Do middle class republicans even know the reason unions are needed, or what they have done for the workers?

That is for the people who must work for a living, that includes middle class republicans, and non union workers as well. This is what the unions have done for all working people

Unions are an essential part of a strong democracy and play a crucial role in America’s public and community life. Not only do they give workers a voice on the job and help negotiate fair benefits and wages for their members, but they also use their political and economic resources to raise the floor for everyone who works for a living.



Unions, by fighting for higher standards for workers, businesses, families, the environment, and public health and safety, have helped to build the middle class and make sure the economy works for everyone.



Everyone

Business

Families

Environment

Health

Equality



Unions Making a Difference for Everyone



Unions benefit all of America’s workers and strengthen our communities. Unions today:



Reinforce the middle class and lift up America’s communities. States with higher rates of unionization have lower rates of poverty, crime, and failing schools.1



Benefit local economic development. In partnerships with employers, community organizations, and local governments, unions have helped revitalize local economies by saving and expanding family-supporting jobs.



Raise wages for all workers. Studies show that a large union presence in an industry or region can raise wages even for non-union workers.2



Fight for all workers’ health and safety. In 2008 the AFL-CIO and the United Food and Commercial Workers sued to get employers to provide personal protective equipment. Now, workers in hazardous jobs which require safety gear—like hard hats or protective glasses—must be provided this equipment, instead of being asked to buy it themselves.



Advocate for increases in the minimum wage and push for living wage ordinances. Unions have been instrumental in efforts to increase the federal minimum wage, state minimum wages and in the successful living wage movement which has already resulted in over 150 local living wage laws nationwide.



Reduce wage inequality. Unions raise wages the most for low- and middle-wage workers and workers without college degrees.3



Invest worker pension funds to rebuild communities In June 2006, the AFL-CIO launched the Gulf Coast Revitalization Program, a $1 billion housing and economic development program to create low- and moderate-income housing, a low-cost mortgage program, health facilities, job training services, and thousands of high-wage union jobs throughout the region. The Gulf Coast program builds on the success of similar AFL-CIO investment strategies to develop affordable housing in Chicago and to help New York City recover from the devastating terrorist attacks of September 11th. Union pension funds invested $750 million in post-9/11 New York.4



Are crucial in passing legislation benefiting all workers, including:

Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, providing an increase in the federal minimum wage.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, a comprehensive federal law ensuring safety in the workplace.

Workers' compensation laws, giving workers injured on the job medical coverage and compensation for lost time.

Mine safety laws strengthening mine safety standards and protecting the rights of mine workers.

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, creating the 40-hour work week and the first minimum wage.

The Social Security Act of 1935, providing benefits to unemployed and retired workers.

Union members:



Earn higher wages. Union members earn 30% more than non-union workers.



Have more training. Union workers are more likely to have access to formal, on-the-job training, making employees more skilled and adding to productivity.5



Have safer workplaces. Union workers are often better trained on health and safety rules and union workplaces are more likely to enforce Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.6



Are more likely to receive workers’ compensation. Union members also get their benefits faster, and return to work more quickly.7 When workers are injured, unions help workers through the often complicated process of filing for workers’ compensation and protect workers from employer retaliation.



Have health insurance. Nearly 80% of unionized workers receive employer-provided health insurance, compared with 49% of non-union workers. Union members are also more likely to have short-term disability and life insurance coverage.Do middle class republicans even know the reason unions are needed, or what they have done for the workers?
Without unions, no one would be making above minimum wage and have any benefits.

It just isn't good business sense to pay more than you have too for labor.



We would be back to the days of when Big Business Owners used the military, police forces and private security companies to assassinate anyone wanting a pay raise or benefits.
Actually you have it all wrong.

Conservatives believe that workers should be able to make that choice.

Conservatives do not believe they should be able to make that choice for others.



Conservatives support the right to work laws and secret ballots free from union pressure.Do middle class republicans even know the reason unions are needed, or what they have done for the workers?
a majority of unions are in the public sector and they're collectively bargaining against taxpayers, while the taxpayers have no representation
No cons have this fantasy belief the the "markert will regulate itself" and if you are mistreated "go get another job" both falseDo middle class republicans even know the reason unions are needed, or what they have done for the workers?
They have outlived their usefulness.
Unions were useful decades ago.
And in so doing they have forced employers to look overseas for employees.
of course unions are useful and needed...

how else can we manage to cancel an entire nba basketball season?
republicans believe in one big union: the union of rich white fatties
Unions are why all the jobs went to Mexico and China. Hurray for unions
that is why only 7 % of workers are union
Ok.....Now how 'bout a Wall of Text from......say.......sometime AFTER 1960....
Yes, I know exactly what Unions have done for their members.



“I want to stay here,” the letter said. “But as the leader of this business, I have to do what’s right for Caterpillar when making decisions about where to invest. The direction that this state is headed in is not favorable to business, and I’d like to work with you to change that.”

http://archive.chicagobreakingbusiness.c…



Unions are the reason for the tax increase. Somebody has to pay those pensions and medical.
unions have fooled the uneducated into thinking that nobody except the "hoi polloi" ever made a living before unions came around. the thing is, unions are such a recent phenomenon that one MUST wonder how humanity made it this far without unions
In your rant I forgot your question ... oh ya, are we aware of what unions have done for the workers? Unions at one point were essential to establish safe work environments and standards, reduce the presence of sweat shop manufacturing facilities and indeed did raise the standard of wages. Unfortunately they are largely used today to protect the jobs of people who are not performing to standards, violated company policies or in some cases even committed criminal acts against their employer. The wages have been driven so high for the most menial unskilled jobs that we can no longer compete financially with the labor markets abroad. I'm sure that unions hae and still do protect workers jobs who are being unfairly discriminated against or who are being held to a higher standard than their contemporaries in an attempt to force them out of their job. I'm sure that they are fighting to prevent the erosion of benefits for their members when negotiating contracts and I'm sure that there are still instances where unions have forced an employer to correct unsafe conditions on behalf of the safety and welfare of their members and all workers at the facility. The problem exists when unions have so much political power that the welfare of the general population is cast aside so long as their members can be excluded (example: The Affordable Health-care Act). So yes, we are aware of the benefits of unions but we also acknowledge the damages.
Says you



Work safety standards were actualy put in place by business, businesses lobbied cogress to have standards.



Don't give them credit for things they had nothing to do with.



Child labor laws were NOT channged or put in place because of unions.



And they do not earn higher wages either, I have worked in right to work states and Union states and the right to work states pay more, so that is incorrect.



Unions CAN be a good thing when they work with business, but far too often as proved in the GM bailout, they are political, and own the Democrats part. They get special treatment even thought they make up about 10% of the work force.



Unions ARE NOT the union workers. Unions are the bossses sitting in their offcies flying around the country to union meetings trying ti figure out how to spend Union dues for political favors.



They hurt employment by being unwilling to negotiate.



In the end, they can be good or bad, and the bad ones are alwways in the news putting up an arguement instead of negotiating.



Why not do it like Germany who has about 80% Union employees with laws governmeing the relationship with the business. Unions would cry how they are losing their rights of negotiation when really they just want to be able to blackmail.
no they are brainwashed by people who pay people to spread lies for them to buy. These lies keep greedy people in power through stupid people voting to keep them in power.
7.2 percent of private sector workers are union. if they are so great why are so few people involved?

but maybe if you force more people to pay dues you could regain your ability to fight corruption...
Nice cut %26amp; paste... No one is against the freedom to choose whetehr to join a union or not: what I am against is the PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS who vote for their bosses as a bloc and have undue influence within a governement which increasingly limits their representation of the People in lieu of the union special interest. Roosevelt once described that "all Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management. The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with Government employee organizations. The employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives in Congress. Accordingly, administrative officials and employees alike are governed and guided, and in many instances restricted, by laws which establish policies, procedures, or rules in personnel matters. Particularly, I want to emphasize my conviction that militant tactics have no place in the functions of any organization of Government employees. Upon employees in the Federal service rests the obligation to serve the whole people, whose interests and welfare require orderliness and continuity in the conduct of Government activities. This obligation is paramount. Since their own services have to do with the functioning of the Government, a strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent on their part to prevent or obstruct the operations of Government until their demands are satisfied. Such action, looking toward the paralysis of Government by those who have sworn to support it, is unthinkable and intolerable." History proven by present day! Another fact is that so-called "corporate thuggery" has been replaced today by UNION THUGGERY; look at the violence on OWS from union involvement! This thuggery is evidenced by the stoppage of a Boeing plant that would create (non-union) jobs in South Carolina and the push for Card Check to force into the open those who CHOOSE not to join a union! For all the 'good things' you list for unions is a coresponding BAD ONE...
My father was non-union and did just fine.



I'm non-union and do well.



I have insurance (state run, but still its something).



And why don't you talk about the unions when they attack non-union workers, force people to join the union when they don't want to (don't join, can't work here!)



Frankly, unions have their purposes, but I don't think they should have the power to tell me that I have to join; just so they can get their hands in my pocketbook.
Most of the Unions that have survived today are unions for Federal workers. Federal workers should not be allowed to Unionize. FDR even held this view. Governments and their employees should not be able to argue over how much tax payer money they get to take.