I have a relative who is a Teamster and pays $16k in Union dues a year. He said the math on his benefits only works out for him if he works for more than 15 years in the same position. Obviously different for different unions, but the vast majority of benefits in most unions go to those with seniority.
What!? That is over 60× the membership cost of UNITE (the largest British union).
Apparently, comparisons between the US and Europe don't work here either.
Maybe this is because "union shops" are allowed in the USA. Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights forbids them (the right to free association is taken to provide the right not to associate).
> Maybe this is because "union shops" are allowed in the USA.
Not only are they allowed, but they're almost universal. Unions in the US (for various historical reasons) refuse to represent a bargaining unit unless they can claim the majority of the bargaining unit, which means that, in a unionized shop, every single employee must be covered by the same union.
Unlike in Europe, there is no competition between unions for workers in the US.
