Labor Unions

Currently, I work in construction equipment sales. Specifically in rentals but regardless, I work closely with construction companies and most of them are apart of a union. In construction there is a laborers union, operators union, and many more that provide employees to companies that need workers. Sometimes there are even projects that require these companies to achieve a local labor percentage which means they have to hire people locally from the unions. Overall, Unions make the construction world an interesting place and I’m sure other industries as well.

There are a few benefits of labor unions which include higher wages, better benefits, greater upward mobility, better working conditions, and greater job security. I know from personal experience having good relationships with guys that are in the union, they always have a place to go if their job with a specific company doesn’t work out. There is always another opportunity out there and they usually do get paid pretty well because the labor unions go and fight for them to make more money.

On the flip side of the coin, some of the drawbacks of being in a union are that you have to pay union dues, you have less autonomy, sometimes the union might miss-use their funds, unions can create workplace tension between employees, and there is slower advancement because unions favor seniority over skills. These are all pretty valid drawbacks but I’m sure they only relate to specific industries. In construction, once you get a promotion and become an operator, you make it to a different union. The same is true if you become a project manager, you aren’t even in the union anymore and you are hired by the company.

Personally I wouldn’t want to be in a union because I like being able to control my own destiny. I’m also young so I wouldn’t be able to advance in a union because of the seniority rules that they have. I’m not sure there would be any reason or movement that would change my mind either. Overall, I’m not fully closed off to the idea but it isn’t the closest thing to my brain right now.

Got any book recommendations?