Question

Next week, Mortimer is preparing to go to work for the Illinois department of Child Services. He was surprised when his friends told him that he was going to have to pay one percent of his salary to the union that represents the unionized workers that would include Mortimer, whether he joined the union or not - a so-called agency fee to prevent 'free riders'. This was for services provided to Mortimer, including collective bargaining and grievance representation. Mortimer was shocked - no one had told him about this! What advice would you provide to Mortimer?

Answer 1

Answer:

The implication is that the Illinois Department of Child Services is a unionized workplace.

Mortimer will derive better benefits that surpass the costs of membership.  He is covered in all collective bargains, even when he resigns his union membership.  Unions negotiate for better working conditions, higher pays, and improved benefits.

When Mortimer has any grievance against the department, the union will also represent him, thereby making his life easier since unions can negotiate better with employers than individual workers.

Mortimer is even lucky to find a job at a unionized workplace because the jobs are not usually advertised as union members easily bring in their relatives and friends to occupy such vacancies.

Explanation:

Most of the disadvantages that Mortimer should complain about unions are disadvantages to the employer and not to him as an individual worker.  For the employer, the union acts as a form of monopoly that can decide whether the workers would work or not.  The unionized workers are not easy to replace with other workers.