This is an issue that many people are hesitant to discuss because many people feel very strongly about it. That is another reason that union elections need to be secret ballot. Apparently there is legislation in motion that would take away secret ballot union elections. I absolutely disagree with such legislation. Imagine if at the polls they didn't give you an "I voted" sticker, they gave you an "I voted for McCain/Obama" sticker. You'd have alot of wrangling among the voters(more than current, anyway).

Anyway, my personal feeling is that unions started off with the proper intentions. I feel that unions did the majority of the work in the past to ensure better worker protection, work hour rules, etc. But I feel that unions may have outserved their purpose a little. If you want to make $25+ per hour, you can either go to college, or join a strong enough union. I've seen workers with not even a GED making more than college graduates. The best place to see this is the automotive industry. The unions have "stong armed" the companies almost to bankruptcy. It's very possible that my tax money will go to subsidize those wages with this next proposed bailout.

The employment at will is a tough one too. I recently lost half of my job. If I were in a union, that probably would not have happened; however, if I was still full-time, my company would be in a much less competitive position to keep it's contract locally. We are in a race to the bottom with a bottom dwelling contractor. I could hold on to full-time for a little longer, and then lose my job entirely, or bide my time and hopefully get it back in a few months.

I think that unions and management are to combative. I think it's a good thing for all the employees to get together and talk with the boss and discuss any issues. I think it's a bad thing to "strong arm" the company or the employees. I've seen union employees in a contract dispute sabotaging aircraft(draining batteries) such that the next departure will be 4+ hours delayed. I've seen union employees sabotaging lavs that in the downline station, a non-union employee gets the contents dumped on him/herself upon opening the valve. Just like Vulindlela, I've seen the wrong employees being protected by unions. I think in general, absolute general terms, it seems to discourage hard work. Whether you work hard and are a great employee, or are sleeping on the job, any advancement/pay raise/ etc. is laid out in a contract and you will not get ahead or behind by your actions.

I think my company benefits by having union competitors by having the flexibility they do not. I think the employees benefit because the company remains competitive with union pay/advancement scales. I know that DL employees make more money than NW employees, and DL just got a pay raise, and DL pays no union dues. I don't know the details as far as benefits, but I don't work for DL.

Jumper, you have a response.

But in actual practice in the workplace, these things need to be secret ballot.