Unions - is there a need in the 21st century?

Could someone provide some information as to why someone should join a union in the 21st century? I have never been in a Union, although I have been run off of a job in Philly because I didn't have my card. Not looking to flame unions just some answer to some questions I've had for some time.

Example: My brother experiened these at a printing company in MD:

Why should someone who just started working in a company pay union dues during their first 90 days of employment? After 90 days one can join the union but what if during that timeframe the company of employee don't make a love connection - what happens to all that money contributed?

Why would one have to inform the union they are looking for another job before they start looking for a job?

Why does time served seem to preval over skill and experience? This can keep the unskilled in positions where a lesser paid more skilled would be more productive.

Why pay someone $24/hr for a $8/hr job (pay rate for film strippers?

Why is one fined if they can not get to a union meeting several times a year if the meeting is in a location 2hrs out of the way?

I don't know what the answer is for Airline Pilot unions and autoworkers - those are about the only places I can think of that Unions are helpful.

 

I am certainly not a union person but,
Knowing something about printing, I know that people who are in the "pre-press" or Film Strippers do require a really technical background, so a blanket statment saying that they are worth 1/3 of thier salary is really harsh. It' would be like stating that Doctors are only worth 1/2 thier salary. You should really consider your audience, blue collar workers use unions to help them maintain a decent salary base. Especially around here, where the high cost of living makes it extremly difficult to live here.
Thats why you see Grocery clerks wages starting at $10.00 per hour, try making a living on $10.00 an hour and live within a 1 hour drive of this area. It's almost impossible. A

 

volvo_nut: What about unionized doctors and nurses? It is a trend that is becoming increasingly common as managed care continues to expand in the U.S.

 

You're assumption that fair work conditions and pay exist simply because it's the 21st century is flawed.

 

Chsalas - I reference $8/hr because that is the pay rate at York Graphics in York, PA for a stripper,. $12/hr in Balitmore. My brother has been in prepress for 15yrs and couldn't believe some of the pay scales when compared to non-union shops. yes the cost of living is very high around here but how does these companies remain competitive? Is this why large firms are outsourcing? I agree, even if you are making less than $35k and don't have two roommates to help with the rent, it is nearly impossible to afford to live in this area. or an hour from here

Mearen -- fair work conditions & pay are not assumed but conditions are far from sweatshops, at least for small/mid-sized companies. Would a high-tech 300 employee firm , 75m/yr revenue benefit from a union? if so, how?

The employees at the Cat. plant in York PA went on strike. One of the items was pay they were getting $18-21/hr (1986) This is in a town where $10-12/hr was good pay -- if you made $35k with overtime you were doing really well. RPS (non-union at the time but the union wanted us to join) was paying college folks, such as myself back then, $8.50/hr to unload trucks for 4hrs. $18-21/hr in York, PA in 1986 was very good money but it wasn't enough for those in the union. Ultimately Cat. pulled out of York, PA. about a year after the strike ended. Hundreds were laid-off and couldn't find work making anywhere near their union salaries.

Chris -- good point regarding the doctors -- Will unionizing doctors and nurses increase healthcare costs? or will they be able to purchase malpractice insurance with a large group rate, thus reducing costs?