I have no first-hand experience with unions, but wouldn't that be a vitally important coordinating function? The workers have issues with the employer, come to a collective decision to strike (or not), and then collectively implement the plan.
It's not good for workers to act in an uncoordinated and impulsive fashion.
[–] ProllyInfamous 1 day ago
[–] paxy 1 day ago
This just sounds like replacing working for one large corporation with working for two large corporations.
[–] ProllyInfamous 1 day ago
Instead, each LU "territory" is made up of several large corporations (the electric contractors). Some employ sub-contractors, often. You can even be a worker for "contracted shops" without even being a union member, which opts-out paying "dues" – Francis-Bacon IIRC?
Hating to quote R+M so casually, but "it [all] just sounds like slavery, with extra steps..." as each sub-universe slowly begins to realize Their Realities.
[–] 10111001 1 day ago
Even if that's the case, one is at least one is technically accountable to you.
I mean, I suppose you could simply a trial by getting rid of the defense attorney (instead of having two lawyers, you just have one), but I don't think any defendant would think that was a good idea. You'd get really efficient "justice" though, like in China.
Personally, I'm extremely opposed to letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. Though it seems like the union he was in could use more direct democracy or something. Having something like an "on-site steward" seems like it would be really challenging for electrical work, where I'd imagine you'd be moving from job-site to job-site frequently.
[–] ProllyInfamous 1 day ago
A major problem in Unions is that cronyism is even good'ole'boy'er than the general US population's. My only touting of "join a union" is for would-be apprentices to "learn the ropes" about construction. Get paid to learn; retire elsewhere... [†]
They no longer allow this (at least not in 520), but I soon realized the best "life balance approach" to being IBEW was: enter in their non-traditional student pathway (i.e: olderfolk, CW/CE) and then never progress beyond 90%er [•] – to me, the extra 10% pay wasn't worth all the headache of working with management to coordinate jobsite goals. Many "ninety-percenters" remain, grandfathered (but slowly retiring).
[†] LU520's payscale isn't among "the best;" if you're in an area where your ticket-out is $70+/hr, then retiring IBEW probably makes sense...
[•] with Mad Respect for my boy Johnboy; hope you're retired by now!
I never once saw an on-site steward.
Leaving 520 after the 2.5%->4.5% "dues" increase was among many pyrrhic victories (it was to cover aging healthcare expenditures, which is now making more sense these years later).
Eventually Unions will need sub-unions, separate from their own current LU-management – if only to keep the actual workers working.