I am currently in the union. I was non-union before.
when non-union the company did NOT care about anyone of there people. had health care and very little retirment if that is what you call it. made 20.50$ an hours and was a foreman. if i wanted enough money in my tretirement i had to invest some of my 20.50$ an hour plus they took out 60$ a week for my health care. ( by the way, top pay for the company was about 24-25$/hr after being there 20+ years....
joined the union. same type of work. make 28.76 an hour. dont pay for health care, and have a MUCH better retirement that i dont have to pay for. the company i work for now has been around for 35+years paying there people this much.
the difference b/w the union and non-union company was the fact the union takes care of there guys where the non-union made the owners richer.
for example. bids have been sent in for a job. union was 5000$ lower then the non-union so they get the job. so how is a company the pays there people more that much less???? who is making out here????????
and there are good and bads on both side. yes everyone in the union makes the same pay. but in non-union, its not all about what you know, its abuot who you know. it happen at my old company all day. a guy was buddies with a project manager, so he got moved up even though he didn't deserve it....