> Speaking first hand, I can tell you the union did absolutely nothing for us except collect a portion of our wages.
I encounter this a lot in IT.
"YOU IT TYPES NEVER DO ANYTHING! YOU JUST SIT AT YOUR DESKS!"
"And your files, when you deleted them last week, what happened?"
"Well I put in my request and 20 minutes later.... Nevermind."
When we in IT do your jobs, we aren't noticed because we make technology work and smooth it out. When labor unions do the same thing, and make sure benefits and salaries and disputes are smooth and work on a pre-agreed upon process.
That may have been the case for you ; you didn't need union services because they already did the hard work before you showed up.
> We voted them out by a wide margin with 80% in favor of getting rid of them.
As was your right. Now tell me, on a union charter documents and federal procedures, there are ways to initiate an election to do this at non-standard times. If they are not adequately representing you, did you look into this?
> There really isn't a need in most cases to be unionized.
Basic economic theory shows why a force as powerful as a company is needed in dealing with them. And that counteracting force is a union. I, as an individual, have very little collective power. A company has a tremendous force.
> The primary focus of unions was always working conditions and fair wages.
And with the Labor Theory of Value so low for workers, we need unions now more than ever. And yes, that include for technical, intellectual, AND labor. One needs only look at how profits keep climbing per unit of labor, yet wages are stagnated for most workers.
> Working conditions are light years beyond what they once were so unions have focused basically myopically on always fighting for higher wages and benefits.
Please tell that to the current "Walmart"-equivalent employees working at Amazon peeing into milk jugs, because they can't get enough of a break to even go to the bathroom without the threat of firing.... But they don't need a union?!??
We technical staff have it loads better. We get free drinks/food in the breakroom, gameroom, and plenty more benefits. But I've also worked at the low paying jobs. You get: no insurance, no 401k, no benefits, no breaks, and work at $8/hr.
> I think people should be forced to negotiate for their own wages in most cases.
Seriously? "Forced"?
How about I get together with my colleagues and volitionally come to an agreement? NOPE Can't do that, we must be 'Forced' to negotiate individually...
> Only simpler, lower-wage type work where people may not have the personality, skillset, and ability to negotiate for themselves as to avoid taking advantage of people makes sense to me.
Arrogant much? "Oh those poor dumb people, they just don't know how good they have it!"
I encounter this a lot in IT.
"YOU IT TYPES NEVER DO ANYTHING! YOU JUST SIT AT YOUR DESKS!"
"And your files, when you deleted them last week, what happened?"
"Well I put in my request and 20 minutes later.... Nevermind."
When we in IT do your jobs, we aren't noticed because we make technology work and smooth it out. When labor unions do the same thing, and make sure benefits and salaries and disputes are smooth and work on a pre-agreed upon process.
That may have been the case for you ; you didn't need union services because they already did the hard work before you showed up.
> We voted them out by a wide margin with 80% in favor of getting rid of them.
As was your right. Now tell me, on a union charter documents and federal procedures, there are ways to initiate an election to do this at non-standard times. If they are not adequately representing you, did you look into this?
> There really isn't a need in most cases to be unionized.
Basic economic theory shows why a force as powerful as a company is needed in dealing with them. And that counteracting force is a union. I, as an individual, have very little collective power. A company has a tremendous force.
> The primary focus of unions was always working conditions and fair wages.
And with the Labor Theory of Value so low for workers, we need unions now more than ever. And yes, that include for technical, intellectual, AND labor. One needs only look at how profits keep climbing per unit of labor, yet wages are stagnated for most workers.
> Working conditions are light years beyond what they once were so unions have focused basically myopically on always fighting for higher wages and benefits.
Please tell that to the current "Walmart"-equivalent employees working at Amazon peeing into milk jugs, because they can't get enough of a break to even go to the bathroom without the threat of firing.... But they don't need a union?!??
We technical staff have it loads better. We get free drinks/food in the breakroom, gameroom, and plenty more benefits. But I've also worked at the low paying jobs. You get: no insurance, no 401k, no benefits, no breaks, and work at $8/hr.
> I think people should be forced to negotiate for their own wages in most cases.
Seriously? "Forced"?
How about I get together with my colleagues and volitionally come to an agreement? NOPE Can't do that, we must be 'Forced' to negotiate individually...
> Only simpler, lower-wage type work where people may not have the personality, skillset, and ability to negotiate for themselves as to avoid taking advantage of people makes sense to me.
Arrogant much? "Oh those poor dumb people, they just don't know how good they have it!"