Join a Union!

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Seriously. Do it if it's at all an option for you. Hell, select your occupation based on the strongest labour union in your area.

I fully accept that the only way a guy like me is ever going to make any more money is because there's a union contract in place that says my employer has to pay me more for hanging around long enough - such is the case for likely the Vast Majority of those on the spectrum who are capable of working, so, IMO, it's about the best option available to us.

Benefits are nice, too. I got my teeth cleaned and x-rays done a month ago.. cost to me: $29 CDN. Sure, I'm currently still at the lowest starting wage until I log enough hours to qualify for my first raise w/ this union (I've worked a couple other union jobs before) buuuut if all other career plans were to fall through and I end up sticking with this occupation, then after 4 or so years of service, the wages and benefits package dictates that they have to pay me $42.50/hr for my time - which will likely increase beyond the year 2020, as well.

No, that isn't enough money to do things like a buy a place to live or anything like that, buuuuut, it's about double what I'd get for working for someone else w/ no contract in place to pay more for increased skills/experience, and it's enough to be able to afford rent/food etc and have a little to save for a rainy day. (*pending our current real estate crisis does not continue unabated - then no wage will be enough for those things.)

So many of us tend to just keep showing up to work year after year with loyalty to our employers and never really see an increase in pay.. but at least with a union contract, years of service, experience, and skills building get rewarded with increased pay. Do it if you can, IMO.

I've been a member of a union since 1980.

I happen to like it.

However, there has been a downward spiral in union membership over the past 20 years or so.

And with the union busting tactics of the current White House Administration things are going to get much worse.. and unions being reactionary, once things hit new lows, they'll see a resurgence in membership & the pendulum will swing back towards unionization again as people realize that without it they're, for the vast majority of the working class, subjected to ever eroding wages to near slavery levels. IMO YMMV.

I hope unions do come back into prominence.

I think they provide a "safety net."

..and that's why they'll be made illegal if Trump & Co. have their way with America.

Not all unions benefit the members, I've been in a few bad ones. Plus it's tough for a minimum wage worker to afford union fees with their low wage and the benefits don't always equalize. I do think unions have their place but I recommend doing research before applying for a union job.

What unionized workforce makes minimum wage? Never heard of that.

I would say, in at least 75% of instances, having a "union" job is better than having a "non-union" job. This is especially true in so-called "blue-collar" jobs---especially that which has to do with "trades."

No.

There is an element of "losing your freedom" in obtaining the union job. That's true. You are beholden to the "almighty union."

However....for many who have not had much specialized training, a union job could be a boon.

For example, people who are "nurses aides" or "CNA's" make about $3-4 per hour more in union positions than in non-union positions.

My mom was a member of a teacher's union that did NOTHING to actually help teachers. The union seemed to actually support the people making bad decisions like people who were cutting the education budget. However I think unions in general are good for workers & I strongly support them but it's important to keep in mind that not all unions are the same & should be looked at individually.

No such thing as a technologist union.

Job security is a bit of a laugh for me.

The only engineers' union I know of is associated with the Union Pacific; but I'm not that kind of engineer.

I was a member of a public employee union when I worked at a county job for a time. It was mandatory to join the union and to pay dues.

I think collective bargaining can benefit union employees. Unfortunately the union did have a negative impact in our overall productivity in some respects. At that job, I witnessed numerous situations where the union defended the "weakest links", the workers that abused their positions, squandered their time on personal issues and a few were blatantly unproductive. One in particular was finally let go after many hearings and he had stacks of paperwork in his cubicle that were so far behind in processing it was shocking. Everyone knew he was unproductive and lazy. There was another employee in the same department...same thing. I had no inclination to want to also do the least amount of work I could without getting fired like they did. I resented their lack of commitment. Without the union, in the private sector, neither of those employees nor others that were similar during my time there would have lasted. They would have been fired for poor performance.

I do see a value and even a need for unions in the trades such as carpentry and construction, however. The unions in the trades provide very comprehensive training to the union employees in safety as well as skill sets required for them to do quality work.

Collective Bargaining == Good.

Being cited (and eventually fired) for being more productive than the other workers == Bad.


I will never understand why "Exceeding Quote" should get a person fired from a union job.

In the USA, many grocery store workers are forced to be part of the UFCW. Many of those workers are part time and make near minimum wage. I remember this from my college years (and nothing has changed) and it really affected my thoughts on unions.

That said, if I were graduating college now, I would consider the Electricians Union, maybe before or after trade school.