Last year, Michigan voted against a clause to put the right to collective bargaining into the state constitution. Because it didn't pass, the governor proposed, and passed, a right-to-work law. Basically this means it is not mandatory for an employee to join a union even if their workplace is unionized. Our contract (local 876) is up this summer, and I've been told that at least 50% of employees in my store need to "re-enlist" for the union in order for it to stay, otherwise it will go away and the our store will no longer be unionized. I feel pretty concerned because most newer employees don't think the union has any benefit because they're just working to get through college and will leave. I've worked for Kroger for 3 years, and while I don't plan on staying with Kroger after college, I think the union is important for those who do need to continue working here. I feel like if there is no union guarenteeing pay raises, vacations, etc then they will disappear all together and Kroger will ulitimately become a work environment much like McDonalds.
I feel like if there is no union guarenteeing pay raises, vacations, etc then they will disappear all together and Kroger will ulitimately become a work environment much like McDonalds.
Feelings don't equate to facts.
Take a look at what Krogers that already don't have unions have to offer. They offer the same benefits.
All unions do is steal from the employees and support liberal political candidates.
I would counter that Kroger only offers the same benefits to prevent stores from unionizing. Those stores benefit from a kind of "herd immunity" that may not hold up in the case of 876.
It's unfortunate that you have such negative feelings about your union, and it's unfortunate that unions deserve a portion of it - paying for the sins of the past. But it's also apparent that as the wage gap grows, and workers rights are slowly stripped away, unions should become increasingly relevant to workers. There are a lot of fringe benefits to having a union, and ultimately, the people that will suffer from dwindling ranks are workers who have been with the company for many years and can't easily start over somewhere else.
I would counter that Kroger only offers the same benefits to prevent stores from unionizing.
Prove it.
If Kroger really wanted to, they'd just threaten to get rid of the stores that are unionized. I've seen it happen time and time again with plenty of store chains.
Unions cost people jobs, encourage poor work ethic, and tell you how to vote. They try to control people through fear tactics.
Unions aren't like what they use to be. UFCW is even worse.
