Quote:
Originally Posted by jonp
If unions are so great then why are they not voluntary? Why should a person be forced to join on in order to work at a place if he or she dosn't want too? Isn't this a restriction in personal liberty and the freedom of association?
This is one of the arguements that was used in a recent article in a Libertarian magazine I get and wondered how the pro-union people, the actual union worker guys, respond to it.
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I'll respond but to clarify I'm not
pro or
anti union. I am
pro fairness and
anti abusive for lack of a better description. This is the first union job I've ever had and it was non union when I got hired. We've only been teamsters since Apr 08. These port drivers clearly need to do something to improve working conditions and I suspect there are others in this industry of ours as well. Its hard to say whether we needed a union at my place. It was already a good job. However so much has changed since UPS bought us that it is difficult to differentiate between grief caused by UPS and that caused by the union. Every current and former employee of UPS that I have talked to has said they are a ruthless cutthroat company and you cannot work there without a union. I have seen some evidence of that already. Definately the tightest ship in the shipping industry!
But back to your question. In most states it is actually state law that if it is a union shop you must join in order to work there but there are a few states that do not have such a law. IMHO you would not want to work there and not be a member. First of all they cannot have two sets of rules and two payscales so you would be subject to all the same things as your union counterparts anyway. Secondly you wouldn't have any friends that's for sure, except
maybe management. The union negotiates, mediates, and enforces the the contract rules on your behalf and you dont want to join? That's kinda like hitching a free ride and your coworkers would not appreciate that very much. Your life at work would be filled with grief and loneliness. Should you ever need the union for any reason you would be SOL my friend. You may as well just pay your stupid 50/month dues and then just badmouth the union behind their back. LOL. It just ain't worth it to not join. If you're going to enjoy the pay and bennies then you might as well support the ones who fought for it. If you don't like it don't work there. Or go to the non union competition who pays union scale in order to keep the union out, Like Conway or Fedex.