I have been a member in 3 unions: Retail workers, Auto Workers, and Communication Workers. I have also been on both sides of the fense as Union Steward and First Level Manager. In areas where the relative bargining power of the worker is weak, unions provide some means of protection and benefit for the worker. In areas where the union tends to dominate, the worker will, in the long run, get the short end of the stick by seeing his job go out the door. It is one thing to work for the betterment of your membership, it is another to bargin them out of a job. Personally, I have no use for the Teamsters as a union. The intent with their leadership seems to be aimed at keeping their six figured salaries and political clout while their membership pays for their mistakes with loss of jobs. The same was ture with CWA and the UAW. I still have respect for the Retail Workers, retail jobs are poor pay, poor benifits, and little respect for the individual.
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