how do you feel about unions?

[werepossum]

I think properly ran trade unions are awesome. They actually bring value to the table by providing enhanced training and safety, and they are a guarantee of a certain minimum competency. Only in a few places have I seen them run amok in the competitive private sector, and if I was spending my own money I'd require all my jobs to be union shops.

Labor unions are I think a less good idea, but still good on balance in the competitive private sector. They are an equalizer between inherently relatively powerful owners and inherently relatively powerless non-skilled labor. They can get over-powerful of course and ruin an otherwise good company, but as long as the environment is protected against very low wage competition should achieve a balance.

In the public sector unions are too powerful as government has no real competition and accordingly no real adversarial relationship between management (spending tax money) and employee or contractor. In that situation, I think trade unions should have less power and labor unions almost none at all.

P.S. Good to see you back, Craig.

 

[Mursilis]

I'll say some have too much power, some don't have enough. It's a balancing game. Anytime either side gets too much there will be negative effects. Doesn't mean you need to get rid of the side - just bring things back into balance.

I agree with this view - that unions are needed to counterbalance the inherent power of management/owners, but that unions can also become too powerful, and thus corrupt, with negative consequences for all, including their own members.