Do unions help or hurt workers today?

Home Archive Politics Do unions help or hurt workers today?
password's avatar

password

Senior Member

2,360 posts
Apr 20, 2011 1:23 AM
With all the anti union laws being approved by the politicians, Do you think that it is a bad time to be part of a union. I seen on the news the other day that even workers are starting to get disgusted with their own unions, they show a video of a union steelworker burning a proposed contract at a union meeting where the international was giving a speech to try and convince their workers to approve the contract.

Is it worth paying union dues in todays economic times or are you better off keeping your money and using it for your necessities?

http://www.wtov9.com/news/27584544/detail.html
Apr 20, 2011 1:23am
dwccrew's avatar

dwccrew

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Apr 20, 2011 1:34 AM
As someone who has been a part of more than one union in the past, I say unions hurt more than they help. Laws are now in place to protect workers. Unions don't provide the protection they claim they do. They only protect bad workers. So if you are a bad worker, then you would be in favor of the union. This is my opinion and experience with multiple unions, can't speak for all of them.
Apr 20, 2011 1:34am
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Apr 20, 2011 1:38 AM
Depends on the union/industry/area/etc.

So... maybe. :)
Apr 20, 2011 1:38am
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

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Apr 20, 2011 2:04 AM
The do both in my opinion.
Apr 20, 2011 2:04am
derek bomar's avatar

derek bomar

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Apr 20, 2011 7:26 AM
poli forum?
Apr 20, 2011 7:26am
Heelz's avatar

Heelz

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780 posts
Apr 20, 2011 8:05 AM
dwccrew;745666 wrote:As someone who has been a part of more than one union in the past, I say unions hurt more than they help. Laws are now in place to protect workers. Unions don't provide the protection they claim they do. They only protect bad workers. So if you are a bad worker, then you would be in favor of the union. This is my opinion and experience with multiple unions, can't speak for all of them.

This. When I worked construction we did not have a union shop and if you wanted a raise or to keep your job you showed up everyday and worked your ass off. We did some pretty big projects and alot of the other companies were unions and they were some of the laziest mofo's I had ever seen.
Maybe when 12 yr olds were working 12 hr days in horrible conditions for $2 a day they were needed but not today.
Apr 20, 2011 8:05am
iclfan2's avatar

iclfan2

Reppin' the 330/216/843

6,360 posts
Apr 20, 2011 8:10 AM
I think it obviously helps the workers because they can work less, and less well, yet still be paid the same. It hurts the Company's that MUST hire union members (gov. contracts) and it hurts the good workers who should be paid more and don't need to waste their hard earned cash on union dues. I worked roofing in Y-town for 2 summers, and the laziness and lack of effort was absurd. It was a private Company but since they roofed things like schools and the Covelli center, they were forced to use a certain amount of union workers. It provides an atmosphere where you don't need to try hard to get a raise, keep your job, etc.
Apr 20, 2011 8:10am
CenterBHSFan's avatar

CenterBHSFan

333 - I'm only half evil

6,115 posts
Apr 20, 2011 8:20 AM
I think that this is an area that is as close to being a 50/50 situation as you can possibly get. Some industries are more lopsided, but overall I think they can hurt you as much as they can help you.
Apr 20, 2011 8:20am
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

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Apr 20, 2011 8:35 AM
If you want to work less, not as hard, give a organization part of your pay check, give up your freedom to choice, kiss as, have little voice, gather wood and 50 gallon drums for someone else to get a job as the Union management keep warm and collect your money for their salaries…. Unions are great

If you want to work hard, use your skills to improve your advancement and with dedication and learning be somebody you're proud to be.... Unions are hurting ..you, America and the business that employs more that just you..
Apr 20, 2011 8:35am
coyotes22's avatar

coyotes22

Go Tigers

11,298 posts
Apr 20, 2011 8:52 AM
Belly35;745744 wrote:If you want to work less, not as hard, give a organization part of your pay check, give up your freedom to choice, kiss as, have little voice, gather wood and 50 gallon drums for someone else to get a job as the Union management keep warm and collect your money for their salaries…. Unions are great

If you want to work hard, use your skills to improve your advancement and with dedication and learning be somebody you're proud to be.... Unions are hurting ..you, America and the business that employs more that just you..
This,,,, ALL THIS!!

/thread
Apr 20, 2011 8:52am
T

Tiernan

Senior Member

13,021 posts
Apr 20, 2011 9:01 AM
Started by Communists in the 20s, Unions once had a place in America. That America is long gone along with the jobs Unions played a huge part in eliminating. Ask employees at Honda - OH or Toyota - KY who once worked UAW jobs elsewhere...they will tell you how much better their current lives are w/o Union interference. Teachers and Public Service employees need to wake up.
Apr 20, 2011 9:01am
Writerbuckeye's avatar

Writerbuckeye

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Apr 20, 2011 10:42 AM
Tiernan;745757 wrote:Started by Communists in the 20s, Unions once had a place in America. That America is long gone along with the jobs Unions played a huge part in eliminating. Ask employees at Honda - OH or Toyota - KY who once worked UAW jobs elsewhere...they will tell you how much better their current lives are w/o Union interference. Teachers and Public Service employees need to wake up.

They also need to calm down and give change a chance to work.
Apr 20, 2011 10:42am
Thread Bomber's avatar

Thread Bomber

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Apr 20, 2011 11:17 AM
The only things worse than being a union worker today

1. Dem/Liberal

2. Muslim
Apr 20, 2011 11:17am
password's avatar

password

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Apr 20, 2011 11:31 AM
They seem desperate for membership dues as you are seeing them trying to organize workers at companies that have no problems and treat their workers good. You see unions that represent industries such as Steelworkers, Teamsters, Construction workers trying to convince workers in non related fields such as nursing home workers and other low paying fields to join their union and pay dues with the promise of better working conditions and job security. The only ones getting better job security is the union officials while the workers are made to pay dues for representation that was never needed. I can't understand how people can pay dues and then have a union decide who they are going to endorse come election time and just donate everyones union dues to that politician with out the input of their workers. We have a couple of union workers that come into our businesses and they seem to always be complaining about their unions with all the favoritism that goes on toward some workers even at the expense of other union members, then they complain that their unions are basically in bed with the companies, so why have a union.
Apr 20, 2011 11:31am
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

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9,716 posts
Apr 20, 2011 11:43 AM
Thread Bomber;745835 wrote:The only things worse than being a union worker today

1. Dem/Liberal

2. Muslim

3. Obama


Correction
Apr 20, 2011 11:43am
Q

queencitybuckeye

Senior Member

7,117 posts
Apr 20, 2011 11:58 AM
In my (fortunately) limited experience, the unions I've dealt with appeared to have one goal, enriching the union to the maximum degree possible. Any effect on the membership, positive or negative, appeared to be coincidental.
Apr 20, 2011 11:58am
B

Bigdogg

Senior Member

1,429 posts
Apr 20, 2011 12:07 PM
Well do not want to disappoint anyone so I will cast my vote as helping. Remember there are all kinds of unions not just the major ones you are all hear about. Just like everything else in life there are good ones, and bad ones. If you belong to a bad one de-certify and find a better one. I will say if you treat your employees fairly like Honda as a good example, then you don't need a union. I support a worker's right to choose for themselves. That's a concept that only gets lip services by the wight wing nuts and Tea baggers that regularly post on here.
Apr 20, 2011 12:07pm
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

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9,716 posts
Apr 20, 2011 12:53 PM
UNION label puts Entitlements on the table

Apr 20, 2011 12:53pm
Thread Bomber's avatar

Thread Bomber

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Apr 20, 2011 1:05 PM
Belly35;745856 wrote:Correction
My appologies... I thought the POTUS was a given. :)
Apr 20, 2011 1:05pm
Writerbuckeye's avatar

Writerbuckeye

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Apr 20, 2011 1:10 PM
Bigdogg;745876 wrote:Well do not want to disappoint anyone so I will cast my vote as helping. Remember there are all kinds of unions not just the major ones you are all hear about. Just like everything else in life there are good ones, and bad ones. If you belong to a bad one de-certify and find a better one. I will say if you treat your employees fairly like Honda as a good example, then you don't need a union. I support a worker right to choose for themselves. That a concept that only gets lip services by the wight wing nuts and Tea baggers that regularly post on here.

What a bald faced lie.

You nor any union backer would EVER agree to making it a law that any union member has the right to choose whether to join the union with no consequences, and nobody is forced to give a "fair share" payment if they don't want to.

If unions weren't forced on you the way they are now, I'd have no problem with them. When I first joined the state workforce, I had NO CHOICE on whether I was going to give the union money or not. It was either join and pay or pay "fair share" and pay.

Change that rule and give union members a real choice, and I still won't like unions, but I'd respect them a helluva lot more than I do now.
Apr 20, 2011 1:10pm
Glory Days's avatar

Glory Days

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Apr 20, 2011 1:48 PM
Belly35;745744 wrote:If you want to work less, not as hard, give a organization part of your pay check, give up your freedom to choice, kiss as, have little voice, gather wood and 50 gallon drums for someone else to get a job as the Union management keep warm and collect your money for their salaries…. Unions are great

If you want to work hard, use your skills to improve your advancement and with dedication and learning be somebody you're proud to be.... Unions are hurting ..you, America and the business that employs more that just you..
i know plenty of lazy non union workers.
Writerbuckeye;745817 wrote:They also need to calm down and give change a chance to work.

Then let THEM make the change, not "you".
Apr 20, 2011 1:48pm
believer's avatar

believer

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Apr 20, 2011 4:45 PM
Glory Days;745983 wrote:i know plenty of lazy non union workers.
And they don't last long in a non-union shop.
Apr 20, 2011 4:45pm
Glory Days's avatar

Glory Days

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Apr 21, 2011 7:10 AM
believer;746143 wrote:And they don't last long in a non-union shop.

unless its the "good ole boy" system. and not all lazy union workers last either.
Apr 21, 2011 7:10am
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

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Apr 21, 2011 8:53 AM
Glory Days;746824 wrote:unless its the "good ole boy" system. and not all lazy union workers last either.
Let’s put this in perspective:

Good ole boy … get the fuck out … “you’re fired” .. end of situation

Union …. Get the fuck out “you’re fired” … lawyers, law sues, (if minority naacp), legal documents up the ass, work stoppage, vandalism, investigations, hours of meetings, time wasted and delays and potentially years of court appointment hearings.
Apr 21, 2011 8:53am
CenterBHSFan's avatar

CenterBHSFan

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Apr 21, 2011 9:01 AM
Since there wasn't a 3rd option for a little bit of both, I just voted for "hurt".
Apr 21, 2011 9:01am