Labor Unions are a controversial idea, even though they have been around since the 1860s when the National Labor Union called for congress to mandate an 8 hour labor day. They have many great benefits, but are not without their cons. Some positives of labor unions are things like standardized pay, healthy working conditions, retirements or pensions, as well as it gives a group of individuals more of a voice as they band together. Being in the construction field I have experience with all kinds of union workers. For example the carpenters union is huge here in Oregon. Whats cool about this is the fact that regardless of what company you work for, by being in the union you can receive a pension equal to others in the same trade as you. It also helps companies when it comes to hiring labor. By hiring from the union they know they are going to get a qualified individual and a lot of times there pay and hours and benefits are already set, so theres less need for negotiation. However there are some downsides to unionizing. For one many believe it can choke the economy. By having the ability to strike or not work for a certain price it forces companies to pay more than they would like. Being in a union also means you have a financial obligation to the union and often have to pay fees and attend certain events to continue your participation in that organization. For large companies paying these prices is no big deal, but for smaller more private companies it can be hard to be able to hire union workers and still be able to compete with other companies compensation and benefits. Personally I would choose to be in a union if I was apart of a skilled trade, such as a carpenter or electrician. So unions are great for workers. For companies though unions can be a bit of a nuisance. Both unionized and private work both have there pros and cons, and depending on the work you are doing, who you are working for, and what state you are working in can help make the decision if unionized work is the right fit.