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.
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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.
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My dad was, and just retired very comfortably at 56 (!!).
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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.
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I'm not but DH is. He gets some pretty great benefits, like 6 weeks paternity leave at 70% pay
and can supplement the rest with accrued leave. I hope they don't change that!
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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.
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I'm in a strong NY teacher's union. I'm so thankful for it!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Yep! And it's been a great experience.
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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.
and can supplement the rest with accrued leave. I hope they don't change that!
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