| What is the structure of unionized employment where you work? In particular: 1. Do you have a choice of union? 2. Do you in theory have a choice of union even if in practice there is only one applicable union? 3. Can you leave the union/not engage in collective bargaining via the union if you believe the union is not representing your interests? 4. Can you in theory form your own union if applicable unions do not represent your interests? From a cursory inspection of the structure of German and Swiss trade unions, I believe the answer to all of these questions is yes, though I do not have any in-depth or firsthand experience indicating the truth of my belief, so it would be helpful to get input from someone with firsthand experience. In contrast, based on a more in-depth analysis on the nature of legal recognition for unions in the US, in the US the answer to all of these questions is no. I hypothesize this distinction, assuming it is true, is a key reason for the different attitudes towards unions in the US and Europe. |