Union Membership Enrollment Is On A Decline. Why?
By Fatcat44
@Fatcat44 (1141)
United States
February 12, 2013 8:45am CST
I just finished reading a great article by John Ranson called "Unions Lose It Under Obama". The unions voted in Obama and believed that they would greatly benefit from Obama's promises. How ever, it appears they falling behind.
Unions membership number have decreased from 11.8% of the working population down to 11.3%. Unions are about $370 Billion under financed for their retirement packages. A lot of this is because the unions pulled out the money to get democrats elected, but the elected officials have failed on the promises to send tax payers money back unions.
The hourly wage of union car average around $28.42, while non union manufacturers wages range any where from $21 to $26. When you compare the total wage company has to pay, it $73.21 for car manufacturers in the Detroit area, while the other companies it is around $44.20. The difference mainly accounts for union fees and costs. The union shops are doing a disfavor for their business by putting them at a large cost disadvantage.
Also, it points out that many of the public education changes that need to be done to improve our public schools are being stopped by the unions.
2 responses
@dlkuku (1935)
• United States
13 Feb 13
My ex husband has been a Union member for almost 30 years, yet I don't see where the Union helped them. The company sold, closed shops all over the country, men were transferred all over the country, the company closed more shops, then they put a wage decrease up for vote, the company threatened to close down if it didn't pass, the workers lost 10% THAT time, then about 2 years later they did the same thing, the workers lost another 5% wages, then they cut vacation time and benefits and on and on.
And they made initially around $22.00 an hour, take 15% off that, loss of benefits also, and it's a big loss. Men lost their homes, their cars, and because of the stress and strain many of them lost their marriages.
Also, I think with the fair labor laws in place these days, OSHA regulations on top of that, Unions aren't needed as much as they used to be.
Unfortunately there are SOME companies that do need them, like WALLY WORLD. I worked for them for a long time, they treat their workers like crap, cut hours all the time, and it sucks. Glad I am out of there, and I will never go back.
@Fatcat44 (1141)
• United States
13 Feb 13
Sorry, put Wally World is not a career position, so one should not expect much working there.
The thing people don't understand, with all the government crap anymore, the cost of an employee is sky-rocketing, while the employee's wage is going done. We have to ge the government out of our lives.
@dlkuku (1935)
• United States
14 Feb 13
Well Wally World may not be a career position, but a lot of people depend on them for their jobs. The store I worked at was in a very small town where there were no jobs, so the managers really took advantage of that since they knew people depended on them for their livelihood.
No one should have to work under such stress, every day I worried about losing my job.
One of the BEST days of my life was the day I gave Wally World my two week notice.
@Angelpink (4034)
• Philippines
13 Feb 13
Hi ! I thought you are talking here about Union bank like that Union we have in our place , but it is not . I read but didn't get what is this all about and why Obama was included. Please give us some background , so interested to know.
@Fatcat44 (1141)
• United States
13 Feb 13
Anglepink, the unions pulled really hard for Obama. Basically they got him elected. SEIU and others were pounding the street for him and taking everyone with a name into vote for him.
You really need to look into all this yourself and see what goes on politically. The unions wanted Obamacare because the are promised they will get most of the jobs that bureaucracy creates, even though it adds drastically to the cost of healthcare. Problem is when the government gets around doing stuff, the uninos do not get what Obama promised.
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
12 Feb 13
Unions suck, in more ways than one. They drain money from hard working people, then they misuse that money to buy votes for a candidate who will screw them in the end, again, in more ways than one. I know that unions can do some good but their bad deeds outweigh the good 95% to 5%. This is why Wal-Mart has never gone union, can you imagine walking into a Wal-Mart when they are on strike. Good luck finding an employee to help you, wait, it's like that now! Unions were designed to help the workers, now it just hurts them and it will be a long time before they are broken up.
