It depends on the state. Some states don’t have right to work laws, meaning that you can be forced to join a union to work a certain job. Unions are great ideas but some of them really do suck. My ex was sexually harassed repeatedly by her manager at a grocery store and the union reps told her to take a compliment and quit complaining.
Comment on My new company let me join the union on my first day, within their onboarding app
Tilgare@lemmy.world 2 months agoI’m sure the union rep made it sound like you must, but I wonder if you were actually required. The major US grocery chain I worked for, the union was shoved themselves down your throat but it was NOT required. It felt to me that their negotiations amounted more to collusion than actually fighting for the workers. I hope they’re the weakest union in the history of the world and that they don’t all suck as badly.
ShunkW@lemmy.world 2 months ago
AbsoluteChicagoDog@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Unions are only as good as the workers are willing to work together to make them
Hikermick@lemmy.world 2 months ago
The way I remember it (40 years ago) the manager told me joining was required but I could be wrong. It was an awful union. Former employees were suing the union and grocery store chain for how bad they were screwed over
the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
You can’t be forced to join a union in right to work states. In all other states you can.
Tilgare@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Yeah, that could be the difference - I definitely lived in a right to work state. But they certainly sold it even there as if you must join.
lightnsfw@reddthat.com 2 months ago
Why tf would you ever join a union for a minimum wage? What are they even doing for you in that case beside making you actually make less than minimum wage now after you pay your dues.
bane_killgrind@slrpnk.net 2 months ago
Things like sick pay, time off, healthcare etc.
My buddy kept a shift a week at the grocery store from his teens to 30s just for the benefits.
Laborer3652@reddthat.com 2 months ago
Protecting you from management.
Crashumbc@lemmy.world 2 months ago
A lot of times it is another way to “pay your dues”. Once you’re “in” the union, you probably get preferential treatment for higher level full time jobs…
I e. The company has to hire union workers first.
lightnsfw@reddthat.com 2 months ago
It’s a grocery store…