Ive recently joined the sheet metal workers union,what are the benefits of having a union job?

i was doing hvac for 1 company for a while,my buddy said he could get me into his union,local 38 sheetmetal workers unioun here in new york,so i left my other job to join,and right away i started at 3 dollars an hour more,other than that,what are th benefits of being in a union,how come some people r against unions?Ive recently joined the sheet metal workers union,what are the benefits of having a union job?
Considering the Anti-Union sentiment I've seen on Answers, you're really brave posting this question!





My perspective is with short-term contract work. This current job is going to run a year, which is the longest hubby has had in 7 years! Normally, we end up with about 7-10 W2s in a year.





Benefits to being in a Craft Union:


-You can switch companies without loosing your pension and health care (if yours is like the IBB where the union holds %26amp; administers the plans and the companies just pay in during the term of employment)


-Continued training. I've lost track of how many certifications and hours of training the IBB does every year.


-Pay scale. As you've noticed, Union jobs pay more.


-Representation. If there's a problem, you're not alone in facing the big company. You have the right to have the Steward (Union Rep) with you during major discussions with company people.


-Safety Standards. Unions are usually very strict about OSHA standards for both workers %26amp; the company.





Talk to your Steward or the Hall, they can give you more information than the people on Answers.





From what I've noticed, a lot of the Anti-Union people are ignorant of the difference between Industry Unions (Teachers, Airline Pilots, etc) and Craft Unions (Boilermakers, Pipefitters, Ironworkers, etc). Full Referral Unions are a foreign concept to most people. Or, they think unions are irrelevant, antiquated relics of the past.Ive recently joined the sheet metal workers union,what are the benefits of having a union job?
How about job security? Have you ever had a job with a rotten boss that you feared?? With Union leadership, you can work to make it a better working environment...





How about benefits? Most union jobs have medical, dental, retirement and 401-k benefits. If your job has a 401-k, USE IT!!! You will be amazed how quickly you can build up your money, and at the very least if they have a match, contribute at least as much as they match!! It's as close to free money as you will ever get!





Most people that are against unions have probably had a bad experience with a job that the boss threatened them if they went union. Or, they are unskilled workers, unlike yourself!





This administration is trying to eliminate unions and high paying jobs, thus in Bush's first six years you never heard a word about illegal immigration. They WANT the cheap, unskilled labor from Mexico. Profits are WAY UP at corporations, thanks in no small part to illegal immigration!





Welcome to a better way of life, Union Brother!!