Why You Need a Union

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/why/

Union members earn better wages and benefits than workers who aren’t union members. On average, union workers’ wages are 30 percent higher than their nonunion counterparts. While only 14 percent of nonunion workers have guaranteed pensions, fully 68 percent of union workers do. More than 97 percent of union workers have jobs that provide health insurance benefits, but only 85 percent of nonunion workers do. Unions help employers create a more stable, productive workforce—where workers have a say in improving their jobs.

* Learn more about the Union Difference.
* Communities benefit when workers have a voice on the job.
* See why so many workers say, "I'll never work nonunion again."

[Clovis Sangrail]

1. I don't think most people get a choice either way

and take the jobs they get.
The idea of unions is excellent, but unfortunately they are often ill served by leadership that provides the fodder for union busters.

[oscarmitre]

2. Point taken

but if a culture of involvement was developed then the self-serving careerists would be ousted. Acknowledging Michels' Iron Law of Oligarchy doesn't mean acquiescence. Those of us who are union members (and I write as an ex-leader of a union) should be seeking to repeal Michels' Iron Law, at least within our unions. Of course in a society that demonises unions and seeks to destroy them that might be difficult. But let's not give up the fight.

[Clovis Sangrail]

3. I didn't mean give up the fight :)

I'm a firm believer that just because we're never going to get something perfect doesn't mean we shouldn't strive for something better.

[Omaha Steve]

4. The free choice act died in the Senate

You can bet after we pick up seats this November, it will come up again next year. That would have changed the way organizing drives are handled.

[asdjrocky]

5. That is the problem-

The just being happy to have a job. My parents were depression era people, and it was amazing the way they would hold onto a job, any job. What was even funnier, was seeing them going through the "What's the Matter with Kansas" syndrome, voting anti labor like Nixon and Ray-Gun.

Once someone has a job, especially in this economy, they live in constant fear of losing their job. Everything is set up to deny them the information they need, and the help they are entitled to by law, and in the end, when have hungry little slaves, instead of the powerful and informed work force this nation really needs.

As a Progressive, the single most important thing you can do is fight to organize every worker.

[Clovis Sangrail]

6. I don't know that I agree with the "organize every worker" thing

There are jobs where people are compensated at different rates for very valid reasons.

Overall unions are a very good thing for society, but they are NOT always the best solution in every situation.
I say that as somebody who was raised in a union household, has been a proud member of UFCW, the Teamsters, and IBEW... and is very pro union in general.

[classykaren]

7. I tried to start a union in florida and I could write a book

everyone was fired we went to the labor board in Tampa many times even appealled their decision to washington DC The company harrased me every chance they got even followed me into the bath room and hired Private Eyes to spy on me and my family We must get the employee free choice act My employer was connected to the Republican party

[asdjrocky]

8. What kind of business is it?

[classykaren]

9. a large magazine call center 1500 employees

You can read all about them on the rip off report under special data processing or tha national magazine exchange