I suppose everyone an in internal moral code they live by. Mine would not allow me to pay dues to a union that in turn gives my money directly to democrat candidates. If your code allows you to do that, than you do you, I guess.

Thats what I did. I did me.

It's very easy to find a nonunion job. They are everywhere.

That doesn't mean we back a certain party, and if the union donates to them, it's really none of our business.
We work for a living, what the boss or union does isn't our business.
Kind of like I didn't get the covid shot, or flu shots when they came out in the 70's or whenever.
Still don't and never will.
About the same as my pulmonary told me I have to go on oxygen 8 years ago, still not using it.,
I refuse to be on a leash.
I'm doing better than 8 out of the 9 people that I know are/were on oxygen, their pushing up daises .
And they were diagnosed after I was.
It's not easy at times, but I'm still free to do as I please, abet a lot slower, and have to know my limits!

Maybe in Iowa , but not around here .
I could find jobs under the table easy enough, while on layoff , but I couldn't afford to do that work and feed/insure a family.

So do you work for a union? Or self employed?

I have never worked for a union. I was hired for a job once years ago. THEN they told me it was union. So I turned it down.

Good on you.

Even though Pennsylvania is not a "right to work" state my wife and her lawyers successfully forced her union to let her drop out while retaining her job. She was sick and tired of percentages of her dues supporting liberal causes, candidates and politicians.

I know lots of places won’t force you to join, but they’ll still doc the dues off your check if your’re on a union project. They told us this on our hire date. Be it religious reasons or personal, you didn’t have to join but dues were coming off your check. Same with a construction job I did in Ontario way back. We had to pay dues to hang drywall there.

On a side note, I see far more $$ potential in the private side of my trade, as long as you’re willing to. With a little ambition, the world is literally your oyster. Linemen retire here with full pension, then travel the world on the private side making 1/3+ than they were making in their last year…..and they take on projects when they feel like it.

After 24hrs building/maintaining powerline, I moved over to the forestry section or our utility. I must say it feels like a private company, it’s like working for a completely different corporation. Lots of give and take & trust. Not following the union rule hard and fast like the customer service side. The Super just said, don’t give me a reason to start looking into you…..lol. When you get a tough job done, they know not to ask how you did it, it’s done now…..move onto the next…..lol.

I’m not kicking my linemen bros in the nutz though, most of us are a different breed. While working in customers yards after a storm, we’ve been asked “When’s my power coming back on?”
“We’re not going home until it is”
“Aren’t you guys union? No breaks? Everyone’s working?…... You sure don’t work like union guys”…..

The Toronto ice storm years ago was brutal. A customer asked my foreman “So you guys are just here to look at the damage and leave like the other 5 crews did?”
It was all backyard climbing work, no access for hydralic spurs. Crews from Canada and the US had come by, the TO Hydro guy said they turned it down, these were private contractors. They hire some real wingnut “linemen”, some who have never seen a set of spurs.
“No, when we leave this evening, your lights will be on”
Next thing the residents are hiding bottles of whisky in our truck bins……lol

Good for her. Being forced to support a union is a crock.

One of Canada’s biggest problems,, if not the biggest

far to many folks directly work for some level of government(federal/provincial/municipal). And even more indirectly relay on the government for survival,,, and the number is only rapidly increasing

The public sector unions hold significant leverage and political influence

They promote the whole “woke and DEI” ideology. They’re all the freaks that you see

The result has become a completely stagnant economy with next to no growth, no future,,,,,,,just MORE government

It’s not an accident,,,, it’s been by design

Myself I will provide for the family in the best way possible. If there was a better option closer to home I would take it union or not. Probably makes a big difference if you are the provider of a family of 5 vs married couple with both working. Everyone situation is different.

Currently that translates to a small pension I can take at 56, income from 70k to 160k depending on how much I want to work. Family health insurance that cost $52 a week with vision and dental. Thats $20 co pay for Dr's $30 for specialist, $75 for ER free if admitted. Max $1500 out of pocket per person or $3k per family combined. Also have up to 2 years short term disability if your sick or injured that pays 80% of your 40 hr check. Also if I do end up disabled with MS I will receive the amount of pension I have years in to receive. Currently thats 20 years worth. Its not a lot but comforting especially when I dont know how much longer I can safety pull off running large heavy equipment. I never know when, what or the intensity of these MS symptoms will hit. Pulled over and had my wife drive home from the store yesterday got to off balance dizziness. Hit all of a sudden not good when running equipment or driving. Legs may cramp or spasms. Get electric shock down my left collar bone and arm. Can become so tired I can't stay awake and falling asleep driving or at least when I have to stop for something regardless of how much sleep I have gotten . I called in 5 days last month(fmla) so anyone that knows me knows its seriously getting to me since I dont miss work and work a lot of extra.

There are better jobs im sure but in my area I sure have not found any to come close

Inner city kids have the same mindset. Join the gang, become a thug, make money.

If you are going to work union, shoot for becoming a union rep/boss. That's where the big bucks are.

Thats not having any positive roll models or knowing who their dad is and being raised by trashy get around single mom.

Typically I find many dont have the benefits and pay so get negative about them. Can't admit jealousy so attempt to some moral high ground. Not all but its a pattern.

I love it becues I have said many times I care less of im working union or not. Im have done both in my life. Even other union jobs like Ford does not have as good of benefits and is why I turnd them down as well. Its a job. I trade my limited hours to live for $ and benefits so im geting the most available to me.

Cousin in Illinois. Retired teacher. Teacher union member. Asked her why she joined the union. Didn't want to but pressure from the other teachers/union members.
Unions used to have to get dues directly from each member. Now union contracts require employer to take out dues and pay directly to union.
Union employees are members of a union. Unions join larger unions. AFL-CIO. So much money is sucked out of our economy by unions it's surprising we can afford that. Unions don't respond to inflation, they contribute to it.

Worked union for 37 years, never told who to vote for, but I’m sure my dues went to fund democrats.the difference in money was not very much. After I retired I made more per hour non union.