What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a union member?

In my union the major advantage is job security. They cannot fire me unless I do something wrong. It's also nice to know that management cannot push you around and make you do things that your not supposed to be doing since they are in fear of having to deal with the union. Not that it would get them into trouble, but they would have to spend several hours a day for the next week or two to work the problem out.

Disadvantage is paying the union dues. I had to pay $600 initiation to join and now that I've paid it they take $48 dollars from my paycheck each month. I look at it as a small cost for insurance (which I get for free) and job security.

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