Hellobee Boards Topic: Have you ever been in a union?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Have you ever been in a union? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:15:06 +0000 Littlebit7 on "Have you ever been in a union?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-in-a-union#post-2424822 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 14:37:36 +0000 Littlebit7 2424822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My last two jobs have been union. One in NY and my current one in NJ. My first one was a weak union but we had a GREAT contract. Tons of extra benefits which really made for a nice pay package. PTO, continuing ed, ok salary, good job protection. I was a union rep and negotiations turned my stomach. People got nasty. My current job has us physical therapists lumped into the building staff at the hospital. Weak contract, not great pay, not great benefits. And expensive dues. We are the highest earners in the union and we have to pay accordingly but derive no additional benefits because of that.. I just switched to per diem and I'm much happier. Granted I don't need benefits because I get them through DH's job. The thing that rubs me the wrong way with unions in health care is a) its not like we're going to strike. Patient care comes first, I'm not going to abandon my patients and the hospital knows that. Plus they will just hire temp if we ever do strike. So its a weak union. b) I wish I had the option of opt out of a union. Both jobs are like "well if you want to work here sorry you have to join". I'd like the option to say "no, Id like to negotiate my own salary and benefits thank you very much" but I can't do that. Its all or none. C) in my profession it creates this us vs. them tension between the workers and management. I hate that. Especially when the managers used to be my peers. D) It also creates this "well I am contractually obligated to work 40 hours and you can't make me do more". So people just literally leave work in the middle of treating a patient, don't write their notes or do their charting because "their work day is over". I'm sure that happens even in non-union jobs but my coworkers know they can get away with it. Crystal on "Have you ever been in a union?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-in-a-union#post-2424818 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 14:34:06 +0000 Crystal 2424818@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yep! And it's been a great experience. Mrs. Champagne on "Have you ever been in a union?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-in-a-union#post-2424812 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 14:30:33 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2424812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DH is and it's great. Double time for overtime. Great parental leave options, etc. I think I was at a part time job when I was younger but can't remember where. Miss Sarah on "Have you ever been in a union?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-in-a-union#post-2424725 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 13:24:23 +0000 Miss Sarah 2424725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm in the local sect of a national teacher's union...they definitely fight for our great benefits. But also, they would help protect and defend me if anything came up with a student, especially since I work closely with high school BD students. Dr. Pepper on "Have you ever been in a union?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-in-a-union#post-2424724 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 13:24:21 +0000 Dr. Pepper 2424724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I am not. My husband is in the sprinkler fitter union. He loves it. He DOES NOT get any PTO- if you aren't at work, you don't get paid- so that is hard sometimes. However, the pay is better overall than non-union jobs. He has two pension plans and his healthcare is free. We pay nothing for insurance for our whole family for pretty average coverage ($400/person deductible and $2,500/person max out of pocket). Also, since its a national union there is no "in-network" or "out-of-network" for healthcare, so we can go anywhere we want. mrsjazz on "Have you ever been in a union?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-in-a-union#post-2424716 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 13:12:51 +0000 mrsjazz 2424716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I used to be in a teacher's union even though I'm not a teacher. I worked at a city college. I know that the union fought hard for pay raises and renegotiating our contracts. I'm not in one now, but I am in an organization that is kind of like a union in that we pay dues and I receive my dental and vision coverage from them. They also help with raises and benefits--but I wouldn't have any job protection if my job wanted to fire me. Alba4 on "Have you ever been in a union?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-in-a-union#post-2424713 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 13:06:05 +0000 Alba4 2424713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm in a strong NY teacher's union. I'm so thankful for it! simplyfelicity on "Have you ever been in a union?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-in-a-union#post-2424684 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 12:24:58 +0000 simplyfelicity 2424684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes, DH and I are both represented by a union but that's probably typical for teachers. I honestly don't see any tangible benefits but our union fights tooth and nail against the district for fair pay, etc. For that, it's worth our dues. Winterbee15 on "Have you ever been in a union?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-in-a-union#post-2424674 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 12:16:34 +0000 Winterbee15 2424674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm not but DH is. He gets some pretty great benefits, like 6 weeks paternity leave at 70% pay :shocked: and can supplement the rest with accrued leave. I hope they don't change that! lovehoneybee on "Have you ever been in a union?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-in-a-union#post-2424665 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 12:03:01 +0000 lovehoneybee 2424665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm part of a union. I work for the state, and we all get automatic union protections. For a couple bucks extra a month we can become full voting union members, but that's optional. earthling on "Have you ever been in a union?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-in-a-union#post-2424662 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 12:00:56 +0000 earthling 2424662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My dad was, and just retired very comfortably at 56 (!!). LindsayLou on "Have you ever been in a union?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-in-a-union#post-2424658 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 11:59:09 +0000 LindsayLou 2424658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes, and I've had good experiences with it. My husband worked in a union warehouse job, and is currently trying to get into the electrician union. He misses being in the union. Finfan on "Have you ever been in a union?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-been-in-a-union#post-2424635 Sun, 17 Jan 2016 11:42:47 +0000 Finfan 2424635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I've had two union jobs. The better PTO and insurance benefits than my similar non-Union job definitely made it worth the dues. I do worry about being laid off due to senriority if my work runs into funding problems. That has happened in the past there once when a tax proposal failed to pass (I work for a public library), but that was before I started working there.