As someone who has to deal with and hire for a unionized environment, I'd say that there are a lot of good things about having a union and there are some that are bad.
Pros:
- No BS about hours/raises, you get raises every X number of hours and that's how it is for everyone.
- In a diverse environment with people from every difference background, not everyone feels comfortable or like it is their place to challenge the boss for a raise or call attention to certain issues.
- Scheduling, # of hours - done like clockwork when it is supposed to be done. People know when they are coming into work. I've worked a couple jobs where schedules are up on a very inconsistent basis (sometimes mid week of the week you are supposed to work!). It is a pain in the ass.
- Protects workers rights. Yes, there are certain circumstances where employees really do need to be protected from managers. The Union can be called into support this process.
Cons:
- The Union in a lot of cases protects the garbage in the company. Certain employees slip through the cracks and take advantage of the union rules to their advantage. They'd be out of a job normally with any other company.
- Seniority. There should be some leeway and adjustment in this.
- Just too fing hard to fire someone.
The main problem with Unions is that they don't have the same goals in mind as a company. Their goal is not to make profit and expand the business, but rather simply to protect the rights of workers. They have no incentive to.
I think that in order for Unions to thrive they need something like profit sharing initiatives and bonuses for high quality individuals. I really do believe that the main 'idea' behind the union is a good one, and I do value that goal, but something has to change in the current landscape.
I know that in my circumstance, a single bad employee who takes advantage of the union system (even breaks a few rules) can really bring down the entire team of people. They've got to make it easier to get rid of the bad employees.
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