VOTING INSTRUCTIONS: Either you support a right for labor unions to exist or you do not. Example: If you support NYPNU's (Nurses Union) right to exist but you oppose IBT's (International Brotherhood of Teamsters) right to exist then you would vote "I support it". If you oppose any and all forms of labor unions then you would vote "I oppose it".

If you post on this discussion, I only ask that you vote in the poll (either before or after discussion) as well so that we can see how this strong atheist community views labor unions.

Thankyou

I'm for people having the right to form them, can't say I'm a big fan in general however.

They are all that the working man has.

I support them as long as they don't grow abusive

(February 18, 2011 at 2:28 am)Minimalist Wrote: They are all that the working man has.

That must be why they're in decline right? And why the vast majority of the working population doesn't use them? Or perhaps the minuscule wage rises that they bring aren't actually worth the fees to belong to one...

Unions are in great decline, mostly due to economic pressures on employers to take more. In my case, Local Government in the UK, employers can pretty much do what they like, and we're at an all time low. Employees are apathetic, and are successfully deceived.

Unions are a counterbalance to the power of the employer. All the rights workers have are down to successful battles fought by the unions.

Unions are a neccesary part of a free society.

I am a union member myself, my father used to be a union representative.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMKsR_wUSfA

(February 18, 2011 at 7:56 pm)theVOID Wrote: That must be why they're in decline right? And why the vast majority of the working population doesn't use them? Or perhaps the minuscule wage rises that they bring aren't actually worth the fees to belong to one...

They are in decline because not all unions are greedy. I am an elected union representative in the american state of Virginia and I try to convice my union that right now is not the time to be asking for wage increases so that we can stay competitive. This is where me and you differ VOID, as much as I enjoy our discussions. I have a very intimate knowledge of unionism.

(February 19, 2011 at 8:50 am)downbeatplumb Wrote: I am a union member myself, my father used to be a union representative.

I am the duly elected union examiner and the duly elected loan officer for the Credit Union. glad to meet another brother. "POWER TO THE PEOPLE!" LOL.

Biased much?

joking

(February 18, 2011 at 7:56 pm)theVOID Wrote:

(February 18, 2011 at 2:28 am)Minimalist Wrote: They are all that the working man has.

That must be why they're in decline right? And why the vast majority of the working population doesn't use them? Or perhaps the minuscule wage rises that they bring aren't actually worth the fees to belong to one...

I don't know how it is where you are but here the problem is that the employers outsource production work to cheap facilities overseas. Yes, unions are in decline but American manufacturing is even farther in the shitter.

I hope you aren't like Adrian and think that trusting the corporate whores to do the right thing by the working man is the way to go?