1) Labor Law & OSHA regulation enforcement – just because there are rules, doesn’t mean a company follows them. (I’ve got tons of present day examples if you don’t believe me). Non-union contractors tend to have more reportable injuries (if they follow the rules and report them).

2) Training – not every one chooses to take out thousands of dollars worth of student loans (like me). Some are smart enough to get paid while learning a trade (like my husband). An Apprenticeship provides standardized training, non-union contractors train their own or hire people based on their word/references. There is an expected level of competence for Journeyman Craftspersons; non-union could be a person with 30 years or 30 days of experience.

3) Health Insurance & Pension – Husband can work for numerous Union Signatory Contractors and he doesn’t have to start all over from zero with a probationary period. I’ll loose what ever I build up whenever I change employers and wait 90 days to be eligible.

and the list can go on and on.

4) Full Referral – The Hall dispatches him to work; I have to pound the pavement.

5) Wages – Union is about 60% higher hourly wage than non-union in my husband’s industry – it still doesn’t compensate for the daily hazard to life & limb, not to mention toxic exposures.

6) Representation, Representation, Representation – Cannot place a $ amount on the value of having someone back you when there are issues at work. The Steward and Hall hold the Employer accountable for Safety. Example: Confined Space Welding. Welder reports to the Employer that the fumes are pooling in one area and requests testing/ventilation. Employer stalls or refuses. Steward gets involved (and Hall if necessary), and they put their foot down hard to get testing & ventilation per OSHA regulations. (Welding rod fumes are much more of a health hazard than most people realize, especially in a confined space).

2. A contract secures an employee wages, benefits, and working conditions.

3. You no longer are an at-will employee. Meaning an employee at will can be terminated at anytime.

Wages of all working people have gone up modestly in comparison with top corporate management.

Where your typical C.E.O. earned three hundred times what his working people earned, some thirty years ago, it’s now over 500 times what working people earn.

To boot, these same C.E.O.’s keep letting go of working people, using an elaborate scheme of managment flow charts and magical so-called “models”, but the bottom line is that they are the enemy of the working people.

The facts I’ve stated can be verified.

Without some form of union among workers, you take your chances in the working world, alone.

Do you like minimum wages of six or seven bucks an hour?

Doesn’t go very far, does it?

Got it now?

But I will give you one answer. Most join trade unions because they have no skills. This is their way of obtaining a high paying job. But, the ones who make the money are the union leaders. Not the employees. Unions were only good when we had terrible work conditions. Look around, work is very safe, no child labor (unless you go outside the United States) we don’t need unions any more.

Job protection

Professional Collaboration (against political pressure).

I don’t know if this is what your textbook will tell you are not – but as a Union Representitive of my local teachers union I will tell you these are the reason why we belong. Admittedly it could be argued what is true for a trade union is not going to be similar in what might be called a “professional union.”

Good Luck!!!

the power to negotiate for higher wages and better benefits as a strong group

and in my state, it is required by law if it is a union shop

and upset workers

Poor Benefits, if you have no or little insurance, vacation or sick

time stress builds

Poor Pay if you can barely live check to check unions start to

look real good if they can get you a raise

2.make money and keep job without doing anything

3.They are forced to if there is a union within the company they work for.

The union use to be a good thing at one point in time. Now it is just took for granted and milked for what it’s worth.