Union workers vs Contracting out to non union companies

donbrown51 · by **donbrown51** on Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:29 pm

If your municipality had a choice between hiring a private non union contrator to doing a job in your area or using union workers, assuming the costs were virtually the same what would your preference be?

Fierce · by **Fierce** on Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:31 pm

Non-union. I'm not a fan of unions overall and I think they often serve to make things more expensive/difficult for their employers. So on anti-union principle I'd go with the other private option.

Peter · by **Peter** on Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:14 pm

Union workers, and I don't belong to a union but I want those union standards for all our children.
(Caution: language not suitable for children)
What have the Unions ever done for us?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=184NTV2CE_c

Olives · by **Olives** on Mon Feb 20, 2012 8:29 am

I think there is more control and better and fuller service with hired employees rather than a contractor. Employees also have inside knowledge that contract employees don't, which provides more efficiency as well. Knowledge is passed down inside, whereas there may be a completely different contractor every few years.

WildJon · by **WildJon** on Mon Feb 20, 2012 4:17 pm

I'd personally choose the non-union contractors. Why? Well, the non union contractors know that their salary and employment is based directly on their performance. So to keep themselves in demand they will constantly upgrade their skills and try to become better employees. Union members salary and employment is based strictly on time served and so there is little to no motivation to improve their skill set over the course of their career. I certainly wouldn't say that every union employee sits on past laurels until retirement, but many do. There are very few contract employees that do that.

If you want the job done with the highest skilled workers, go contractor.

Olives · by **Olives** on Mon Feb 20, 2012 6:52 pm

I have direct experience in both and in my opinion the employee is more likely to be specialized in that area, so is more likely the highly-skilled, but I guess it depends what type of job you are talking about.

starstruck · by **starstruck** on Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:35 am

Apples and oranges. One isn't inherently better than the other. It would depend on the context. I am all for high wages and great benefits but there has to be some fiscal responsibility if the jobs are being paid with tax dollars.

Why do you ask OP?