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Union leaders tend to be rewarded for doing the best thing for the union, which is not always the best thing for the workers. The principal-agent problem is har
by fennecfoxen 5y ago
Union leaders tend to be rewarded for doing the best thing for the union, which is not always the best thing for the workers. The principal-agent problem is hard to beat.
- zdragnar 5y agoThe quickest way to beat it is to not allow closed shops. Give employees the freedom to join a union of their choosing, independent of their current employer, and you'll fix a lot of (doubtfully all) of America's problems with unions.
- lovich 5y agoAre we going to ban exclusivity agreements for all organizations or just for labor unions? The business doesn’t have to agree to a closed shop
- zdragnar 5y agoTo clarify a technicality, closed shops are illegal (hiring o ly those already in the union), and union shops (where you must join upon hiring) are legal. It isn't businesses that want it, but unions demand it as a power move- power against the workers. By being forced into a particular union, workers lose their recourse against unions that behave badly. For one thing, it undermines their ability to screw over new hires at the benefit of those with seniority, and allows them more wiggle room in wasting the money they collect in dues on things like retreats to remote islands. There are a few instances of places throwing off bad unions, but it is a long process, unions will fight back in courts, and you have to be prepared for retribution from your coworkers who disagree. Having union membership in any way tied to your employer is nothing but a way to abuse you, the worker.
- lsiebert 5y agoUnion leaders are all elected by the workers, so at least they are accountable at some level. That definitely isn't true about your boss.