Do We Still Need Unions?

There are still some unions out there.  Are they really doing what they set out to do?

I had a great discussion last night with a man who works with an agency within the State of NY and his wife, who is a former teacher and was a member of the Teachers Union.

They both emphatically supported unions.  I, on the other hand, have been against them, and was trying to understand why their organizations need unions while most private sector jobs no longer do.

The biggest advantage for both of those unions, according to my friends, was that they help protect employment (keep people employed).

In the case of a teacher, who may be exposed to the wrath of an upset parent who decides to get revenge on a teacher, the union serves as a supporter for the teacher's rights and will represent the teacher, sometimes when the administration won't or can't. This sounds like a problem with the administration within school districts to me.

In the case of a state worker, same thing, it ensures that the rights of the state employee are represented in case the director or deputy director of the agency is unable or unwilling to support them.  Again, sounds like there's a problem among the higher ranking management.

From my "unbiased" vantage point, I am still unsure why any employee is deserving of outside representation or support.  We don't have that in the private sector.  If a company wants to fire us, they can.  In NY State, they can do so for no reason at all.  While this is not a good thing at all for employees, it is a condition we have all learned to except and respond to. 

I don't believe that anyone should be entitled to a job, no matter how long or short a period of time they have been in that position.  In my opinion, those who know that they could be replaced might try harder to perform their jobs well. Yet on the other hand, living with the fear of being let go can wear on the nerves.

What if all employees had union representation?  What if all employers had to go through a tedious and lengthy process in order to let employees go?  What if the union set standard pay bands for jobs to ensure all companies compensated the same?  Would this change the volitile employment situation we have today?  Would companies be able financially survive and compete? 

Unions served a crucial role in the past...maybe it is time to re-invent them and bring them back.