join the union?

[Pierson's]

what are people's opinions on joining unions? i gather that many people think that most unions are worth much. but surely the principle of workers solidarity is important?

does it matter the type of work or union? are some unions better to join than others? how does one decided which union to join if there are multiple unions competing for the same workers?

[Invincible Summer]

To be fair, you can have worker's solidarity and organization without unions.

[Pierson's]

sure, but to most people, if you aren't in the union (whichever one), you are not showing solidatity. i was looking more for an answer to "should i join the union", yes or no, and why. simply saying the obvious, that you don't need an official union to have solidatirty and organisation isn't really helping with that.

[Invincible Summer]

sure, but to most people, if you aren't in the union (whichever one), you are not showing solidatity. i was looking more for an answer to "should i join the union", yes or no, and why. simply saying the obvious, that you don't need an official union to have solidatirty and organisation isn't really helping with that.

Well I have no way to know if it's "obvious" to you.


does it matter the type of work or union?
I don't quite understand the question, but you usually join a union related to your field of work (e.g. United Auto Workers is a union for... well.. auto workers).

If you're asking whether certain types of work are 'better' to get into because of their unions, I think that's pretty subjective, and I don't think one should go into a field of work just because they have a "good" union.


are some unions better to join than others?
I think there are some unions that are more "active" and "militant," but I'm not 100% sure on which ones they are.


how does one decided which union to join if there are multiple unions competing for the same workers?
I would guess that one should talk to the diff unions and get a sense of which is "best" or meets one's interests.


I mean, there's no harm in joining a union, especially if it will get you some benefits that you may otherwise not have when un-unionized. Just realize that unions are not necessarily a revolutionary organ of themselves. The whole point of unions is to negotiate w/ the capitalists for a compromise that suits both workers and bosses.

[thejambo1]

some unions are better than others, i have been in a few. i have had a mixture of feelings from my experiences. all in all if there is a union in your workplace i would join it.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

You should join a union if there is one in your workplace and if there isn't you should aim to mobilise the workforce. In our current period in time revolutionaries need to organise within reformist unions to spread our message and to educate people. It doesn't matter whether we disagree with the organisation's goals and strategies itself these organisations still remain as working class organisations therefore we must organise within them. Not organising within current unions will gain nothing and will isolate revolutionaries from their class.

[Искра]

I'll join the union when I get job. And I'll poison people with anarcho-syndicalist plague.

[Pogue]

Unions are a means for self defence. Join the union, strengthen it, build class power and solidarity within it.

[Pierson's]

thanks for the responses. there are two (or more?) unions in my workplace, both of which are relevant, but i really can't tell which is better or not. i've joined the one that the majority of people are apparently a member of.

the comments about working with in the flawed unions to push for revolutionary chagne, etc. are sort of what i was thinking.

so yeah!