Actually it doesn't give them freedom. It promotes mediocrity and subsidizes the low energy drones. It absolutely denies the go-getters the ability to earn merit-based compensation.
and to speak with one voice
Why would you want that? They're not all equal.
Now if unions were basically self-policing organizations that would work with a level of employment, no money involved, voting dirtbags out of the shop, and making sure they could bring noobies or lower skilled workers up to speed....you might have something.
If you outgrew your position....you'd go into another trade "association".
> Now if unions were basically self-policing organizations... <
I guess that’s our main point of disagreement. I think of a union much as I would think of a lawyer on retainer. The job of the union (or the lawyer) is to represent you, not to police you.
It is the job of the employer to police you, to get rid of the deadwood, and to offer serious merit-based pay.
But employers too rarely do any of that. They instead take the easy way out, and sign contracts that give the unions all the cards.
Now, I’m not saying it would be easy for an employer to stand up to a union. Some states make it very difficult to hire permanent replacement workers. And then there’s the violence by union thugs, violence that’s ignored buy local elected officials.
I say much of this from personal experience, as I have worked in both union and non-union shops. I’ve seen union guys exercising their right to free association. And I’ve seen union guys get drunk on the job knowing their bosses would never write them up.
Sorry for being so long-winded here...and maybe that level playing field I want is not possible in reality.
And let me say this. I’ve enjoyed our discussion, and appreciate that you’ve kept it civil. Too often my comments on this issue are met with vulgarities.