Let me preface this post with a little personal information. My first job was as a bag boy in a Western PA grocery store. As strange as this sounds, I was required to join the Steelworkers of America to get that minimum wage job. In exchange for my union dues the contract stated that no student working could ever earn more than 10 cents above minimum wage. The union dues in effect knocked my wage below minimum wage.
That bias stated, I do not think all unions are bad. I have worked in two close shop states, and had mixed experience with the unions I belonged to. I will say that I have noticed the larger and more political unions have done far less to help me, than the smaller locally based unions.
But there seems to be an assumption that progressives must fall in line behind the unions, and I feel myself again splitting from the movement. Perhaps it is a different definition of the progressive movement that is pushing me away. When I look at two major areas of American need, I see unions as an obstacle to a progressive society. The auto industry is certainly one of the two unions that has resisted change, and instead lobbied their way to the current state of affairs. The other union I feel is inhibiting progress are the teachers unions. Again they have sought to protect their due payers through political pressure, and in effect weakened educational reform.
I know people are going to jump all over this post, but I feel it is dishonest to deflect all blame from corrupt organizations. Certainly the Automobile leadership deserves the lions share of the blame for everything that has transpired to put them where they are, but the unions have also contributed. The Michigan political structure has been a push and pull game between company and union for the last five decades, and the loser has regularly been the citizens of Michigan.
Growing up on the outskirts of Pittsburgh in the 70's and 80's, I have seen the effects of that game. Politicians were either in the camp of big steel, or steel unions. Both lobbies resisted environmental reform, and the citizens of the three rivers valley all suffered. Both lobbies pulled so hard for their own interests, that they soon found themselves being out competed by foreign powers. In the end both sides lost. More importantly the economy of a whole region lost.
Both Honda and Toyota use the cheaper American labor (yes compared to Japanese labor, we are cheaper), and without the existence of labor unions provide the highest compensation packages for the regions they put there factories in. Studies have shown them to be among the top rated employers when it comes to employee satisfaction. The reason for this comes down to common sense management, which the big three Automakers seem incapable of providing. While the benefits provided by these foreign companies are less than that of their American competitors, they will still have jobs in a few years.
This is the problem with big American labor. Their interests don't reflect any long term viability for their workers. I believe anyone working should earn a wage that allows them to live well, but I also believe they earn that wage with their work. In the case of the auto workers and the auto industry, neither has acted in a way that justifies their success. Both have spent more time fighting each other, than considering what is best for their industry in the long term. Instead they bickered about how to make cars that no one wanted to buy.
I also mentioned teachers unions, and again I don't put the blame entirely in their shoulders. School boards and local officials have bungled their budgets on ineffective programs for far too long. The teachers unions have no responsibility for the administrative failures which has helped to cripple our education system. However, they have consistently blocked reforms attempted by good people just trying to do right by students. They have demanded that teachers not be held accountable for the performance of their students. Again their interest has only been their due payers, and not reform which is desperately needed. Compensation should be based on performance, and that is not the view of their union.
I am never opposed to the rights of labor. If someone else here feels that minimum wage should be raised to $10-$12/hour, I agree completely. If someone suggests that health care is the right of all people, I'm with you. I agree that people should be able to retire with means that allow a dignified life. I also agree that US trade policy should be used to protect American workers first. But when I'm told that believing this means I must support organizations, who have a track record of self interest and corruption, I take exception. I have worked for two of the three largest unions in our country, and at all three jobs I saw absurd behavior which ensured the company would not survive. Most of those companies are no longer in business or have reorganized completely.