I remember that working for universal studios. I was 16 and didn't want to join the union. I'd join now but at sixteen I was like "I can get all the same benefits as the union members with one expectation being if I get sent home early don't get the whole days pay? That just means I won't ever get sent home early."
As an adult I can the real benefit was they could have fixed the problem that caused me to leave. I wanted a promotion, I worked an outside vending cart in the hot florida sun. I wanted to be a lead inside. Specifically after an incident where I started passing out. Everything went blurry and white and I was feeling weak. I called paged my leads several times but they hated walking out to my cart so they ignored my page several times like always.
So I sat down and made an ice pack with paper towels. Got a call thirty seconds later "why are you sitting down!" I of course replied "get the fuck out here I'm passing out from the heat"
Got walked to medical services, cooled down, went back to talk to the area manager.
I told him I've done a fantastic job and been skipped over for promotion. I want to be a lead.
He flat out said "you've tripled sales in the last year, and your the only who doesn't complain about working. I can't promote you because I can't replace you"
So I quit. Wouldve been a great time to speak with a union rep instead. If I had one.
And never wondered why a boss would be willing to part with an extra .50 an hour to keep them out of a union. Bosses being well known for just giving away money after all.
