I just got offered a chance to join a local sheet metal workers union. The money and benefits look really good. I was just looking for some different opinions on unions. Thanks.
If you know someone in the union talk to them about how they feel about the union. Unions differ some are good some are uhhh well not so good anyway they differ so ask people that have been in the union for a good amount of time what they think. In general if the benefits look good go for it.
I guess I'm somewhat of a moderate on the issue of unions. My father was very active in many of America's unions back in the 60s, so I grew up with that background. The way I see it, labor unions are another way to exercise one's right to freedom of assembly. Collective bargaining has its uses...but it can also be abused. It's one thing to stand up for an employee who has been sexually harassed or discriminated against...it's another to threaten to go on strike unless the employer pays wages that are high above the normal market value. I think the labor movement deserves a lot of credit for improving the working conditions in factories in the early 1900s...but (some) unions also deserves a lot of credit for high periods of unemployment, anti-immigrant xenophobia, and collecting part of the workers' paychecks while contributing little in return.
For a trade union it might also be a good idea to see the market share of the work that is going to union contractors. Looks like you're in PA, so a trade union should be strong. Check the annuity and pension vesting, as well as the bene's. A big question for them could be 'can you keep me working consistently?'.
I think unions are a good thing. They make sure the conditions are good and that you get a living wage. See, if you're not in a union you basically have to kiss your bosses ass because he/she has full control (because you need a job) If you're in a union it's kinda like strength in numbers, the employer can't just cut your pay or hours or whatever, unless they want a strike lol. My husband was in the sheet metal union, he said it was ok but he didn't like it that they (apparently) tell you who to vote for. Of course they can't make you vote for their candidate so who cares about that huh?
unions can be good and bad. You get alot of dues taken out of your pay. But they have lots of benefits too. I know some guys we pay in NYC are union guys and we pay them 32.05 an hour and we have to pay about 1200 in union dues to the union.
