Labor unions: what reforms are needed, IF ANY ?

[steve2470]

Note: Before you chastise me, please know that I am an ardent supporter of unions. Unions protect working people and have benefited this country over the years. Are any reforms needed, or are all necessary laws/regulations already in place ? I am ignorant on this topic, so I'm going to sit back and read. Thank you kindly in advance.

[Recursion]

1. Two-tier contracts need to go away

The hall-style unions need to offer perpetually open books (incl. fees for training if necessary)

The larger problem is that we're facing a post-industrial service economy with a mid-industrial union structure, and the AFL-style of organization doesn't work as well with service industries (the Teamsters have something closer to what works with service industries).

[Sherman A1]

3. Very good points

I agree that the 2 or 3 tier system should go away. We also need more Union density which required all of us doing a better job at selling the Union ideas and goals.

[Basic LA]

2. Biggest complaint

As a bargaining unit employee in a large 3-shift aerospace plant, the most common gripe we would hear from management is that the union did nothing but protect the biggest goof-offs. I have to admit that this often seemed true. And I still wonder if we should have done more to counter this perception, so that unions can somehow insure high-quality work, without becoming a "company rubber stamp."

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. They seem to be ez to buy off.

Let's look at the the Tony Boyle-Jock Yablonski model as a prototype.(UMW)

Lots of people go INTO union activity so they can get special treatment from the boss.

And that's exactly what they get.

The special treatment comes with strings.

And at the expense of *someone*. No?

[former9thward]

5. They need to be more democratic.

Only a very few unions practice real democracy. By that I mean in election of national leadership by the rank and file. Only two major unions that I am aware of do this. The Steelworkers and the Mine Workers (no coincidence since both of those unions had a common origin). Most unions elect national leadership at conventions where the attendees are hand-picked by the leadership. So guess who gets elected?

That reform is needed as well as giving young people leadership positions. Most national leaders of unions are old and white. Does not inspire a lot of people to join.

[pampango]

6. In the long run Taft-Hartley has to go. No progressive country has 'right-to-work' states competing

with union states. It is difficult to maintain strong unions when a company can move a few miles, maintain the same legal protections and transportation network, and do business without a union.

[meow2u3]

7. A-freakin'-men!

Repealing the Taft-Hartley act, thus invalidating the so-called "right-to-work" laws, would provide a check on unbridled corporate power. But I doubt it will pass in this Koch Congress.

I'd also propose a law to criminalize union busting. If intimidation of individuals outside the workplace is a crime, why isn't employer intimidation of workers one, too?

[steve2470]

8. any other comments ? nt