Angel of Death

Nobody forces anybody to join a union. If you don't want to join the grocery clerks' union, don't be a grocery clerk.

God, I hope you are trolling.
You mean, if I don't want to join a union, I shouldn't
become a grocery clerk
work for the federal government
work in a public school
work in manufacturing
and so on

The unions have transformed from the bastion of worker's rights to greedy, innovation-strangling monopolies that exploit the average worker through closed shops, burdensome dues, and contracts which reflect the interests only of the bosses, not of the people they supposedly represent.

They have no interest in the preservation of the company or its profits, but take a short-term view and preserve the obsolete and the incompetent at the risk of everyone losing their jobs (see the UAW and the early-90s Detroit newspaper strikes).

Even when the jobs are guaranteed, such as public education, more effort goes into maintaining the status quo and growing the rolls than in, I don't know, actually educating and providing support to the teachers. Lower income and part-time workers frequently pay more than 10% of the take home pay in dues (I, personally, had to pay $100/month out of an $800/month teaching gig) and they receive no benefits, but count towards the union membership.

Their recruiting tactics are unethical and can be illegal. Again, I, personally was individually singled out, cornered (literally) by union representatives trying to close the hospital I worked at's IT shop, and was physically prevented from leaving until I heard the entirety of the half-hour pitch.

Of course, removing the possibility of a closed shop and forcing multiple unions to compete for the worker's dues would remedy most of these problems.

But the AFL-CIO won't let that happen.

Bartman66

Municipal unions can be just as pernicious as other unions. However, dangerous services tend to instill a brotherhood amongst coworkers that is an actual, strong, spontaneous pack creation. The union becomes an overlay, but one that still needs oversight. Talk to a couple cops or firemen, and you'll see union issues. Hell, across the street from me is a retired Jersey fireman union boss. He readily acknowledges the corruption he encountered (though he won't speak in detail - taking the 5th, he's called it).