It’s the same people that don’t get socialised healthcare. Union fees are like a tax that’s used to pay people to do work for you, in the case of worker unions, people that negotiate working conditions, benefits, and wages, in addition to lawyers that can both offer legal advice and representation should you be in need of it.
Here in Sweden we have lots of different unions. We have a tenants union that negotiate rent increases, ensure that landlords do their end of the contract, and will help you with legal proceedings should it be required.
There are also various “customer owned” institutions, like my bank, insurance company, and the grocery store I get most of my groceries from. The goal isn’t necessarily massive profits, but enough to sustain and develop the services, with surplus going back to the owners, that is the customers.
It just makes sense. We all make use of schools as children, so funding that with taxes makes sense. It ensures everyone gets a good education, and at least one good meal per day. Same thing applies to healthcare.
Spuddaccino@reddthat.com 1 year ago
For union dues, I’ll sometimes bring up strikes. People know that when unions strike, they aren’t working, and when they aren’t working, they aren’t getting paid. What they don’t realize is that most unions pay the employees during strikes, and that money has to come from somewhere.
SARGEx117@lemmy.world 1 year ago
You’re literally partially making sure you still get PAID when shit happens.
Very good point, and I honestly wonder how common that knowledge even is.
Then again, almost all anti-union propaganda hinges on people not knowing enough about the subject to call it out. As with most propaganda.
Gyrolemmy@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I personally never realized that striking employees get paid for time they were on strike. Kinda seems weird if you ask me. Like they didnt do any work and what if the company had someone else fill their spot. Seems like that wouldn’t really make sense.
Perhaps if the union end of strike terms were to fill backpay then it makes sense.
SARGEx117@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Hmm. It’s been a thing for every union I’ve been a part of, but it makes sense it wouldn’t be ALL of them that do it. I’m sure some just simply aren’t large enough to do it like that.
Touching_Grass@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I would be worried the Union management isn’t corrupt though.
TheSanSabaSongbird@lemdro.id 1 year ago
That’s something to worry about in every arena that involves money, not just unions. It’s just a fact of life that there are crooks and liars in the world.
phobiac@lemmy.world 1 year ago
No concerns about the company management being corrupt and working against your interests, though?
Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 1 year ago
so get involved and make sure it isn’t? tell people if you think the management is corrupt so they can be tossed out on their ass.
magnetosphere@kbin.social 1 year ago
I honestly did not know that. I’ve been wondering how, for example, UAW workers can afford to strike for weeks.
TheSanSabaSongbird@lemdro.id 1 year ago
The downside is that you won’t get paid as much as you would working. My union pays $200 a day to anyone on a picket line, but as a strike goes on, the money starts to run out.
Fortunately it hasn’t come to that for us.
Elivey@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Better than getting nothing during that time! $200/day for me would be a lot of money.
CurlyWurlies4All@slrpnk.net 1 year ago
I know this might not apply elsewhere as I’m in Australia, but I always bring up that your union fees are totally tax deductible so you get it all back at tax time.