Preface: Long ago before the Union became outdated and antiquated. They laid the basic foundation for what the American worker should look and be like. After that, it's been a cluster
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Who says they are outdated and antiquated? Corporations have been using their might to legislate them out of existence, and made the road much more uphill, but unions still remain the only real advocate for labor out there. As far as a cluster, unless you provide more info this whole statement is just your opinion.
Unions lead to higher prices for consumers since companies must pay more for wages & benefits, which are then passed on to customers.
Spoken like a true “zero sum” believer. Unions “negotiate” fair wages and benefits. Whether you like it or not the pie is expanding, if you want your boss to get all the extra, just say so. Inflation is a product of monetary policy.
Unions make the country less competitive since non-unionized companies in India, China, Taiwan, etc. can pay workers far less and therefore charge less and/or assign more workers per unit of product. With Europe being the lone exception. Major manufacturers will leave to go abroad because of this and tax breaks.
Why are so many low wage workers from around the globe trying to get into the US?
Unions often prevent more qualified workers from getting the jobs. Less proficient workers are often protected from layoffs or firing; thus, new positions open less frequently.
You do understand that this right here is one of the major reasons unions got started in the first place? Favoritism, cronyism, bigotry, existed long before unionism and is much more prevalent in non-union industries. “Less proficient” workers are a product of bad management, every union contract has specific language to deal with these issues.
Society and companies are often held hostage to the essential services of certain unions (e.g. teachers, police, construction workers, air traffic controllers, etc.); thus, negotiation becomes less about fairness to workers than about companies meeting the demands of union extortion.
You provide the answer in your complaint, “air traffic controllers”.
Unions have become a source of political power and corruption. Since unions can offer a large block of voters, politicians will often curry favor from unions and screw over the taxpayers. Consequently, union representatives concentrate on helping their favorite politicians and political party rather than doing what's best for the members. All while pocketing membership fees.
Union political power has always been suspect, never being able to out spend large corporations. Non-union employees have even less clout. Do you believe that politicians would stop currying favor or screwing over taxpayers if unions didn’t exist?
It prevents the firing of clearly incompetent workers. Several poorly-performing teachers on tenure as well as most government workers are clear examples. Over bloated pensions, and promote entitlement and laziness.
Not firing incompetent workers or poorly performing teachers or government workers and promoting entitlement and laziness is “clearly” a function of BAD management.
Unions lead to less productivity and job motivation since pay levels are usually determined by seniority rather than performance. The lack of incentives such as increased pay or promotion, as well as the lesser threat of losing their jobs, leads to workers putting out less effort than they otherwise would. With the attitude of "no need to bust my butt, I'll get to that pay scale anyways.
Union jobs, even teacher jobs, are by their nature “dead end” positions. Management sets the parameters and workers achieve them. There is no reward for going above and beyond, union or not.
It creates an "us" vs. "them" hostility between ownership and workers. An innate distrust between white and blue collar.
So you are saying this doesn’t exist in non-union shops, like FedEx for example?
Unions focus on the needs of the members at the expense of non-union members & society, as evidenced by labor unrest all over the world as governments try to rein in unsustainable spending.
Huh?
For many types of jobs, union membership is required for the position, along with substantial cash dues on a regular basis. This is inherently anti-freedom.
Do you have the freedom not to apply? Adulterers are not allowed holy communion in the Catholic church, is this anti-freedom?
It decreases the flexibility of both employee and employer in negotiating wages, benefits, and other items. Especially with the technological advances of today and multi-working families, employees often want to customize work hours & location, fringe benefits (e.g. more vacation time, no health insurance), and pay (e.g. per hour or per project vs. salaried). Unions tie the hands of both employee and employer in such situations. They inhibit INNOVATION.
Have you ever been in a union shop? I see this every day in mine, the key word is negotiate, not just accepting what ever the boss decrees.
Unions have in the past had ties with organized crime or communist organizations, which are fundamentally trying to harm the nation's free market system. Google Union Thug, and tell me how proud you are. Protect the middle class
Your right, corporations have never tried to harm the nation’s free market system.
Unions reduce the investment dollars that are put into a company since investors are less willing to take on the risks of work stoppages, higher costs, and decreased management flexibility. Like it or not, that is what it's all about in the 21st century friends.
People with money invest in well run companies.
