Why Do Unions Matter?

It's a Jungle out there

We all know that union-represented employees earn more than non-represented employees (the U.S. union wage premium is the highest of any country). Most people know that unions provide certain protections and rights for employees that can only be supplied by a union. Many people do not know that, without unions, individuals have fewer rights as workers than they do as citizens. The constitution protects citizens' rights of free speech and presumption of innocence from invasion by the government, but not from companies. You can be fired for speaking your mind. You can be terminated even if 'innocent.' The U.S. Constitution supplies individuals no protections in the workplace. You leave your citizenship at the gate when you put on your badge.

The workplace is governed by the doctrine of "employment at will." This means that management at any time and without any reason can terminate employees. Yes, there are some laws which prohibit termination of employees for discriminatory reasons (gender, race, disability), but it is perfectly legal to terminate employees for no reason at any time.

Unions Make Things Better

Obviously unions, through collective action and collective bargaining, provide employees protections from the abuses just listed. Unions provide legal rights and a collective voice to the employees who form them. Unions help employees make things better for themselves and therefore their communities. Wages, benefits, working conditions, and productivity are certainly not the least of these. But this really is what unions do. We are still left with the question, Why do unions matter?

More Team and less Family - Really?

At Boeing we've heard a lot about "more team and less family". We have also had our fill of shareholder value. When we question our leaders, they defend these concepts with responses like "Well you can't fire a family member when they mess up" and "We're all committed to maximizing shareholder value." It seems to me that the scales have tipped a bit too far toward the shareholders and away from employees (and I'm not sure how customers are making out.) There are three constituent groups in our universe. Each, if they believe in themselves, has the ability to take care of themselves. Shareholders elect the board of directors and generate a strong push for maximizing shareholder value. Customers may form groupings to maximize customer satisfaction and generate buying power. Employees have the option to form unions to give themselves a voice.

Back to the Question

Why do unions matter? The question assumes that unions do matter. Boeing's Board of Directors matters because the shareholders have insisted that they function. Unions matter only if employees believe that their voice matters and then only if employees make their union(s) strong enough to have an impact. If people are as important as profits, if people are as important as planes, then the unions at Boeing should matter. It is our right to form a union. Once formed, it is our responsibility to make it strong enough to matter.

Why do unions matter? Unions matter because employees understand their value and join together to make them work. Does our union matter? Certainly our history says YES. But let us all understand that few things are certain and it takes hard work and commitment to make good things happen. Only with continued support and involvement can we extend out history forward. I'm reminded of a song. Let there be Peace on Earth, and let it begin with me. Let our union be strong and let it begin with each of us. This is going to be quite a year. Let's be ready for it.