UNIONS: Good, Bad... which and why?

[Divinus Arma]

Which is why I offered GENERALLY in the poll question. If you would like it to say "marginally", feel free to interpret it as such.

It is better to have a union and its protections (and excesses), than not have a union and see the abuse of management and their excesses. A union simply levels the playing field and enables the common worker to have a fair say in how they are treated.

[Xiahou]

Which is why I offered GENERALLY in the poll question. If you would like it to say "marginally", feel free to interpret it as such.

It is better to have a union and its protections (and excesses), than not have a union and see the abuse of management and their excesses. A union simply levels the playing field and enables the common worker to have a fair say in how they are treated.

You mean it levels the playing field and allows unmotivated, poorer performing employees to be treated just the same as highly motivated, exceptional ones.

[CountArach]

If anyone needs proof that Union agreements provide much needed protection for various employees, I suggest you do some research into the Australian WorkChoices legislation. Basically this meant that all employees in small businesses would be signed up to individual agreements - within a year of this being introduced the horror stories of (Particularly young) workers signing away their rights and benefits for 2 cents per hour started. This forced the government to introduce a 'safety net', which again proved woefully inadequate.

Now we are moving back to an entire Industrial relations system based on collective agreements (with Unions being optional for the employees).

[KukriKhan]

Generally good, provided the union leadership can regularly be voted in or out in truly free and fair (and secret ballot) elections by an informed electorate.

[Mangudai]

(with Unions being optional for the employees).

That is critically important. I've seen unions that try to force everyone including non members to pay dues to the Union, for example local teachers unions. I've also seen union construction workers picketing job sites because non-union workers were doing the job.

As long as the union is completely voluntary for the workers, and management is free to hire whomever they want including non-union workers then I'm fine with them. But, in my experience they are seldom necessary, and often make unreasonable demands.