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There is a difference between public sector unions and private sector unions. Private sector unions at least nowadays have shown more flexibility to work together with management and shareholders to achieve company objectives. They are now open to multitasking, higher contributions to healthcare and even closing the pension plans to new entrants. With public sector unions on the other hand, it's like fighting tooth and nail for every concession no matter how unrealistic.
I'm in a union, in a white collar industry where you wouldn't necessarily expect unions. Honestly I don't think it does anything for me except collect dues and make it a bit harder to fire me. But I think unions still have a place in many industries.
There is a difference between public sector unions and private sector unions. Private sector unions at least nowadays have shown more flexibility to work together with management and shareholders to achieve company objectives. They are now open to multitasking, higher contributions to healthcare and even closing the pension plans to new entrants. With public sector unions on the other hand, it's like fighting tooth and nail for every concession no matter how unrealistic.
Private sector unions area also way weaker now, I guess that's what you mean.
Private sector unions area also way weaker now, I guess that's what you mean.
I think what they've given up is reasonable. Can you run a business where an employee will say to the boss - "You can't assign me to that project. It's not in my job description."?
I have very mixed feelings. At heart I'm anti-union. Not that I want them abolished, but because I long felt that although they were very important earlier in the 20th century, they outlived there usefulness, and now just encouraged clicques, laziness, and umbrage. A journalist friend had told takes about union colleagues who were just going through the motions, and people who go raises on the basis of seniority, not merit. And there was so much corruption. (Although I admit mine is a very uninformed view.)
However, with what I'm hearing about how the unions had been the driving force behind the great successful middle class of the 20th century, about how that middle class is dwindling, and how management still shafts workers whenever they have a chance (note my earlier post about the film "Inequality for All") - I'm starting to re-think this.
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