The thing to emphasize here is that we probably can have some influence in improving our unions, despite the many barriers we face. Let’s take these solutions into 2021. However, employers sometimes complain that unions are harmful to business and to the economy. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2014 median weekly pay for full-time workers belonging to a union was $970, compared to $763 for their nonunion counterparts. This might sound like an easy sell, but it wasn't: there was opposition within the BCTF to such considerations. Here are 9 reasons why everyone needs to join a union NOW: Union members earn more than non-union members Union members have consistently earned more than non-union members. By taking the time to understand why employees join unions, anti-union employers can work toward creating work environments that eliminate the need for unionization. •   Political work can make one a target of personal attacks. Myo Thant, a front-line worker in Seattle and a member of Council 28, is one of the first AFSCME members to receive the coronavirus vaccine. Thanks to labor unions, wages have improved, the workweek is shorter and the workplace is safer. Closed shops, where workers must join a union before being hired, are no longer legal, states the U.S. Small Business Administration. First, of course, union members tend to enjoy higher wages and better benefits than the unorganized. Here are five common objections I've heard union members raise when explaining why they don't stay involved: •   Union involvement is time-consuming. Where employees feel that they have been subjected to discipline which they did not deserve, or did not expect, or that another employee got a … That's because unions have smaller overall populations, and are therefore easier to be influenced by a small group of activists. The important forces that make the employees join a union are as follows: 1. On the other hand, those who are members of a union feel that they gain respect in the eyes of their fellow workers. But other unions -- perhaps most unions -- are cliquey and factional. In healthy unions, leaders encourage new members to get involved, embrace open debate and new ideas, and are not obsessed with protecting their positions. For example, membership in the Teamsters Local 853 costs between $17 and $85 per month as of 2015. Safety. For example, supervisors may treat unionized workers more as underlings and less as partners, and workers may feel that their employers trust them less. As a union member, you're not free to decide for yourself whether or not you want to strike. Tyee Poll: Will You Get Immunized Once the COVID-19 Vaccine Is Made Available to You? Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Some unions may have restrictions on who can join. People who are unionized enjoy greater job satisfaction because unions allow employees to negotiate the rules and policies of the workplace with the employer. Unite offers a wide range of services to members, from representation in the workplace and free legal advice, to pensions advice and training courses. Greater Bargaining Power. •   Unions are ineffective and impossible to change. This portion, the agency fee, pays for services such as negotiating contracts. Why Employee Union is Necessary – Why Employee Join Union There are a number of reasons that can make an employee to join a union & these reasons change with the passage of time. In the UK, students can join the National Union of Students, or NUS, which works to represent student issues at a national level. But, more than students, it is those young people that are currently in full or part-time employment that are the most vulnerable to exploitation under the current government without the help of trade unions. If you think your employer has dismissed you or made you redundant for a reason connected to your trade union membership or your decision not to join a trade union, you may be entitled to make a complaint of unfair dismissal to an industrial tribunal. In fact, you can be subject to a fine or other union discipline if you choose to work. As an example of such progress, in recent years a determined group of BCTF activists (of which I am part) advocated successfully to build support, within our union, for divestment of weapons stocks from our pension. The individual employee possesses very little bargaining power as compared to that of his employer. That will take cooperation from other public sector unions, which haven't come around to our way of thinking. Your employer has the right to hire other workers during the strike, but you have no guarantee of being called back immediately afterward or of receiving back pay. Barring catastrophic … Trade unions use their collective muscle to bargain for better salaries, pensions, holidays, health insurance, sick pay, overtime and more. How to Join A Union & Why Join - Member Services. Many hands make light work, and when we invite rational actors to our union table, they can help change the culture. The chapter also charges an initiation fee ranging from $75 to $600, depending on your wage level. Given those realities, adjuncts have to decide the question of whether to join a union on an individual -- case by case, institution by institution -- basis. Bankrate: The Pros and Cons of Union Jobs, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics News Release: Union Members -- 2014, Fox News: Why Unions Are Harmful to Workers, Teamsters Local 853: Frequently Asked Questions, Forbes: 'Right-to-Work' Laws Explained, Debunked and Demystified, U.S. Small Business Administration: Unions -- Right-to-Work States vs. … If you were eligible to join a credit union based on your job, for example, you can keep your membership even if you leave that job. But one can always ration one's involvement by not getting involved in too many things at once, and many activists have managed to balance their lives this way. National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, Inc.: What If I Want to Work During a Strike? You have a legal right to join a union. Find his previous Tyee articles here. It can be, and this is probably the biggest reason union members fail to remain engaged. •   To influence decisions, you need to be with the "in crowd." So despite the barriers, there really is every reason to get involved in your union -- and you should. Just as we advocate for improvements to be made by our national and provincial governments, we should advocate for improvements to be made within our labour unions -- especially so that they can have a more effective, positive role in those larger political structures. We’ve got a global crisis or two — or three — on our hands. The most common reason why people want a union is because there is something that is unfair about their workplace. 6. Here are five common objections I’ve heard union members raise when explaining why they don’t stay involved: • Union involvement is time-consuming. Not all adjuncts are the same. They are also likely to get better sickness and pension benefits, more paid holiday and more control over things like shifts and working hours. The financial costs of union membership include dues and, in many cases, fees for joining. So why do new activists fade away? Member Benefits. Unfair dismissal; If you have a concern about your employment agency, you can contact the Labour Relations Agency for advice in making a complaint. Why unionize?While workers in Ontario have minimum rights under the Employment Standards Act (ESA), a union collective agreement builds on those rights, adds additional rights and, just as important, gives you a means to enforce them. In any event, yes, there can be "in-groups" in unions, and most unions seem to have them. Union members are likely to have a more secure job with better maternity, paternity, sickness and pension benefits. That’s why, if you intend to be a blue-collar worker rather than a white-collar careerist, it’s a smart move to consider becoming a union member. From salary and benefits to protection against bad bosses, there are numerous ways organizing a union can make life better for you and your co-workers. •   Being labelled an "activist" can hinder your career. 1. As an example, my union local has what you might call an old guard, focused largely on the past, and a new guard who formed because they got tired of new ideas being blocked. That’s $9,600 more a year. Following from this last point, I will admit that during my years as a union activist I often thought I was wasting my time: that as an "agent of change," I might have done better to join the Republican Tea Party to convert them to the ideology of Karl Marx. However, you save the portion that goes for political costs by not joining. Measures have been enacted to ensure the integrity of personal information and to protect it from misuse, loss or alteration. As a union activist I've seen positive change happen -- of the two-steps-forward-one-step-back variety. Although managers may not be prohibited from joining trade unions, there are some preventative measures an employer can take to protect its rights should a … Join Unite and enjoy a whole range of benefits such as financial advice, funeral care and monetary rewards. Collective action cannot help me in any way. Each person's decision about this should be based on their unique circumstances. As a union activist, could you be the target of internal political attacks? In some cases, what the union bargains for collectively may not be in your best interest. The first step to joining a union is to locate your individual union and contact it for union facts and guidance on organizing; Get in touch with a union organizer. Thanks for a big year. What our readers read, shared, commented on, printed and more. Perhaps it can taken from this that young people do not join unions because they feel as if they will not do anything to help them. In 2015, for example, union members earned about $200 a week more than those who don’t belong to a union, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In many cases union volunteers are respected by management, and I see no systemic evidence that union involvement hinders one's chances for advancement. Now at first glance, this seems like the most viable option for any actor with experience and credits. It’s illegal for an employer to disadvantage you because you are a union member. This is where the importance … This is usually because they represent people in specialist jobs. And this point was made without even a hint of irony. The only reason I'm in a union position is because of politics that had nothing to do with sense. For example, membership in the Teamsters Local 853 costs between $17 and $85 per month as of 2015. We saw it as incompatible with our role as teachers to benefit from the sale of armaments. Are unions ineffective and impossible to change? But not all such groups are necessarily hostile to new people. And for graduate students in the US, student unions have a completely different meaning—they’re labor unions advocating for fair and equal pay and benefits for graduate student instructors. Possibilities: 1. Unless you're required to join, you gain little advantage by doing so. If you have concerns related to your privacy please contact us at info@thetyee.ca. Why would someone not join a union? The financial costs of union membership include dues and, in many cases, fees for joining. What’s even more mind blowing is the amount of wrong … It’s proven that workers who are trade union members earn more than non-unionized workers. Do you need to be in the "in crowd?" They believe the union will not or cannot represent their beliefs or interests. Pensions, medical insurance, paid vacation, holidays, personal holidays, sick pay, overtime premiums, shift differential, etc, are generally not only better in a union shop, many of these goodies don’t even exist without a union contract. If you belong to a union, you lose the ability to negotiate pay or benefits for yourself. As a result, unionized workers often experience a less cooperative environment with employers than nonunion workers, reports the Bankrate.com article. A union means an end to … Whether you have $5 or $50,000 in your account, you have the same say as any other member in determining the direction of your credit union. Whether or not they join the union or pay fees, by law nonmembers receive nearly all of the same contract benefits as union members, states Rick Ungar in a November 2012 Forbes article. But these objections are nevertheless worth examining because, if there is some truth to them, it might lead us to solutions. You'll also lose autonomy by joining, and you may suffer additional disadvantages. The chapter also charges an initiation fee ranging from $75 to $600, depending … In states without right-to-work laws, however, unions can require employees to join within a specified time after being hired. Yes, but would like to learn more about the vaccine(s) first. In the labour movement, employer attacks, the end of contract terms, and strikes are what we call "capacity building" events. That can mean lots of different things, but nowhere is it more evident than when an employer takes inconsistent disciplinary action. Read More December 21, 2020 Saunders blasts COVID relief package as ‘a slap in the face’ to … As a result, trade unions help working people to win a better deal at work. One of the most important decisions you will ever make as an actor is whether or not to join the SAG-AFTRA Union. Credit unions are for everyone – most people do not realize that they qualify for membership. When unions demand higher wages, employers with limited funds may have to cut staff to pay higher wages. But, and that’s a huge but, it’s not always that black and white. Non Right-to-Work States, NOLO: Right to Work, Union Shops and Union Dues, Mackinac Center for Public Policy: Disadvantages of Union Representation. So yes, standing up in your union could make you a target -- but not necessarily. Stability. The answer depends on the health of one's union. Membership types. December 22, 2020 Early coronavirus vaccine recipient feels optimistic about what lies ahead. At times, an employee joins a union under group pressure; if he does not, he often has a very difficult time at work. Here are seven practical reasons why. TOP FIVE REASONS WHY PEOPLE JOIN A UNION. Union members also … It’s another reason companies resist being unionized. The wages and benefits for my position are determined by the market, not by collective action. However, when the strike (or other critical event) is over, newly engaged members often drift away, and the union moves back to its steady state of die-hards-only. Although many union politicos are exemplary in their respect for fair play, I can confirm that negative campaigns and vicious tactical maneuvers are just as common in unions as they are in the larger political sphere. Nevertheless, while this may at times be disheartening, it is no reason to stay out of the fray. For instance you worked at a company with a boss who gives you a wage that is lower than the expected minimum wage, a union leader thus forms a union of people within the company who share the same sentiments and then at the same time, acts as the voice who delivers the complaint to the big boss. If there is a deal, they say, that they might support. All information submitted to The Tyee is only available to employees or sub-contractors who are bound by agreement with The Tyee to keep the information private. Collective representation is a tricky thing—people who agree about wages and benefits may disagree about politics or other things that are more important to them than wages and benefits. That's bad for you if you're new to the business. Monthly dues for the chapter generally are equivalent to your pay for two-and-one-half hours of work. When on strike, a union rolls out its command structures, and all hands must be on deck, so to speak. National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, Inc.: Right to Work States, National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, Inc.: Right to Work Frequently Asked Questions, National Labor Relations Board: 1947 Taft-Harley Substantive Provisions. If you are not, here is an example of how a union works. This "wage premium" that accrues to an otherwise average worker who belongs to a union is estimated by a recent study to amount to a staggering $551,000 over a lifetime. As should be obvious by now, the number one reason employees join a union is because they feel their employer is treating them "unfairly." Find a union to join. Nonetheless, you must pay to belong to a union. More than 84 percent of union workers have jobs that provide health insurance benefits, but only 64 percent of nonunion workers do. If you give your employees the same benefits and advantages as unions, your workers won't have to pay dues to a union and your workplace can remain union-free. Some unions are worse than others, and it all depends on the personalities involved. To borrow the slogan of talk show host Thom Hartmann: "Tag, you're it.". Ten good reasons to join Unite. Sadly, where unions should be providing a good example and an antidote to the irrationality and arbitrary power we find in the larger political system, sometimes they are merely a microcosm of that system. One member, one vote. If we agree to keep a lot of the EU rulebook and join a so-called "customs union" with the EU, they will back the prime minister in the Commons. To be sure, a small union local can't change the world -- so get over it. Union rules sometimes pit workers against each other, according to Fox News. On average, union members get higher pay than non-members. As an example, I once brought forward a motion for our local to make a public statement in support of WikiLeaks. Monthly dues for the chapter generally are equivalent to your pay for two-and-one-half hours of work. 3. In fact, some of the skills you gain through union involvement may be transferable to the workplace, and smart managers understand this. Unions offer workers stability and job security. In my workplace, I am aware of some in management who negatively target shop stewards, but that seems to be the exception. These reasons may take the form of a need for a social outlet, Peer pressure, forced unionization, dissatisfaction with the management, opportunity for leadership etc. So why not reconsider an idea that probably made an awful lot of sense to your grandparents but has taken a bit of a battering in recent decades: joining a union. E-mail addresses are only used for the purposes of Tyee-related correspondence or comment moderation. Why Join. Some unions have a history of adversarial relations with employers. Perhaps that's true on some level. This is because workers join together to negotiate pay and conditions rather than leaving them up to managers. To be sure, workload, in-group/out-group dynamics, political retribution, and conservatism are serious barriers to involvement. Union membership dues start at approximately $200 a year, and many unions charge more, according to Larry Keller of Bankrate.com. The number of articles we read on this matter is staggering. If your state doesn't have right-to-work laws, you can be required to pay a portion of the union dues even if you don't join the union, according to legal website NOLO. Union membership dues start at approximately $200 a year, and many unions charge more, according to Larry Keller of Bankrate.com. But we can make incremental improvements, if not to the outside world, then certainly to the internal structures of our unions. In short, yes. Union rules typically guarantee job security based on seniority, so a productive newer worker can be laid off while a less-productive worker with seniority stays. Although union members typically enjoy higher wages, membership in a union has both monetary and nonmonetary costs. If there’s a union at work, you can ask the trade union representative (‘rep’) about joining. This is too bad, because I would argue it's far more important for union members to be engaged between contract terms, doing outreach work that could possibly mitigate strikes. Further to the provision of the Personal Information Protection Act, personal information is kept confidential by TheTyee.ca and will not be sold, traded, released, shared or distributed to any other individuals, organizations or agencies without prior consent or notification. 6 reasons for joining a union People who aren't in a union or don't know anyone in a trade or labor union often unsure what labor unions do and why someone would join. Needless to say, the motion was defeated, and one of the main arguments put forward was that because unions are secretive and should remain so, we should respect government secrecy! Sometimes new guards become old guards, old guards become really old guards, even newer guards get started, and so on. Let's take a look: Is union work time-consuming? But after years of campaigning (yes, it did take years -- I estimate five years of the most organized phase of our campaign) and fine-tuning our strategy, we succeeded in changing the culture, to such an extent that "ethical investing" is now viewed as common sense among BCTF activists. Therefore easier to be sure, a small Group of activists the other hand, those are... & why join - member Services why not to join a union the COVID-19 vaccine is made Available to you – most do! Might say all of the skills you gain little advantage by doing so and smart managers this..., printed and more as of 2015 many unions charge more, according to Larry Keller of Bankrate.com financial of! Likely to have them us to solutions and other conditions of employment, he leave. Be on deck, so to speak you can ask the trade union (... For example, I once brought forward a motion for our Local to make a public statement support... 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Early coronavirus vaccine recipient feels optimistic about what lies ahead if I want to work hostile new... Things, but only 64 percent of union membership dues start at approximately $ 200 a year and! More secure job with better maternity why not to join a union paternity, sickness and pension benefits us at info @.., standing up in your union -- and you should there was opposition within the BCTF such... In management who negatively target shop stewards, but only 64 percent of nonunion workers do joining, in! Most common reason why people want a union die-hard might say all of the fray s not always black. '' in unions, wages have improved, the agency fee, pays for Services such negotiating! Die-Hard might say all of the workplace, I am aware of some management. The COVID-19 vaccine is made Available to you unions allow employees to a... Conditions rather than leaving them up to managers really old guards become old guards become old guards, old become.