do we no longer need to U.S labor union.
119350
If you mean, "do we no longer need labor unions in the US"...Well, I'd say the moment corporations ensure a reasonable wage that keeps up with inflation, safe working conditions, a fair work week with pay for overtime, access to group rates on health insurance and retirement plans (even if employee paid), occasional time off to care for sick family members, the opportunity to go away for 6 weeks to have a baby and still come back to work, and so on--all out of the goodness of their corporate hearts--then yeah, we can do without labor unions.  \n\nAnd the weather in hell today is...?
3744
Well, you dont have to join the union.  But, if the job you have requires you to be in the union then you have to stay in the union or lose your job.  The thing is, some jobs, like construction, you need to be in the union if you are working on government projects.  If you are not in a union, then you cannot be at the jobsite whatsoever.  See, if your company has a contract to push only union workers in there, then your boss can fire you if you dont want to stay in the union.  Thats because you cannot work for him then.  And he will be paying for your health benefits when you produce no money for him.  BUT, if its a job where you are NOT REQUIRED to be in the union, then you can say you dont want to be in the union anymore, and your boss has to accept your decision, and cannot fire you.  See, only 8% of the work force join the union.  The majority that do are older people who cannot lose their job because of family reasons.  But, whether in the union or not, if you work at the same job doing the same thing, your boss is required by law to give you the same benefits and pay just like everybody else.  So, thats the reason why alot of people dont join unions unless they are required to for the job.  Why join when everything else is the same?  The only difference is that you have to pay to be in the union.  See?  Its not worth it alot of times.  Just find out if your boss is required to push only union workers in.  Thats all you need to know.  And if hes not required, then tell him that you dont want union anymore, and he cant do anything about it.  But, if hes required, then you can either stay or leave, depending if you want union or not.
14603
Yes. You failed to mention your employer. Not everything in Michigan is unionized. \n\n3.3 hours per month is really pretty stingy, but, considering most employers carry it forward, and into the non-flu season, and into the rest of the calendar year- it does add up....\n\nYou are always free to take your services elsewhere....correct?\n\nMichigan is not a service sector state, many of our citizens are not easily bullshitted, and some of us actually know and understand real economics, and, we also know that production is the real source of any growing wealth. Refute that promise to the Cbanking terms of downhill desguises.  \n\nSocialism, and communistic thoughts are at constant odds with real freedom. Certain legalities are up to the employer and the contract, and unto the employee to read. Providing said employer he/she has not broken any state or Constitutional liberties in the process.\n\nThe globalized work force is separating many false pretensions...more and more average American citizens are finally realizing who actually runs the big show and controls their worth with inflation/deflation/interest rates.\n\nI have no need to sidetrack myself and go there tonight.\n\nYou probably work for a smaller employer, if you need more time - then simply ask, and make it back up later when you are A1 healthy again. You must be valuable to them, and they will see that... right?\n\nTakecare, and be well.
128812
Savers have unions -- they're called credit unions. What other kind of union are you asking about? Labor unions?
463221
the union is the united states. they want to make it more perfect. yay.
651506
Then no, If the worker decided to stop working even thought he was told he can work, the union can't do anything. The employer didn't do anything wrong. They offered light duty work.
639626
The simple existence of unions helps all workers. Even if you don't belong to one, the reason you get benefits is because of the labor movement. Employers would never pay you to stay home, as in vacation and sick leave and holidays. Companies are interested in the bottom line: maximum profit. Therefore employees are just another overhead expense, like the electric bill. What does the company get from you when you're on vacation? Without unions, or the fear that workers might organize, employers would get away with much more than they do already. Imagine everyone fending for themselves on the job. You might make half as much as the person working next to you doing the same job. You could be fired for refusing to do something dangerous, or on a whim. If you get hurt on the job, laws fought for by unions protect you. Companies do not give workers benefits, raises and safe working conditions because they're nice people. They do it because they have to. And only about 15% of the workforce belong to a union.
231004
Unions unfortunately have become Major political movements.  My brother in law is an electrician in NJ and was FORCED to campaign for Korzine when he was running for govern er.  Unions look out for themselves at the expense of everyone else.  They bully many companies and force them to hire union only labor.  Try building an office building and not use Union labor.  If you manage to be successful I can guarantee that the local union will put out a call for people to boycott your business.  \n\nNJ is the worst state in the Union (no pun intended) when it comes to Union corruption and control.  \n\nAnd to the retired teamster who seems to think that Unions keep jobs here, you could not be more wrong.  The high cost of paying union workers for many jobs (see factory jobs) forced companies to undertake the monumental cost of moving them overseas.
599350
no we dont. We need americans that will do low paying jobs and busineses that will employ AMERICANS.
151568
The trade unions (plumbers, pipefitters, electricians) in the US were against switching over to metric.  It would have been too costly for them.
273822
well i am sure this is some good but I am unaware of it. All I know is that the unions break the law constantly. You cannot fight them, you cannot win. And chances are you will break your neck if you try to reach for the brass ring they will dangle in your face. I assume you are a worker that will be directly affected by this vs someone like me who just works in the office, right ? Ask yourself this: DO you ever want to be self-employed ? IF the answer is yes, you are going to have a hard time being in the union's system.
36796
I don't believe in unions. They were good for a while, but their time has past. The work force has evolved to a point now that unions are no longer needed. People use to work for the same company for 30 to 40 years. You got hired somewhere and you stayed there until you retired. That was the norm. Unions made sure you recieved a livable wage and proper benefits. \n\nNow, people are changing jobs every 5 to 10 years. Employers have had to change to entice employees to stay with them, and to try to attract other from other companies. If you don't like the pay and benefits you are receiving now, find a job with better pay and benefits.\n\nAs for 401k plans, yes I do believe in them. They are a very good retirement savings tool. The problem is a lot of people just don't know how to use them correctly. They invest all their money in one fund or stock, and then lose a lot when it performs badly. They also keep shifting money around because this fund didn't do good this month, but this was good. \n\nThe people that lost their 401k funds because of companies like Enron and Worldcom are partially to blame. The companies should take most of the blame, but the employees had other options to invest their money in. They chose to invest in company stock. This is just bad investing. You don't want to "put all your eggs in one basket". The comapny I work at does not even offer company stock in it's 401k, but we receive company stock as their match to what we invest.
137631
The AFL-CIO the parent group for most unions in the US has pointed out this issue.  My grandfathers generation seemed to believe that his union was a part of his family, while my generation seems to believe that they do not need them.  I myself belong to IATSE the stagehands union.  Without my affliction I would not make a living wage, or have healthcare, or retirement plans.  This is because last year I worked for over 30 different companies.  The Fact of todays job market is the most people with hold 5 different jobs.  Think about retirement, how is that going to happen?!?  I also point out there are many jobs that you do not think about that have union representation, think Firefighters, they belong to IAFF.  \nNow the Teamsters have left the AFL-CIO because their membership believes that the AFL-CIO is not getting thing done anymore, while they provided a large part of the operating budget.  I like most of the teamsters that I work with at my job, they are like any one trying to make a living in a world that has not idea that they even there.  At my job the Teamsters drive the truck, pack the truck, and drive the forklifts.  They are great at their jobs and do it very well.  \nFun Facts\nthere are about 16.1 million union jobs in the US\nThe AFL-CIO represents 9 million of those;\nThe Teamsters account for 1.4 million jobs in the US while their largest contract is with more than 200,000 jobs with UPS
490709
Nope. The idea of territory expanding and political resource (which I'm thinking is the intent of the question) is obsolete. It's far, far easier and way cheaper to just trade with the world. Unfortunately we still have territories that won't become states of the union because they get all the benefits but don't have to contribute. \n\nHowever, if you are talking about economic do mince (which also could be pulled from your question I guess) we definitely have had the most growth oriented economy for the long term in the world.  European countries actually banned together and formed the European Union just to compete with the US. Of course, that was nothing more than a way to create rules on limiting the US in Europe. So even still, today I don't think the US is dominating the world in this regard either. \n\nBut who knows what the future might bring.
303116
In many cases unions have outlived their usefulness.\nI have seen unions pressure corporations into bankruptcy.  One of the reasons so much manufacturing has left this country is that unions forced such high labor rates that they "protected" their members right out of their jobs.  Job security should be based only on performance and the laws of economics not artificial controls.\n\nP.S. Do you know how many thousands of dollars of the price of a new automobile is the direct result of the cost of health insurance and retirement for workers?
517938
Yes.  America, UK, and Australia need to get out of there and deal with their own domestic issues instead.
311419
When employees vote in labor unions, they give the unions the right to speak for them. So when a union steals their money, gives union officials huge raises or contributes millions to political candidates with your union dues money, you have no rights to object.\n\nUnions also set up "union shops" whereby in order to work at a company you must join the union.  Very few entities in the US can have this kind of monopoly.\n\nLately the UAW has given away retiree benefits to protect current employees' benefits. So the retirees paid dues faithfully for 30-40 years only to be sold out by the hand they fed for years.\n\nIn the end labor unions probably provide less value for the money spent than anything on earth, They've ruined the US steel and airline industries and they're theatening to do the same thing to the domestic auto industry unless the workers take charge and throw them out.