Are unions good or bad?

Question

The street in front my apartment has a huge hole, the street people have been fixing the pipes for like 2 years now. I know people are Unionized because they didn't get fair treatment in the past, but come on, 2 years 2 fix a pipe???

If everyone had a job that they couldn't get fired from whats the motivation to keep their job?

Answer 1

Unions are good in theory, an organization looking out for the rights of workers making sure they don't get taken advantage of. But in reality they are very bad. Like you said, union workers are lazier because they know they can't get fired easily, but they also cripple business and are usually corupt.

Answer 2

It varies. And if you go back in history, 100 years ago or more, when laborers were little more than slaves, when business owners could pay as little as they could, when workers had to work 6, 7 days a week, maybe 12 hours a day or more in factories, things the unions came up with like 40 hour work weeks, 5 day work weeks, minimum wages, things like that were a godsend. Anybody in America, union or not, should be grateful for how the unions helped the everyday workers.



But in later years, or maybe even pretty soon after being in existence, unions got to be more like the people and organizations they fought against. Charging huge labor union dues, getting deeply involved in politics, etc. Many labor unions have been headed by people who were actually criminals, the most notorious being the no doubt' Late', Jimmy Hoffa.



They are still doing good, seeing to it that with or without government plans the workers in their unions have good (usually) health coverage, pensions, and decent working conditions. But corrupt and greedy unions often cause the unions to be seen as bad, no matter how much good they might do, too.

Answer 3

The answer is yes. The unions have done much to improve the lives of the working class, but in the process they have made it much harder for manufacturers in the USA to compete with other countries. The problems with the auto industry in this country is a perfect example. Even the cars made by foreign owned companies build in the USA have an unfair advantage because they are not union shops and are not saddled with the expenses our own companies have to bear.

Answer 4

Unions are a good thing. 20 years ago most places had a union but hardley any now and believe me I wish us carers had one along with a load of other professions. We're exploited beyond belief but have nobody backing us up or fighting for us. Employers get away with murder these days. We're not even on the minimum wage for god sake!

Answer 5

Carusel said:



'If you are being victimized and you are not in a union, then you stand no chance.'



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Absolutely correct. MOST American workers operate under EMPLOYEE at WILL laws; For example, workers can actually, legally, be fired with no reason given at all. MANY people think company handbooks are contractually legal...THEY ARE NOT, and in fact a company is legally free to ignore it's own 'Rules' if it wants. In reality, the average American worker has very few rights vis-s-vis employer/corporation rights.



OF COURSE, anybody can pretty much sue for anything in America, but the reality is it costs a small fortune and the average person can't afford it, unless their lawyers will operate on a contingency fee basis (you only pay legal fees if you win). Employers, especially larger companies,corporations, clearly have the upper hand.



Some exceptions to the above would be anything involving alleged bias (racial, gender, religious, in some places sexual orientation discrimination). But even then, this is very hard to prove/prosecute, but an accused employer will often settle out of court to avoid exorbitant legal fees and bad publicity. This is why most companies,employers are wary regarding firing/terminating 'Protected' class of workers like 'Minorities', females, etc.,



MOST peoples only real protection from unfair termination, and other abuse, is found in contractual agreements and the kind of binding arbitration unions provide the typical, average worker in America.



Of course abuse occurs in unions as it does on a regular basis in management.



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Organizations,institutions with a vested FINANCIAL interests in demonizing unions unfairly in America will always connect unions with the far left, and the argument quickly degenerates into a argument over 'Culture' and things that have nothing to do with employer/employee rights and obligations in a decent society. It's unfortunate the leadership of some unions align themselves with groups/organizations that have little to do with the best interests of their members and more to do with political ideology.

Answer 6

I was a union rep. I never advocated strike action, but I did the very best for my members. I have threatened industrial action because there were cases of victimisation. If you are being victimised and you are not in a union, then you stand no chance. Unions who act responsibly are a valued institution.

Answer 7

Unions run Philly, so here they are bad.

Answer 8

most UNION bodies are also a business entity. So, its business

Answer 9

I've seen it go both ways

Answer 10

Good in theory. Bad in practices.

Answer 11

Onions are indeed very bad. They make your eyes water.