Union workers who hate unions. I don't get it.

[hay rick]

41. The 90-day probationary period is important.

It is seldom mentioned in discussions of union workplaces, but I always thought it was crucial. I was both a steward and a trainer at various points in my career, so I watched the process up close. I disagreed with some of management's decisions on who to keep and who to let go, but mostly the process worked to the benefit of both parties. Management was able to weed out employees who were inept or demonstrated poor attendance patterns, and the union was spared the burden of having to constantly defend such people in discipline cases. Making it through the probationary period was usually viewed as an achievement. The employees demonstrated and developed good work habits and those good habits helped justify the pay/benefit/representation "premium" which they received.

In a reasonably run business, the mutual benefits continue to accrue. Workers appreciate job security as a bonus and expect to give extra effort to continuously prove their worth. Companies with a long-term contractual commitment to employees have an incentive to train those employees for new skills and new technologies. It can work.

Thanks for a good post.