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Unions and Collective Bargaining
Today fewer and fewer employees are represented by unions. Those who are represented by unions enjoy certain advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, they are normally protected from terminaton without "just cause" while non-union employees can be fired for any reason, or no reason at all. Unionized employees have access to a formal grievance and arbitration process for contesting actions of the employer and almost every aspect of their employment is covered by contract including promotion, layoff, benefits, raises, etc. Employees are protected by federal law when they seek to organize a union, and they have a vote in their pay and benefits when the labor contract is negotiated.
On the negative side, the pay of the union employee is fixed by contract and cannot be changed for individual employees (unless negotiated), and they are limited to the contractual grievance and arbitration procedure and cannot sue for breach of contract in court for any violation of the union contract. Also, in California, you must pay union dues and you are governed by the terms of the labor contract even if you choose to withdraw your membership.
Unions are controlled by federal law, also, and must fairly represent their members including representing them when they are fired or disciplined. Unions are democratic institutions, however, and a union leadersnip that is non-responsive to the needs of its members can be voted out of office in the next election. So a union is only as good as the people who vote for it, so if you are a union member, you should stay actively involved. Go to meetings, vote in elections, and understand your labor contract and your rights as a union member.
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