November 14, 2007

Discover the NewLabor Unions

By Stan Dyer

Ever since Governor Ritter's recent executive order, many people are talking about Labor Unions. There are reasonable arguments on both sides of the issue, but what strikes me most about everything I read is how most people still have seemingly antiquated views of just what a Union is, what it does and what types of people belong to Unions. So, before you pick up your rifle and head to Ludlow, or hop on the truck with Tom Joad to California, take a look at the New Union.

Today's Union is comprised of people from all walks of life and a wide variety of professions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 15,359,000 Americans belong to various Unions. The AFL/CIO and its member Unions represent 10,000,000 of those as well as one million non-Union workers who don't even pay dues. It is true that Union membership in Colorado reported in 2006 was just 7.7% and down from 9.4% in 2000, but that only represents a decrease of 22,000 people (From 187,000 members down to 165,0000). It is interesting to note that the median income in the state also declined from $56,480 down to $55,697. It is just as interesting to note that the national percentage for Union membership is much higher at 12%, and an even higher number, 17%, of all professionals belong to "white collar" Unions. That's right! White Collar Unions, and the number is growing. What's the world coming to? I don't know about the world, but America is coming to the Unions.

In fact, white collar Union membership in America now represents 51% of the entire membership of the AFL/CIO. The AFL/CIO even has its own Department of Professional Employees consisting of 23 different Unions representing four million, highly skilled, white collar members in 300 occupations. Why are all these intelligent, skilled and successful people forming and joining Labor Unions? It's not just for the money.

Sure, Union members earn an average of 30% more than their non-Union counterparts, but that is just the beginning. In addition to benefits negotiated with individual employers including health care and pensions, there is an entire website devoted to the additional benefits of being Union. Listed on that website are discounts on car rentals, vacations, hotel rooms, financial planning, banking, insurance and credit, just to name a few. Now, more than ever, it doesn't cost to belong to a Union, it pays. That goes for everyone. In a country where women earn only .77 for every dollar a man earns, Union members receive the same pay for the same work without regard to gender, race, nationality, or religious beliefs. Even those companies who maintain collective bargaining agreements benefit.

Professor Harley Shaiken of the University of California at Berkeley reports in his book, "The High Road to a Competitive Economy: A Labor Law Strategy", that companies with Union employees benefit from higher productivity, a lower turnover rate, improved communication and a better trained workforce. It just seems natural that people motivated enough to organize and maintain a collective bargaining agreement would be the best, most productive workforce and the statistics back this up.

No matter what you thought about the Union and its members in the past, it is clear that the time has come to take another look. While you are at it, take time to consider just exactly what a Union is and what a Union does.

I frequently hear or read someone saying, "Well, the Union never did anything for me". As I have already pointed out in previous articles, everyone benefits from the Union whether they are members or not. That point aside, there are still many people, even Union members, that do not fully understand how a Union operates. The Union merely represents its members. In actuality, the members ARE the Union.

Too many people see the Union/Management relationship as having three parts; 1) the Company, 2) the Union, and 3) the Membership, with the Company and the Union doing most of the talking. The truth is that it is an Employee/Management relationship where the Union acts as a liaison, a counsel, and voice. It is the membership who direct the Union and not the other way around. If you are a Union member who thinks the Union never did anything for you, what did you do for yourself? Did you go to the Union meetings? Did you read your contract? Did you faithfully uphold your end of the collective bargaining agreement? If you had a grievance, did you speak to management, did you speak to your steward, or did you just get angry because you didn't get your way? Most grievances and misunderstandings in a Union setting can be resolved by intelligent adults according to the guidelines outlined in the particular collective bargaining agreement. I admit there are times when simple solutions cannot be found, but that is less frequent than people believe. Also, don't ever believe Union employees cannot be fired. They, too, are bound by collective bargaining agreements as well as the Laws of the Land and must conduct themselves in a professional, businesslike manner or face dismissal.

As you can see, I am pro Union. I am pro Union because I like to see everyone treated equally, everyone get a fair shake, and everyone have a chance to improve their lives. In the interest of fairness and improving lives everywhere, I am now giving you a chance. I invite you to explore the following websites and find out the truth for yourself:

For labor statistics, www.dol.gov/dol/stats/htm or www.bls.gov

For information on Unions, www.aflcio.org, www.teamsters.org , www.unionplus.org, www.dpeaflcio.org and www.laborradio.org

For information on labor in Colorado, www.teamsterslocal455.org, www.coaflcio.org, or www.denverlabor.org

Please, don't just take my word for it. Whether you are pro Union or anti Union, take the time to discover the New Union for yourself and you'll see why I joined the chorus.