often times they're guaranteed 1st dibs at scale pay jobs so that can be up to $50 or more per hour depending on how the scale is.

Re: Who here is a member of a union?
 

downsides:

no merit based raises
work with shitbags all day long
tendency to become complacent and feel like you are owed something all the time
the shittiest worker makes the same as the hardest worker
work with shitbags all day long

Re: Who here is a member of a union?
 

I used to. Used to even be a Steward for the Teamsters. Wouldn't do it again. I can negociate my own wages.

Its one thing to stand up for someone's rights, but its another to use the entire workforce as leverage against an employer.

There are always other employers. and by a company being unuionized, it makes it much more difficult for an employer to submit competitive bids.

Look at it like this, IF YOU WERE THE EMPLOYER: You obviously went into business to make a living. You decide you need to hire on additional help. So you do. Then one day a mafia like unuion rep comes in and starts making demands on you, because your employees decided they were worth more (may be the case). Now the funds you were putting into growing the business and the living you have made for yourself are going into paychecks and unuion fees. Say you were taking home $200k, now you only take home $100k. Then You start seeing improvements you NEED to make to your business, but cant because you lack the capital. Then one day you realize you could just find another job and make what you do now without the responsibility. So, you try to renegotiate with the unuion, and they refuse so you close the doors. Now, all your employees that HAD a nice living are on the street. and you feel bad, but MONEY IS WHY YOU GO INTO BUSINESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.


Damn, that sounds just like the big 3 right about now. Unuions have had thier day, but they are not needed in todays society.

Re: Who here is a member of a union?
 

In Chicago where unions are huge, most people in trades are in unions. They brag about how little work they do, they go to work take huge brakes in their trucks. They don't get paid days off, they are overpaid when they do work. they get laid off all the time. They make the cost of living very high.

Re: Who here is a member of a union?
 

conceptz, thats exactly my thing. This union thing actually has me somewhat concerned. One of my reasons for leaving the military is im so f-in sick of some dip ---- making decisions for me for various reasons. Not saying I have heard several positive things about being union, such as pay, benefits and the job security (to an extent) but at the same time, I dont know if I want to get back into the micro-managed managed thing.

Re: Who here is a member of a union?
 

I have worked this union job for 8 years now, longer than anything before. Used to change jobs like some people change thier underware! Any way J.H.Christ here has it right.

Re: Who here is a member of a union?
 

As much as I'd love to tell you to do it because you're used to being a government shlub, at the end of the day you've got to get where the gettin' is good. Do it, but never accept the premise.

Re: Who here is a member of a union?
 

What type of job is it? If it is really good pay and such I would go for it. Better to be working then not.