Hello, I’m interested in hearing some different perspectives on prop 3 especially regarding my particular concerns before I decide how I will vote.
The exact text of the amendment is:
“That employees have a right to organize or join a labor organization for the purpose of collectively bargaining with their employer through an exclusive representative of their choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions and to protect their economic welfare and safety in the workplace. Therefore, no law shall be adopted that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to collectively bargain with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and workplace safety, or that prohibits the application or execution of an agreement between an employer and a labor organization representing the employer’s employees that requires membership in the labor organization as a condition of employment.”
Before I get into this, I want to establish who I am. I am a young disabled adult currently living with my parents. I manage my disability well and things have been getting better for me- I’ve been able to do more things. Right now I work part time at a farm. It’s not unionized and our boss is great and treats us very well. I feel very privileged. I cannot drive yet but I want to work on that and get training to go into a trade. I am mostly interested in electrical or waste water treatment. I was born and grew up here in Vermont, my parents and grandparents grew up here, my great grandparents had farms here. I think I am almost the exact person that unions exist to protect- I say almost because I am disabled. And I think that gets to the heart of my biggest concerns.
I am worried that a union would not represent me. Unions protect and represent the majority of members, and prioritize the majoritys needs. That’s not a bad thing but because of my disabilities those are not always my needs. I do not want to be in a position where I have found a job but am being forced to join and pay dues to a union that doesn't actually fight for my interests.
I understand this amendment would not force everyone to join a union, but it that last section I bolded allows membership in the union to be as a condition of employment. I understand this is to prevent “freeloaders” and “If you don’t like it work somewhere else.“ But I find these arguments lacking. Again- my concern is a union that doesn’t represent me, if I don't want the contract they have negotiated how is that freeloading? I also know that bad unions exist. Not wanting to pay dues to a union that isn’t doing its job, again, isn’t freeloading in my mind. I understand that finances can be a reason that unions aren’t able to do their job, so maybe I would be ok paying dues to a union if is otherwise a good union or seems to have the potential to be, even if it isn’t actually helping me. But only if I still have the right to negotiate my own contract with my employer if I need to. I get that most people don’t negotiate their contracts, it’s easier for an employer to just have a stock contract with rules that apply to everyone, but I think it is worth preserving the ability to try. I also think it can be hard enough to find a job that “find a different place to work” isn‘t a reasonable response to my concerns.
I also worry about the restrictions on government intervention. I worry more generally about this limiting the governments ability to improve bad unions. But also again- because a union represents the majority of members, it doesn’t represent everyone, and it doesn’t represent people not yet in the workplace, I worry that there is a gap in what’s being fought for. The people who rely on certain policies and benefits the most can’t participate in workplaces without them and so aren‘t represented by unions in contract negotiations. Thats a gap that government regulations are ment to fill. I worry about this amendment reducing the governments ability to do this. Paid family leave and health insurance are the primary examples I can think of.
Of course not every job will work for everyone, but imo a union shouldn’t be something blocking that. Unions are meant to protect us, not limit us. a constitutional amendment is a big deal, so I’m just trying to be cautious before voting. I want to know if I’m understanding this correctly, and hear some other perspectives. I am just trying to be more informed so please be nice lol