Controversial title, I know, but hear me out:
I just started a new job ~7 months ago that’s unionized. Nobody that works at this place likes the union. Management tells people to go to the union any time they have an issue and the union basically tells them there’s nothing they can do. The union has complete control over bargaining for wages and benefits and they make zero effort to include the actual opinions and needs of the hourly employees. It might as well be an even worse company doing business with the workplace and the wellbeing of the employees is the collateral.
The old leader of this same union was caught embezzling union dues and was living a lavish lifestyle on funds intended to strengthen the union’s power. Not sure how they’re still our union, but it was probably because nobody was willing to strike to get rid of it and hope to bring in a new one.
I’ve heard stories about great unions that really take care if their people but just know shitty ones do exist and they actually make that divide between the workforce and management that much worse. For anyone looking to form a union make sure you do extensive research and get first-hand accounts from members to see what they’re really like. Don’t let the big promises fool you, judge them based on their actions.