Hi so I elected to get a wrist surgery that put me into a different work field. I am a recess para for elementary. I’m enjoying it. I was subbing for a year and now have a great position at an awesome school. 

During orientation, actually after, a union guy presented and pushed everyone to become paying members. I like to know what I’m supporting, I’m against joining until I understand and form an educated opinion. 

I had a friend that was for it. And one that was against it. My instinct is telling me that it’s bad. My reason is that you don’t see unions at McDonald’s or front facing corporations. Which tells me that if a McDonald’s employee gets screwed by working and not getting paid for it (or something similar to that effect) then he would hire a lawyer and sue then for a gang of money. Where as in a union you got to get everybody to sign and agree then wait for a union to get you some portion of it. 

Why is is it that unions are always found wherever things are screwed up? They have no interest in permanently solving things because then they’d be irrelevant. So how is that a good thing? If I ever got screwed by my school (which I have no reason to think that where I am) wouldn’t it make sense to sue them like any other company. Aren’t there ambulance chasers that would see a commission in that? Wouldn’t that stop bad practices from happening in the future. To me it seems like unions let the practices continue while fixing only for the vocal few. You know what I mean?

Everyone in the room joined like it was there duty. No thinking involved. I was told that if I didn’t join I could be fired for not doing so if someone in my chain was prejudice against non paying union members. And I have a coworker who is super awesome, she just seems to have a vested interest in me joining. Which I’m hesitant to acquiesce. I just want her and I to stay good friends. 

Something positive Ive to say, the union got us some raises. The whole city is getting a similar increase. 

What do you have to say about the subject? Good, bad, or ugly?

They are great

Because?

Tagging for later, don't have time to write an essay right now lol.

wow, what did I just read. Seriously is there no education where you are from?

User was warned for this post. ~ Pemalite.

They can be good or bad, just like anything run by human beings. Historically, Unions have been instrumental in raising working standards in much of the civilized world. Who knows how long it would have taken otherwise? Also, historically, there have been unions that were little more than criminal organizations.

As far as your example about McDonald's, that kind of ignoring half the picture. Big corporations work EXTREMELY hard to keep unions from forming. Get a job with someone like Walmart and they'll bombard you with anti-union propaganda. Many retail chains will make you watch an anti-union video and urge you to report any nefarious looking union reps. However, whether they unionize or not, the THREAT of unionization is very helpful when it comes to corporations treating employees fairly. If they didn't have that possibility, I bet things wouldn't be as peachy as they are now.

That being said, unions have been part of some things that turned out horribly, though the business world is just as responsible. Some of the pension plans and other concessions won by unions previously have literally doomed corporations and brought certain industries to their knees.

Your response was very disrespectful and I would like an apology. 

I'm also concerned that by more or less forcing all school employees to be pro union, they are limiting the adults that will mold children's opinions. If you are pro union then are you not most likely a progressive democrat? That's a very politically biased set of teachers and staff. Are unions being used to prevent libertarian ideas from entering the schools?

if unions are a good thing then why would hitler, for example, shut them down?

I'm in a union here in the UK. I think they're great.

I get 29 days holiday a year, and management tried to implement a policy to dictate that I had to take a block of two weeks leave every year. They claimed it was for health and safety reasons but I knew it was because it would save them time as they'd have to process less holiday requests. I took it to my union, they just laughed and shot it down immediately. They were also on hand when my contract was transferred between in employers and were helpful in talking me through the ins and outs and smaller details.

I suppose a union is only as good as the union rep you have. Some employers will bank on workers not knowing their rights etc and take advantage of that. A good union rep will know these things and be able to help you greatly if issues arise.