Unions

LooneyLife

Do you belong to a union at your job?  I know they're bigger in some industries than others.

I'm having trouble understanding how the one works at my job.  The lady that did the "sales pitch" only wanted to talk about the discounts you're eligible for if you join.  But if I was interested in saving money, I certainly wouldn't give them nearly $500 out of my paycheck each year.  The other thing that irked me was that the paperwork she brought for enrollment was used.  She gave me an application with someone else's personal information on it (including SS#).  So I'm a bit hesitant to give them my information if their rep can't keep it secure.

I wish they would just be straightforward about what they do with the money and what they do outside of giving access to auto discounts

BruinsBabe33

I'm union and have no choice in the matter. I pay approximately $1200 a year towards union dues. The only thing I can tell you is it makes it really really hard to get fired. (Here at least) as far as representing the workers, our local rep folds pretty quickly to management, but we just has an election so hopefully it gets a bit better and we get some stuff back.

MrsFreeman2010

I'm in a union as well at my job. I pay around $75 a month in union dues. At our hospital everyone pays whether they are union or not. If you are in in the fee is called "dues" if you aren't then you are paying the same amount as an exemption fee since the entire hospital benefits from the bargaining.  We are getting ready to enter bargaining right now so they will discuss pay rates, wages, benefits, etc and throughout the year they are there as representation if you are having issues or need to grieve something. I have no feelings either way about them, figured since I have to pay no matter what then might as well be a member.

LooneyLife

Our entire unit benefits from the bargaining whether your a member or not. I have no particular feelings one way or another, I'm just annoyed with the way they choose to promote themselves, I guess.

poppies717

I am. Our union collects 85% of the total cost of fees from nonmembers because they receive the benefit of bargaining and all that. I'm not really a fan of how things are run, but I think it's more district based than union based (animosity between schools and some district mandates that have come down).

cinderin

You are lucky you live in a state where you get to pick if you join or not. Here in Washington they can make you join and you have no choice in the matter.

DH is in a union and there is no benefit to our family. He pays quite a bit in dues and the union uses the money to support political issues and candidates that my DH doesn't want to fund. It is really too bad.

nfp147

We are both in unions with no choice.  I pay around $75 a month.  I'm not sure what DH pays because we're in different union, but it's likely similar.

I have mixed feelings about unions.  On one hand, we have excellent working conditions, wages and benefits.  On the other hand, it's really hard/impossible to get rid of terrible workers.

FutureMrsWright2012

I live in a "right to work" state, so no unions here. It seems like it would be a good thing if managed properly, but I've never had any experience with them.

crystaldbl

My husband is in the union. He pays about $30 per month. We have full medical, dental, and vision insurance at no cost to us. His company is trying to make it so every dependent is $50 per month but the union is fighting that. The union makes it almost impossible to get fired. They also give us 5k of life insurance at no cost. We get discounts on certain services & from certain companies. If ever you have an issue with the company or managers the union fights that battle for you. We both love it. He goes to the meetings & was really excited when he got to meet Jimmy Hoffa Jr.

lfk2013

I'm not in a union.  I like the idea, but I think the way they sometimes go about getting votes and getting their way is crummy.  When my BFF was applying for a job at a nuclear power facility, she was told that after she was hired, she HAD to join the union or else she'd be fired.  Because she had no other options, she joined it and has regretted it.