{"id":1,"date":"2025-12-04T18:45:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T18:45:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/unionvsnonunion\/?p=1"},"modified":"2025-12-04T18:46:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T18:46:59","slug":"hello-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/unionvsnonunion\/2025\/12\/04\/hello-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Union Vs Non-Union"},"content":{"rendered":"

In my time spent in the trades I\u2019ve seen firsthand how unions differ from non-union companies. Earlier in my career, I worked for a union contractor (IBEW-Local 48) on a Verizon fiber-optic project in downtown Portland. The difference compared to non-union companies I\u2019d worked for was immediate: the pay was significantly higher, the health benefits were amazing, and we had top tier tools and they offered a lot of training programs, most of which were required. The lectures for this week highlight these exact advantages, unions often offer better wages, benefits, and safety protections for workers. My experience matched that completely.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, I noticed some downsides that employers often focus on. Once our crew \u201cmet goal\u201d on our shift, productivity sometimes stalled. That aligns with what we learned about how union rules can limit managerial flexibility or reduce efficiency at times. Smaller, non-union companies I worked for often pushed production harder, sometimes at the expense of safety. For example, roofing crews I worked with rarely tied off, which would never fly in a union environment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From a broader perspective, the readings emphasized how declining union membership has contributed to stagnant wages and increased inequality in the U.S. (Kristof, 2015), and how right-to-work laws can weaken unions\u2019 ability to protect workers. This contrasted with my own experience, where union membership clearly improved working conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Would I join a union again? Honestly, yes, under the right circumstances. I appreciated the strong pay, training, and safety culture. As someone moving into Construction Engineering Management, I see the value unions bring, even if they require more coordination and structure on the management side. I\u2019m not blindly pro-union, but I\u2019ve seen how they level the playing field, especially in industries where safety and fair compensation can easily be overlooked.<\/span><\/p>\n

References<\/b><\/p>\n