I’m an IBEW member. They don’t have the same pull here that they do further north, but our contract does get us better pay than most jobs in my town. The only catch is we’re doing hard skilled labor, so we should be making way more in the first place. We also have a no strike/lockout clause in our contract which really stuck out to me as something that hinders the union from having teeth. If it came to a strike here though, knowing my coworkers, there’d be a line of scabs waiting to cross the picket line for brownie points.
Everyone. The IWW accepts anyone in any (or no) job regardless of any other union membership. Beyond them, if there is no recognized union at your workplace and you want one, then be the change and start organizing a union.
This is such a lopsided statistic. First off, unions do not still play like they used to. They are most often softer side of management. Because playing hardball ends in a bad way.
Second, they take a lot more to do less. Unions used to actually strike. Now governments intervene and give way less than should be given. Have a strike. Really do it. Don't talk about it. Be about it.
Have a big strike savings fund as well. You know: speak softly but carry a big stick.
Even harder is building your own personal savings, but it's still necessary and beneficial.
Also, make sure your union is actually working for you instead of just getting fat off of your dues. You work for a living, and they should, too. If they don't, decertify their butt and get another one.
The union I was once in was made up of ex workers that had to go back into the employee pool when their terms expired. Such a bad system to be able to get manipulated.