Recently, in Utah, a new law was passed that prohibits unionization for public sector workers (teachers, emergency services, healthcare workers, etc). I never paid union dues, but I always benefited from a union trying to raise our wages. Are unions really necessary, though? Will this legislation benefit our state and wages as educators, or will it hurt in the long run?
https://usw.org/news/rapid-response-feedback-report-utah-governor-signs-bill-banning-public-sector-unions/
I’ve always had a union so I don’t know what it’s like to not have one. I will say - my district cannot force me to stay late or come in early, they can’t fire me because an admin doesn’t like me, I’m sure that I make more money due to my union negotiating contracts based on our behalf, I have a decent maternity leave policy, I cannot have more than 24 students in my class ever, and my district covers part of the cost of my health insurance that I carry for my family. I bet there are more benefits that I just can’t see. I don’t think I would ever move to a place where unions aren’t allowed. I have a good friend who moved to Georgia and she’s fallen in love with the state but she’s told me teaching is way different and she’s not sure how much longer she can do it knowing what it’s like to teach in NY.
Agreed! Never worked without a union in education, but did work with no union support at the hospital. They had us work weekends, mandatory OT all the time, always changing our schedule…. it was maddening.
When I got into the schools, I joined our union right away and never looked back.
I wouldn’t work without a union. Unions help advancement of pay, we get a retention bonus, longevity pay, class sizes are small, hours are decent, insurance is great- messa BCBS is the best insurance, period!
Plus, Michigan is no longer a right to work state- yay! 🙌🏼