What awaits you if you join a union in the US

In accordance with the decision taken in the case of Janus v. American Federation of the State, District and Municipal Employees, the Supreme Court discontinued the long-standing practice of trade unions that charge non-member fixed “agency fees” for negotiating labor contracts.

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The case was based on the idea that trade unions are often politically active, and many non-members may not want to support with their money an organization with political goals that do not coincide with their own goals, writes Go Banking Rates. Although agency fees cannot legally be used to finance political activities, the court still felt that the constitutional rights of Mark Janus, an Illinois child support specialist, were being violated by having to pay the union for the services he provided.

The end result is likely to be a significant reduction in funding for public sector unions across the country, which could lead to cuts in wages and benefits for employees.

What awaits you today if you join the American union?

Your net salary may change

In the near future, it can be fairly accurately predicted that non-union members will no longer pay agent fees. So, if you are not one in one of the 20 states where laws on agent fees are still in effect, you can count on a pay raise on your hands without this regular deduction.

... But it is likely to decrease over time.

Most experts agree that total income may be reduced due to the fact that unions will not be able to provide sufficient support to fight the employer on your behalf. You may not notice such a drastic change, such as a salary cut, but over time the chances that the income will not rise as it might have been before will increase.

Many may refuse membership

One immediate consequence that unions are preparing for is the loss of some members. This will happen because you can now waive any contributions while still retaining all the benefits of collective bargaining. This may result in participants who are willing to pay their dues and be on the hook for the agency to decide to forgo a pay increase. If you work for the union itself, this may mean that the situation will change: your operating budget will lose both commissions and dues from those people who decide to give up membership.

Expect fewer bonuses and benefits.

In addition to lower pay, social benefits may gradually deteriorate - vacation time, performance bonuses and other benefits will no longer be as generous. Of course, it takes time for the full range of consequences to materialize, but unions are often the most visible voice advocating for such clauses in a collective bargaining agreement. With lower costs for such negotiations, there is a good chance that when your contract is renegotiated, you will receive less.

Health care costs may increase

If your employer provides your health insurance, you can expect that the quality and cost of your insurance plan will gradually decrease. Trade union workers are more likely to receive health insurance through their workplaces, and spend fewer resources to cover better services. Perhaps insurance plans with higher deductible rates and personal costs could be one of the consequences of these changes.

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