I say generally bad.

Every interaction I have had with a union has been negative.

While working for FedEx (one of the nations largest non union companies) we did work for GM and while touring a GM facility were we picked up I noticed they were running behind in a situation where being late would cost them large late fees, I offered to help and picked up a box and everyone of the GM workers bit my head off about how I cant touch their boxes and steal their work…

Also while setting up a trade show booth I have had to use union labor to do the physical set-up and electricity stuff and most have been uncooperative. In one situation the guy was on a ladder and needed a screwdriver from the counter but wouldn’t let me hand it to him.

Another company I did some contract work for had a union dispute because the company wouldn’t install picnic tables for the patio; they had regular tables but not picnic tables.

I can thing of a few other encounters that are similar but why beat a dead horse.

If you were to see the John Stossel episode on the teachers unions you would probably want to explode! The cover-up of incompetent and sex offender teachers was sickening.

I think the time for unions has past with the industrial revolution. With all the choices in the civilized countries today there is no reason to stay working for a company that doesn’t treat you well. If employers don’t treat their good employees well they leave to companies that do. Leaving behind the employees that are less than good bringing the entire company down which allows other companies to rise. That said I am beginning to feel a little under appreciated, it might be time to move on to a better, more appreciative company.

From a management perspective I think how much I can pay my people not how much can I get away with paying them. Upper management will growl but they don’t complain about the successes – I really encourage bonuses based on performance in addition to modest base pay rates.

Treat your people good and they don’t need a union, if you are not being treated good leave.