I fail to be as enthusiastic for the union to do this stuff as you are. They have really screwed people over. From the losses of manufacturing jobs over many decades under the watch of the unions, combined with more recently the "multiple tier" pay structures in the grocery unions, and the lousy contracts I've seen the grocery union approve in a number of regions in the past couple of years, I think the unions are not doing a good job for the employee at all. They are collecting dues, I could make the argument they are protecting the older employees (many of whom seem miserable and bitter toward the corporation/management) wages/benefits at the very least, but not really doing anything for the young employees and have basically fallen into a complacent position where they are in bed with the corporation, do not really do anything to help the newer employees, but do collect dues from them.veteran+ wrote: ↑August 4th, 2022, 6:28 am Union busting history by corporations and conservative government administrations would disagree with you.
No one would argue about historical Union malfeseance. But, the decades long campaign to destroy Labor Unions has been well documented.
Not everyone can afford a lawyer (not many do pro bono or "zero down"). Many cases are also too small (but still destructive) to attract a lawyer. For most, this is not the best way forward.
A more powerful third voice is a STRONG State Labor Commissioner and/or Labor Union. Unions DO look at favoritism issues and interactive issues between management and clerks.
I am glad you area of Trader Joes has good spirits. Every store and every region can unique. My point was that the often promulgated "best place to work" is often not accurate and more often manipulated for P.R. purposes.
The only real thing the union brings to the table is a strong benefit package and a transparent wage structure. Those are important things, but you don't need a union to make that stuff happen. The right management can make that happen too. The problem is in many cases the management and ownership turns over and all it takes is one bad group of management to screw over 20 years worth of efforts by prior management teams to take care of their employees. So to that point I do like the idea of the benefits fund pay in to the union so that is dealt with as promised and is a stable benefit offer to employees as long as the employees opt to work for the company. That, I think is a huge selling point. That is also something worth the union dues.
This other stuff about "better working conditions" - the union isn't going to do anything. This is hard work, these jobs are not easy, they never will be. If they are easy it means they get automated, that will be easy, the only employee will be a salaried manager and a contracted tech to fix the robotic machinery.