# 36 Reasons Why You Should Thank a Union... **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 25, 2014, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-reasons-why-you-should-thank-a-union/679683 "2014-01-25T11:57:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-reasons-why-you-should-thank-a-union/679683/181 "2014-02-22T16:31:14Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > I spoke to the reps numerous times and never got straight answers. (not to mention several direct lies, like how we might not get paid for overtime without them. I guess they’ve never heard of CA state law) Apparently we were part of a job category that none of us had ever heard of and these other people (whatever they did) were in other parts of LA, but I wasn’t told who they actually were. I love how you assume that I had no say, especially since I was one of the people that wrote policy and procedure documents, or that being in a union is in my best interests when there is no proof that it would have been. It may be in the best interest of some people or some industries, but I was given no good evidence that it would’ve been for us. As to the ridiculous argument that I would consider renouncing my citizenship, I really see no point in even offering an answer for that. > > Yes, I’m aware of how contract negotiations work. I’ve followed the development of a number of union contracts as well as reading the finished product. > > Technically, I didn’t vote. I just didn’t sign the card. I also did a lot of research on my own. I really kind of wish our managers had been allowed to give an opinion. I got the feeling they were in support of it happening but of course weren’t allowed to say anything. To be honest, the way the reps acted was a large part of it as well. I really was tired of having my work interrupted repeatedly because they wanted to talk to us, having them go to peoples homes after being asked not to, not answering questions except in vague terms, etc. > > As I’ve said before, I don’t assume all unions or organizing efforts are like the one I went through, but I do know that it was handled very poorly. It is not always a rosy picture and shouldn’t be thought of as always a good thing. Dude, back it down a bit; I wasn’t insulting you at all, just expressing my incredulousness at what happened. Apparently I’m not the only person who had those thoughts and questions, so thanks for providing some clarification. I don’t think all unions are the same (heck, I don’t even think all locals are the same within a given union; I know my own union sees great differences from one local to another in contract terms, skill level of the members, etc.), but I do think that in general unions are very good idea and I think that most locals do good things for their members, things that most members could not achieve or secure without the aid of others. “We’re all in this together” means something to me, to my local and to our clients/employers. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-reasons-why-you-should-thank-a-union/679683/182 "2014-02-22T18:04:50Z")
To the OP, former union here, at a couple of places. I am not a union worker now. My first union job was at UPS, loading trucks (the gray 40-foot trailers, not the small brown delivery trucks). It was a P/T shift, 11pm to 2am, in San Francisco on 16th Street and San Bruno Ave. You had to work fast and hard. Each shift was a good workout. I was young, married with kids, and working my way through college at the time. The HR lady, I still remember her, she was hiring at Skyline College and her name was Jane. The job offered a good wage and, most important, great benefits. I couldn’t believe my great luck in finding such a good job. My UPS managers, Kenny and Eamon (sp?), were fair people. This was in the late 1980s. You had to hustle to get the job done. I loved it – you worked hard, and felt good when the shift was over. I did that for three years and that job helped me take care of my family while finishing my degree. I did other jobs at the same time to make ends meet, but those benefits were key. I’m very thankful for that. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-reasons-why-you-should-thank-a-union/679683/183 "2014-02-22T18:20:38Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > What was your wage pre-contract? I have no idea. I started there last year. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-reasons-why-you-should-thank-a-union/679683/184 "2014-02-22T20:26:58Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Dude, back it down a bit; I wasn’t insulting you at all, just expressing my incredulousness at what happened. Apparently I’m not the only person who had those thoughts and questions, so thanks for providing some clarification. > > I don’t think all unions are the same (heck, I don’t even think all locals are the same within a given union; I know my own union sees great differences from one local to another in contract terms, skill level of the members, etc.), but I do think that in general unions are very good idea and I think that most locals do good things for their members, things that most members could not achieve or secure without the aid of others. > > “We’re all in this together” means something to me, to my local and to our clients/employers. It’s cool. Sorry, the citizenship thing just felt out of nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-reasons-why-you-should-thank-a-union/679683/185 "2014-02-23T05:06:55Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > It’s cool. Sorry, the citizenship thing just felt out of nowhere. Pure hyperbole in an attempt to draw a parallel about not acting in one’s best interest because of unknowns or potential pitfalls that, IMO, shouldn’t outweigh the need to attempt a positive realization of one’s own happiness & security. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-reasons-why-you-should-thank-a-union/679683/186 "2014-02-23T05:08:39Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > I have no idea. I started there last year. Well, I’m curious even if you aren’t: could you ask your co-workers? Why not ask them why they voted for the union, if they were around when the organizing happened. It may be that, to them, there were good reasons to do so and good reasons to have approved the contract. The thing is, you’re comparing the contract you have with the contract you wish you had; they can help you compare the contract you have with having no contract at all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-reasons-why-you-should-thank-a-union/679683.md?page=9)