Unions

My boss over this past summer had got to the position he was in by working up through the trades. He had been a member of the union for 15+ years but was now no longer a part of it. Because he had joined the company we now both work for 5 years ago. I remember asking him one day his opinion on the union. He had nothing but good things to say stating that union workers are better trained and more efficient workers. He then provided examples of subcontractors we both had experience working with. Our electrical sub was union and very low maintenance, they were self-sufficient and required very little hand-holding through the project. On the other hand, our dirt-work non-union sub needed a manager with them almost all the time. It could be anything from not understanding the plans or not having a work plan for the day, but they needed constant supervision. I also have spoken to my friend’s dad who works for a non-union company about his opinions on unions and he saw them in a different light. He said they take part of your paycheck and limit your growth. Saying that promotions are less about how good at your job you are and more about how long you have been with the union. I am sure that my opinion on unions will develop more once I am out in the field working with them every day but as of now, I am relatively indifferent. I do think that your opinion on union is dependent on circumstance. Often small and midsized companies believe that unionization with be the death of them and try to prevent it from happening. While skilled craftsmen may love the extra benefits that the union provides.