I always love when people complain about unions, but grew up with strong unions protecting workers and jobs. Want to know about what life was like pre-unions? Triangle Shirt Factory fire. How many hundreds died because management could do whatever they wanted? When was the last time someone worked more than 40 hours a week? , didnt got vacation or sick days? medical insurance? Thank unions for all that. Do you think management gave those things out of the goodness of their heart?
Employers and employees will never be on equal terms, so I rather the pendulum be swinging on the employee than employer side.
How is this for a scenario?? I am a supervisor over a assembly line. Business is slow, so I have to let one worker go. Worker #1 just has been working for me for a year, wage and benefits cost me $25k a year. Worker #2 worked for me for 10 years, earns $50k a year. Well, you know what? I just don't get along with worker #2, haven't for years. He is a good worker, never had a issue with his work, but we just dont get along. So even though worker #2 has 10 years experience, I am going to make my life better and get rid of him, saving my company twice the money. Is that fair? Nope, but without a union contract protecting seniority, basing layoffs of last hired first fired, you will have management doing what is not fair in their favor.
If you are having someone build your house, would you rather have the Forman get someone off the street, give him a hammer and tell him, go build a house? Or get a professional who went through a apprenticeship in a union hall before being given a hammer?
Now watch everyone tell me their favorite horror story of a union protecting this or that person. In all union contracts there are strict rules how management can discipline a worker, including termination.
I am sure anyone who considers themselves management reading this tread, rather pay a worker 40 hours pay for 60+ hours work with no benefits.
Bruce-SSR
