this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2024
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Work Reform

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It is soo good. A tech company i just got offer from. In their onboarding app, they let me join the union on the first day.

This is what you see in the company with strong union.

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[–] Hikermick@lemmy.world 27 points 4 weeks ago (4 children)

I got a job once that required me to join the union. It was bagging groceries part time for minimum wage at a grocery store. Sorry I don't mean to be a downer, I see union membership as a good thing. Unions are like democracy. They are only as good as the people they are made of.

[–] InternetUser2012 13 points 4 weeks ago

Yeah, I got really screwed by Pepsi and their "union". Overall though, unions are great and we need more of them to combat shit employers. Just don't let your union reps be company men...

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 9 points 4 weeks ago

Yeah, my brothers first job in a grocery store, sane thing. He was required to join a union and the dues taken out of his pay, despite being part time minimum wage for the summer . All the union benefits were for full timers, so it was basically stealing money from people who could least afford it.

I’m generally pro- union but for sure there are some taking advantage

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 8 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

What good is the union if they can't even get you more than minimum wage? Wow.

[–] Hikermick@lemmy.world 4 points 4 weeks ago

Yeah I didn't work there very long. It was 1984 and unemployment was 10%. Being fresh out of high school I took whatever I could find

[–] Tilgare@lemmy.world 1 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (4 children)

I'm sure the union rep made it sound like you must, but I wonder if you were actually required. The major US grocery chain I worked for, the union shoved themselves down your throat but it was NOT required. It felt to me that their negotiations amounted more to collusion than actually fighting for the workers. I hope they're the weakest union in the history of the world and that they don't all suck as badly.

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 8 points 4 weeks ago (3 children)

Why tf would you ever join a union for a minimum wage? What are they even doing for you in that case beside making you actually make less than minimum wage now after you pay your dues.

[–] bane_killgrind@slrpnk.net 6 points 4 weeks ago

Things like sick pay, time off, healthcare etc.

My buddy kept a shift a week at the grocery store from his teens to 30s just for the benefits.

[–] Laborer3652@reddthat.com 3 points 4 weeks ago

Protecting you from management.

[–] Crashumbc@lemmy.world 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

A lot of times it is another way to "pay your dues". Once you're "in" the union, you probably get preferential treatment for higher level full time jobs...

I e. The company has to hire union workers first.

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 1 points 3 weeks ago

It's a grocery store...

[–] ShunkW@lemmy.world 5 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

It depends on the state. Some states don't have right to work laws, meaning that you can be forced to join a union to work a certain job. Unions are great ideas but some of them really do suck. My ex was sexually harassed repeatedly by her manager at a grocery store and the union reps told her to take a compliment and quit complaining.

[–] AbsoluteChicagoDog@lemm.ee 7 points 4 weeks ago

Unions are only as good as the workers are willing to work together to make them

[–] Hikermick@lemmy.world 4 points 4 weeks ago

The way I remember it (40 years ago) the manager told me joining was required but I could be wrong. It was an awful union. Former employees were suing the union and grocery store chain for how bad they were screwed over

[–] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

You can't be forced to join a union in right to work states. In all other states you can.

[–] Tilgare@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah, that could be the difference - I definitely lived in a right to work state. But they certainly sold it even there as if you must join.