Pros
Union can be beneficial in terms of being protected. Great healthcare benefits. I was in the SEIU union, $135 a month capped for the family medical premium option. If it’s just you, you get free healthcare through Healthpartners. My coworkers are great, and very knowledgeable.
Kontras
Union can bite you in the butt. Union means everything is based on seniority hours. If you’re trying to get a spot somewhere, you have to wait in line until you’ve reached seniority. SEIU union members do not have short-term disability. Your parental leave is unpaid for. You have up to 4 months to stay with your newborn, but it’s all unpaid for, so as a newer employer, if you don’t have PTO, etc, you’re going to be unpaid. Most parents will just do the bare minimum with their children. There are no ophthalmic coverage, just a “discount” at the clinics. If you are on-call, you may not even get hours for months. D/t, seniority employees get dibs on hours first. You can have someone who was working full time for years, who decides that they just want to float around now. They have the most hours in your bidding pool. During holidays or when kids are back in school when everyone wants more money, you can guarantee that those seniors will pick up all the shifts and you’ll go months without working.
