Do unions have a place in the US current society - and explain why or why not?
442444
Yes, unions have a vital place in US current society as proven by modern and ancient history. In any society the largest number of people are the working class. This group is made up of those who must work to provide for food, shelter and clothing for themselves and their families. In any society people without large amounts of money lack bargaining power and standing alone they do not have access to meet their needs in a crises. They live at the mercy of those in power. By standing together in a unified manner, the whole is greater then the separate and this gives them bargaining power to provide for individual needs such as fair compensation for a fair amount of work.
1137674
Workers unions are like bad marriages that you can't get out of. Besides these days if you go to talking union crap, most manufacturers will out source. It is that easy. Some people should be greatful that they have jobs, if you don't like the way a business is run...quit.
786212
I think belonging to community groups actually serves the purpose of reuniting people just as the climate for social cohesiveness since the Industrial Revolution is at the height of fragmentation.\n\nBut yes, they do serve both functions.  As far as political organizations I personally feel that we'd be better served with an Israeli type cabinet where people get together on key issues but otherwise think for themselves; but nonetheless I think political involvement is a good thing.\n\nAs for Unions, I was a union rep and did it to prevent management from gaining the upper hand and punishing people at whim. As a union rep and also as a member of a fraternal organization I did feel I made a difference.\n\nI think, however, that in a perfect world none of this would be necessary because people would be following the Golden Rule and doing good things as individuals instead of under the banner of official organizations to achieve that.
10250
Well, you dont have to join the union.  But, if the job you have requires you to be in the union then you have to stay in the union or lose your job.  The thing is, some jobs, like construction, you need to be in the union if you are working on government projects.  If you are not in a union, then you cannot be at the jobsite whatsoever.  See, if your company has a contract to push only union workers in there, then your boss can fire you if you dont want to stay in the union.  Thats because you cannot work for him then.  And he will be paying for your health benefits when you produce no money for him.  BUT, if its a job where you are NOT REQUIRED to be in the union, then you can say you dont want to be in the union anymore, and your boss has to accept your decision, and cannot fire you.  See, only 8% of the work force join the union.  The majority that do are older people who cannot lose their job because of family reasons.  But, whether in the union or not, if you work at the same job doing the same thing, your boss is required by law to give you the same benefits and pay just like everybody else.  So, thats the reason why alot of people dont join unions unless they are required to for the job.  Why join when everything else is the same?  The only difference is that you have to pay to be in the union.  See?  Its not worth it alot of times.  Just find out if your boss is required to push only union workers in.  Thats all you need to know.  And if hes not required, then tell him that you dont want union anymore, and he cant do anything about it.  But, if hes required, then you can either stay or leave, depending if you want union or not.
598884
I think they're a necessary evil. NECESSARY, because many employers, if unchecked, would exploit their employees. This is what led to the formation of unions in the first place. Greedy individuals who will make a profit at any cost and not recognize the labor force. \n\nAn EVIL because they can interfere with the freedom of employer to do as they will with their business. And, after all, unions are also run by men who themselves can be greedy and make unreasonable demands on employers.\n\nIn an ideal world, employers would pay fair wages to their employees and there would be no need for union. An honest day's pay for an honest day's work.
849471
A union represents all people within a "bargaining unit."  The bargaining unit is decided by the union and can be challenged in court by an employer.  It doesn't matter whether you pay dues or not if you are covered by an established bargaining unit--the union must represent you as it would any dues-paying member.  In reality, of course, union officials may not want to spend a lot of $ on a case representing someone who chose not to be a member and who does not want to be in the union, but legally, that should not matter.\n\nA member must be represented by the union.  Whether you pay dues or not, the union does not have unlimited funds, so they often must choose which cases to pursue and which not to.  When they don't pursue a case, they sometimes end up being sued by the member who wanted the union to sue on his/her behalf.
1152705
==============================================\n\nAlthough I spent many years within a Union, I once thought that\nthe time had come for things to change.  I stupidly thought that\nwe could do without Unions.  BUT .. I was wrong.  Here's why .....\n\nCase in point .. just recently I was advised that one of the Big 3\nhad stressed to all it's part suppliers that it now preferred to have\nall parts come from "Non-Union" plants.  It's an outright attempt\nto force parts plants to shift their work to other places if currently\nbeing made in a Union represented plant.  And the sad thing ... \nIT'S WORKING !!  \n\nPeople without knowledge have belly-ached and complained that\ncars were so expensive due to the UNION.  When, in reality, the\ncost of a vehicle has very very little percentage attributed to the\nwages paid to workers.  The discounts are a lot more than the\nwage amount attributed to that vehicle.  But, as long as people\nhave no clue ... the car companies can pass the buck as to the\n'real' reason a vehicle is priced like it is.\n\nThere is a NEW movement within Manufacturing today.  I know,\nI'm still connected.  Now is the time for a lot closer look at the\nUnion and what it has to offer.\n\nDisclaimer: The Local is only as good as the leadership that\nis elected to run it. \n\nSo, now, I've changed my mind about the need for Unions.  I think\nthey are just as much needed today .... if not more so ... than for\nmore than wages.  \n\n==============================================
253903
Your question assumes that unions have a lot of power. How do you justify this assumption, especially in the current economic environment?  Unionized workers fear outsourcing, benefit cuts, lay-offs and shrinking membership roles. Where's the power?
408645
My friends, it is solidarity of labor we want. We do not want to find fault with each other, but to solidify our forces and say to each other: "We must be together; our masters are joined together and we must do the same thing."\n\nMother Jones
102752
Although labor unions are flawed, they are the employees only defense against cooperate America.  With out labor unions all employees would be without health coverage and decent wages.  Check out Wal-Mart and this site. http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/qpqhf4s1qcIn/.
711643
Oh please.  Of course GM (or Ford/Chrysler/Lear/Dura/Dana/Tower/etc, etc) closing plants have a lot to do with the unions.\n\nUnion workers don't like to hear this, but NO company can afford to pay workers for the REST OF THEIR LIVES and stay in business.  Our government unions will find this out soon enough.  The wages & benefits of the UAW workers have been so out of whack with reality and the actual value of their skills, that the only way any of these companies can ever hope to stay in business is to trim their staffs.\n\nThe same EXACT thing was happening in the early 80's, the Big 3 had the chance then to fix this and they chose to do the easy thing and allow the unions to demand ever increasing wages and benefits, even as costs went through the roof, yet the prices of the vehicles could not keep up.\n\nIn the 90's the decision was made to screw over their American venders/suppliers in order to save money, yet they continued to give more & more to the unions to keep them from striking.  They managed to run nearly EVERY other American manufacturing job out of the country, and now the chicken is finally coming home to roost.\n\nFunny, if you run your suppliers out of business, then the people who used to have good jobs (and trust me, they were not near as good as the Big 3's workers had) can no longer AFFORD to buy your cars.  Your production slows, you lay off/fire workers and the big cycle of the demise of the American manufacturer is on.\n\nAll I can say to the affected UAW workers, is I AM sorry for your plight, but you should have used your free education opportunity for just this reason. \n\nOh yeah, & welcome to the real world.
102908
Thats the problem with non union. (don't get me wrong...I am not for Unions in general) Yes, they can. Something simular happened to me at my job. Now, you could organize a 'strike' if everyone is in favor. The owners will take notice and might make a change. If you could get everyone together to complain you have a better chance to change it back. \n\nPower in numbers.
1072294
No, they're organizations representing a subset of the labor market. (ie: Ironworkers, carpenters, etc.) that formed as a result of an industry abusing their workers due to the lack of protective laws, and oversight by the government. They CAN be bullies themselves, but unions were responsible for creating benefits, and fair wages for their constituency. Too, take the lack of safety regulations, and enforcement in our history.  Before, conditions in many jobs were tantamount to murder. People dying on a weekly basis were common before osha came into being.
489225
Unfortunately, there is steep competition for the good paying easy jobs, or they aren't good paying, or easy...\n\nThink about working for the government.  Union influence is so strong in some government positions, that you can benefit nearly to the point of corruption.\n\nThe union will defend an employees' laziness, incompetence, and inadequacy as long as possible.  And those types of positions will pay much more than the light workload suggests.\n\nThese jobs provide an enviroment that is wonderful for someone who is actually skilled and works diligently.  Pay is good to great, and the benefits are amazing.
61406
Unions have a noble goal.  It is to represent employees that have been subjected to bad treatment and negotiate a better working environment.  It has changed with time.  They now just negotiate for pay and benefits.  In the past, they were responsible to get safer working condition and normal working hours for its employees.  Some companies used to have their employees work long hours and paid their employees for the day and not the hours.  There were limited laws on working conditions and working hours.  There was no overtime pay.\n\nUnions have served to make it safer for employees around the work.  Unions can also go overboard.  One example is the health benefits that GM employees have, it became so burdensome on GM that they are losing money.  Some unions have made the companies that they work overburdened with expenses and not competitive.
587756
The union believes that it can extort resources from a company.  It plays off of people's emotions but doesn't address true economics.  Below is link to their web site, encouraging teachers to instruct our children to become good socialists.\n\nIn spite of the automotive industry, the airline industry, the steel industry, the failed school system(teacher's union), people still believe that a union is the way to go.
1110738
Absolutely NOT!  An employer should decide pay raises and benefits based on merit, job performance or evaluation of that individual.\n\nUnions do more harm than good for the company.  And most companies all the way from retail to big business offers very competitive salaries and benefit packages anyway. \n\nYou are talking about an organization form years ago when employees, both adult and children were over worked and paid very little.  It's no longer like that.  \n\nMajor transportation can come to a stand still due to "unions" wanting more benefits for the employees as a whole?  Thus putting the operation of a public utility or service in  the hands of the Unions instead of the Company.  It harms us all as a society that requires the use of public transit systems and airplanes.\n\nEven truck drivers will stop the flow of retail and food delivery.  Which can stop thousands of company's across the US and the world from providing us as the consumer with our daily needs.\n\nNext time you go to catch a plane to visit a family member and see that big "ON STRIKE" sign?  Or you live in New York and wake up one morning for your commute? \n\nAsk yourself THIS question, why does such an antiquated organization as a "Union" still exist?