Perhaps I could bother a brother/sister in a union state to please

[styersc]

explain to a sympathetic brother in a southern, union adverse state, exactly the meaning and mechanics of collective bargaining, particularly the importance.

Others might also appreciate a primer.

[Davis_X_Machina]

1. Safety in numbers...

...you can't play divide and conquer games, offering compensation X to the person in pod A, and compensation Y in pod B, just on your say-so -- both sides have reached an agreement on compensation. Come layoff time, you can't lay off X because he's not a guy, or not hot, and keep Y because they are. Who goes, and who stays is done according to a system agreed to by both workers and management.

If your belief in rugged individualism, and your estimate of your own power, and value in the market, convince you that you can talk to Enormco's HR department as a equal, good luck to ye.

Us mere mortals will just stand back and applaud.

[htuttle]

2. "United we negotiate, Divided we beg"

That's about it, right there.

[Sherman A1]

4. Sums it up pretty well

Certainly there are nuances based upon the industry involved, the economic times, the bargaining unit and a variety of factors, but you have pretty much nailed it.

Member United Food & Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 655

[EC]

3. How's the pay and benefits in the nonunion state compared

to Wi's? Or a "right to work" state? That's why unions are important. They keep the pay and benefits at a living standard for all in the area.


Besides that, it's tyranny for a government to order it's employees to do their bidding for whatever they decide. Government workers have to have a voice in their employment matters or we are no different than third world countries where your loyalty to the state is your bread and butter.

[Davis_X_Machina]

5. Some of any salary differential...

...if the right-to-work state is down South or out West -- may be the owners passing along the money they don't spend complying with health, safety and environmental regulations that are stricter elsewhere.

They do return some of those savings to their employees, right?

The two phenomena may go hand in hand.

[EC]

6. Ha n/t

[Davis_X_Machina]

7. You, sirrah, evidently did not...

...read the same Econ 101 books I did!

The Invisible Hand is always good for a reach-around.

[styersc]

8. Hmmmm. Pretty uniformative answers. On to internet research.

I hope this does not mean that a bunch of people are walking around Wisconsin demanding protection for collective bargaining without really knowing what it is.

[Davis_X_Machina]

9. Sorry you didn't get the answers you already wanted...

..going in.

[styersc]

10. I was hoping for technical information about collective bargaining.

Why is it important, how does it work, what are the alternatives, how will its elimination effect workers.

Even if its just a useful link, I'd like to be better informed.

[Omaha Steve]

11. Your contract defines your rights and managements rights

Work hours. Seniority. What you can be fired for. How to settle a dispute. Vacation earned at what rate. It is a long list.