Society Opinions

Checkout the many personal views...

http://www.debate.org/opinions/are-labor-unions-really-necessary-to-protect-worker-rights


Are labor unions really necessary to protect worker rights?


Yes_____


No______



Pick your opinion or debate.

No. There are plenty of laws on the books to protect workers and the Right to Work States do just fine.

There was a time when Unions were needed. That time has passed.

Unions should be outlawed.

But, but, that would put all them fat cat union reps out of a job.

you forgot to mention those Fatcat-Politicians they maintain to get favorable Legislation whenever needed,to screw over the Public a bit more!
Should have gone out with the Dodo!

My opinion is this...

"Unions put employees in difficult situations and make unrealistic demands on management.

Corporations won't be able to keep up w/ demands and make a profit."

They're "counterproductive to society".

Unions are the oppressor they sought to overcome. the day they started to become Corporations was the day they lost my respect completely!

They are like white elephants. Big, Hungry, AND Useless!

If a job sucks QUIT AND GET A BETTER JOB! That is life in the real world!

I was in the machinists union for two years. Had to quit and take a non-union job because I wasn't making enough money. The recent contract that we had foolishly agreed to provided for a 1% raise per year. This would have amounted to roughly .90 in a three year period. I simply could not pay my bills and could see no incentive to stay. When I turned to the union for help in finding a new job they offered no help and in fact wouldn't even return a call or email. Needless to say I'm now making $4.00/hr more with a better work schedule. I will say this though, the company I worked for was a large greedy corporation that treated humans as pieces of equipment and tried to squeeze as much manpower as possible out of people while paying them as little as possible. Without union oversight the place would've been an unbearable sweatshop. At least there were limits on how far the management could go and what they could require employees to do. Most companies are not afraid of a complaint to the department of labor because they know they can easily fight it and most likely nothing will become of it. However, the last thing a president or plant manager wants to do is go through a grievance procedure. What I'm saying here is that while some unions are bloated and power hungry, especially the public service unions, they do have their place. Just look at the recent Caterpillar strike for example. If not for the union, those workers would've gotten walked all over while the CEO was living large.

A) your user name is SO CLASSIC! Props!

B) There are two people here on this site who are total Union Tools! I am sure you will learn who they are soon enough! I can't mention names though.

I was UAW 148 for two years when I did aircraft assembly work. Suckfest!

I know some guys like that. To each their own. For me it just wasn't what it was cracked up to be. I actually wanted to get into the union for years. When I finally did I thought I was set. Then I looked at the pay scale and realized it wasn't ****. It's been four months and I still haven't received my withdrawal card. That's how on top of things they are. They sure didn't ever slack on taking my dues though. But like I say, in a place like that their presence was necessary. In a small privately owned shop like the one I'm at now they would probably do more harm than good.

Labour unions are rapidly becoming an anachronism. In my country, only the highly militant unions still exercise any form of power and they are frequently exposed to charges of corruption and intimidation. They behave like gangsters and intimidate members by not exercising the secret ballot. I personally, prefer employment in a non-union environment.

The right of peaceful assembly is a part of the U.S. Bill of Rights. So, I doubt that the U.S. Constitution would permit the outlawing of labor unions.

One area where unionization has indeed protected workers is the over-the-road trucking industry. Unionized OTR drivers have worked to make the trucking industry safer.

I belong to a union and they have tried to help me before, but no real results.

I just mention the union to supervisors who try to harass/intimidate me and they leave me alone.

Hey, I don't need your help getting a date.

Well, it looks like a losing vote, but I'll post my vote for DEFINITELY YES. People who don't like the government messing with business ought to think twice before they say get rid of unions. There'd be a lot more individual employees trying to get the government to help them against abuses.

So I actually believe that unions are a necessary part of a capitalist system. And no, this doesn't mean that I think unions are perfect.

I really like what you say about unions being necessary because you base it on personal experience....The fact that most unions are being run like "for profit" big business does not mean they don't fill a need when it comes to employees receiving fair treatment ...As State and federal regs continue to grow, the importance of unions will continue to decrease...Factors like global economy, workplace composition changing from blue color to white color, contingent work like contract labor, part timers, and temps becoming more and more popular all contribute to diminishing union importance...
When unions morph into big "for profit" businesses and thriving companies must relocate overseas to avoid crippling regulations, we all pay the price...Government regs are messy at best and do not do as much as one would hope to protect the working class...Unions are about big money and big money breeds corruption...Unions are antiquated because change in the workplace has outpaced them...Maybe companies need less government regs and unions need more...