Re:Google contractors in Pittsburgh vote to unionize
by duxup on Tuesday September 24, 2019 @05:21PM
(#21064761)
Really depends on the union structure.
I can imagine plenty of good and bad, and experienced a lot of bad.
My experience with some negatives:
- Unions love to get more and more involved in things, on a granular level because let's face it unfair things happen at every level of a job. The problem is negotiating that all out results in ultra prescribed jobs, job functions, and etc are all defined. Over time flexibility decreases and decreases .. and so on.
- Many unions love seniority, because powerful union members are often more senior. Not all, but many. There's few things less demoralizing than sitting behind a bunch more senior folks (i'm over 40 so this isn't just some ageist thing) who only want to learn what they want to learn ... and the union backs them at every turn. Promotions, choice roles and hours, all become about seniority.
- Limited relationship with your boss is another issue. I LIKE working with my boss and have all my career, but in a union situation it was a very prescribed relationship. My boss no matter what he felt couldn't treat me differently based on merit or anything else, it was all about the union rules. I could be the best, or worst there, it changed nothing. It dramatically changes that relationship. And no matter what anyone says your boss can still be a jerk if they want to and unions are sometimes unable to help. Thus...
- Unions can be surprisingly poor at helping out with individual issues. A lot of situations between the union and employer are negotiated out in detail. That means provided the employer meets various easily measured things, they can (and will quickly learn) all the things not negotiated by the union and can do what they wish there, and unions are surprisingly hands off at that point.
The fact is Unions are another bureaucracy and despite the goals they may not align with what you want, and they're more than happy to limit your options as much as any nasty employer.
I can imagine plenty of good and bad, and experienced a lot of bad.
My experience with some negatives:
- Unions love to get more and more involved in things, on a granular level because let's face it unfair things happen at every level of a job. The problem is negotiating that all out results in ultra prescribed jobs, job functions, and etc are all defined. Over time flexibility decreases and decreases .. and so on.
- Many unions love seniority, because powerful union members are often more senior. Not all, but many. There's few things less demoralizing than sitting behind a bunch more senior folks (i'm over 40 so this isn't just some ageist thing) who only want to learn what they want to learn ... and the union backs them at every turn. Promotions, choice roles and hours, all become about seniority.
- Limited relationship with your boss is another issue. I LIKE working with my boss and have all my career, but in a union situation it was a very prescribed relationship. My boss no matter what he felt couldn't treat me differently based on merit or anything else, it was all about the union rules. I could be the best, or worst there, it changed nothing. It dramatically changes that relationship. And no matter what anyone says your boss can still be a jerk if they want to and unions are sometimes unable to help. Thus...
- Unions can be surprisingly poor at helping out with individual issues. A lot of situations between the union and employer are negotiated out in detail. That means provided the employer meets various easily measured things, they can (and will quickly learn) all the things not negotiated by the union and can do what they wish there, and unions are surprisingly hands off at that point.
The fact is Unions are another bureaucracy and despite the goals they may not align with what you want, and they're more than happy to limit your options as much as any nasty employer.