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Unions got ostracized for a reason. They in many cases evolved past reasonable worker protection. I've seen examples of both, my dad has a good union as an elev
by cullenking 8y ago
Unions got ostracized for a reason. They in many cases evolved past reasonable worker protection. I've seen examples of both, my dad has a good union as an elevator mechanic, with strong benefit bargaining power, but which allows for advancement by merit and not only seniority.
However I worked for UPS for a few years, and teamsters is the worst organization. You can't advance by merit, only seniority, and job performance is not required to be promoted. You can't get fired except for very specific offenses like sexual harassment. No call no show.or regularly being 20 minutes late weren't cause. Made work a nightmare, with no incentive to work hard and advance. When I became a supervisor and was no longer in the union, it made running your section of the building impossible, unless you managed to trade your poor performers for others.
- Drakim 8y agoCompanies do bad things too (often very bad things) yet nobody thinks it's reasonable to just remove companies from society. Same for shares and shareholder culture, international franchise, etc. Yet with unions, so many people think "Unions sometimes do bad, therefore it's just better not to have unions, and all the downsides of not having unions we'll just have to live with".
- yjftsjthsd-h 8y agoI suspect it's an issue of (observed) frequency; many people at least believe that the overwhelming majority of unions do more harm than good. I have nowhere near enough experience to say whether this is true, a misconception, or blatant propaganda, but it is a sentiment that I have observed.
- HillaryBriss 8y agobut there are people who think companies should be eliminated. if you go to a protest rally in a large US city you will see them marching and carrying signs and advocating for their viewpoint.
- spiritcat 8y agoCouldn't help but wonder what role the union played in the recent GM plant harassment case. They're gonna hang a noose and GM is still too scared/unable to fire them? Am I misreading this? But also can easily also see how merit based promotion at a production plant would be used to work workers to the bone. Gotta be some kind of balance.
- HillaryBriss 8y agoin the same way that a big law firm protects big-time corporate criminals from actual justice sometimes, unions sometimes protect people who've done very bad things from facing the same justice as the average person. police officer unions in California are an example of this, IMHO. they very frequently oppose and fight the implementation of laws and policies that shine a light on the inner workings of police departments, and bad officer behavior.