Reply #22: Responsible unions are needed [View All]

[ramapo]

It's a tough situation...

My first jobs back in the '70s were all in union shops. I've been a member of the musician's union, the service employee's union as a cemetary worker, and the machinist's union as a stock clerk.

I felt then that I didn't get much for my dues, especially as a musician. Reflecting back, the other jobs were pretty good paying with decent benefits and some protection from arbitrary management actions.

This was about the time that unions started to get a bad name. Corruption, unfair demands that impeded profits. Certainly true to an extent. Lab Owner's example is one that shows how some workers need a reality check.

I don't think there is any question that many workers work in safer and healthier environments with better benefits because of the efforts of their union. Many government regulations that protect workers would not exist had it not been for the unions.