Serious - Are Union's Relevant?

It is an interesting question, one very dear to my heart, as I have been a Union Activist and Local President and Labor and Employee Relations Representative for Management. This array of experiences, admittedly all Federal, have opened my eyes to some basic truths. The first is that Unions, while still serving there purpose have often fallen victim to their successes. Generally, the Unions claim to stand up to the ogres of management and protect the little guy. all to often, I find, the Union is protecting the little guys (or other little guys) from themselves. It is astonishing even today, the vast amounts of simple and silly misconduct that employees commit in the name of "workers rights". In my estimation, the Union's first and foremost jobs are to see that all employees are treated fairly and, secondly, ensure an honest and correct wage is paid for an honest days work. All too often this seems to be overlooked in the name of standing up for the wrong little guy.

Management does not get a pass either. Too often the Union, who really has had little or nothing to do with the inadequate management of finances and poor decision making, is blamed for a companies or organizations ills. No Union can stymie a successfully and properly managed company. These companies are genrally squared away from top to bottom and in turn, their employees feel better treated and are often already fairly compensated. It is interesting that the employees of two of our largest failing industries, automotive and air, are bitterly disappointed with their management situations. It must be exceptionally frustrating for the Union worker in these industries to be blamed for rising costs and asked to take cuts in the face of dubious decision making by the very people they are negotiating with.

I think this goes hand and hand with the age of the Super CEO. Too often now, the employee's, the ones who work the product every day are left out of the loop, while the Golden CEO, sits on high and casts the company against the rocks. The everyday employee's thoughts are not considered and their idea's thrust aside. The American dream was centered around little guys taking big steps. unfortunately, management is too often dismissive of the golden goose.

Are Unions relevant? In my opinion, absolutely. It is incumbent on management to recognize the loss the take by discounting and be intolerent of the Union. It is equally important for the Union to recognize its place and get away from an obstructionist point of view and focus on principles that made the Unions great in the first place.

Welcome to Shared Sensibility

Greetings, my name is Patrick Law and over the next few days, months, years I hope to spark a lively and literate debate over issues that interest the common people. I will divide my discussions into two types. "Serious" is for topics like Abortion, Unions, Crime, etc... that tend to get the ole blood boiling. "Fun" is for things we get crazier about like football, music, Lindsay Lohan. I hope you enjoy reading what I have to say and participate often. I may not always be right, but I think these are discussions worth having.