Right-to-work law: yay or nay?

Because working in a non-union shop without joining the union is freeloading. You get most of the benefits of joining without paying the dues.

A company could have a separate set of rules for union and non-union employees, but it would get complicated and make everyone miserable, so everyone ends up operating on union rules. If you want the union benefits, join up. I can't imagine why you'd want to work in a union shop without joining unless you just enjoy it when your co-workers resent the fact you exist.

 

Pretty simple. You aren't forced to work at any particular place, so if you don't like unions, work somewhere without one. Then you aren't forced to join a union.

 

My biggest problem with unions is the amount of money they use for lobbying the Govt and campaign contributions. If they used that money to benefit the employee instead of pushing an agenda there would be less hostility surrounding them. The teachers union for example uses hundreds of millions of dollars for lobbying. The result, more money in U.S history is given to education, teachers salaries are piss poor, schools are broke, the U.S is way behind other 1st world countries in academics. So what exactly does the union accomplish?

I dont think any employer should abuse or take advantage of a worker and every study shows, the better you treat employees the more you get out of them. Every employer and manager should understand that concept.

 

wut

 

So even if you like your job, you should be forced to pay union dues or look for another job... Even if you don't support what the union is doing

 

You are absolutley correct Mam, You are NOT forced to work anywhere. Using your same logic, if you dont like how your emloyer treats you then you dont HAVE to stay there..... You dont NEED a union to step in and do your bidding. Go find an empoyer thats treats you the way you think you should be treated.

Bottom line is it works both ways here.

 

This isnt how it is at my job. Granted my job is a little different since I work for a govt contractor...
We have a union, you have the choice to join or not. Either way you still pay the union dues because you still reap most of the benefits just by working here.
Joining the union just helps protect your posistion... (we have lots of very old folks working here that cant be let go bc they will cry to the union)

 

I was biting my tongue with that bit about them making you pay the dues anyways.

 

This is a big problem to me. If you aren't capable of doing your job, then the company should be able to fire you. With Unions, they still get paid and then don't have to work. How is this beneficial to anyone. The person becomes a lazy bum, knowing they can't be fired. The business loses money because they are paying for an employee but not getting any work from it. Lose, Lose in my book.

 

Also true. But I think there are industries and job types that are perhaps pre-disposed to problems. Or perhaps at one point they were and now they're stuck dealing with a union.

 

The company my dad works at is a union shop in a right-to-work state (Iowa). The employees don't need to be in the union to reap the benefits, nor pay the fees associated. In the shop of 35, only a handful are in the union.

 

I think unions played a strong role a ways back and, because of that, have grown to become fairly powerful and influencial. I still believe they do workers some good but I firmly believe they need their wings clipped. Some of the BS has gotten really really tough to swallow lately and there's no denying that, in a growing number of cases, the union influence has caused productivity to decrease.

 

Nuff said. +1 (as soon as I get on my computer that is)

 

Another Bash Thread SEE YA

 

People bitch about the union abuses which DO happen. The Unions do some good for the average family worker as well. I don't see corporate America looking out for anyone but the shareholders. When it does happen, it's very rare.
You don't want to be in the union, you get less pay because you don't contribute. Problem solved.

 

Funny that is average annual salary is higher in right to work states....

 

I have to say good points by all, and I wouldn't say its bashing (too bad yet)

Unions had their place, but forgot to adapt to the times, IE the NHLPA Union...... and other unions that strike and are forced back to work by law (in Canada, Flight attendants, Nurses, teachers)

Other unions promote laziness, which encourages the companies to bring in contractors to pick up the dropped workload. Those contractors end up working for less, and working more hours, where if the Union employees pulled their weight then there would be a good balance + there would be more jobs created in union based industries.

Yes, bean counters will be the demise of common sense and standard work hours to cut costs, and this is where unions could step in, push for the bean counters to know that someone cannot work 6 days a week at 70+ hrs a week vs. bringing on a new employee.

Also to touch on the lobbists, instead of wasting the money on media and bs, put it back into the system, pay the workers more and things would hopefully work out.

Alas its a pipe dream, we all know Common Sense died many many years ago....

 

I heard that as well. It's all how you look at it I am sure. Are you saying union workers make less than non union workers?Sounds like your saying unions lower pay rates in general. I am thinking union pay is a bit more than average.

 

I work for a Fortune 200 publicly traded company and I am not in a union, and they treat me really well, full benefits, competitive pay, and high incentives.