I’m strongly opposed to the idea of anyone being forced to join a union, or employers being forced to work with one. People who wish to organize, form, or join a union should always have that right — but participation should remain entirely voluntary. It’s the use of force that undermines both fairness and freedom in the workplace.
When an individual is required to join a union simply to gain employment, they lose both their personal leverage and their liberty of choice. Freedom of association should mean the right to join — or not join — a group. Compulsory union membership turns that principle upside down.
If unionized labor truly provides better outcomes than independent contractors, then union representatives should have no problem attracting members voluntarily. A confident, professional union could proudly say: “We represent top-tier workers. If you want to hire or be employed by us, you must agree to our terms.” That’s an honest, market-based negotiation — not coercion.
And let’s be clear: this isn’t unfair. In fact, skilled labor would benefit most from voluntary unions because high-value, specialized work is hard to replace. A voluntary system would empower workers who genuinely add value, not those simply protected by bureaucratic structure.
However, unions tend to be destructive to entry-level positions. They raise costs, impose rigid rules, and limit flexibility for small employers who would otherwise hire and train new workers. Historically, this has contributed to the outsourcing of U.S. entry-level jobs to China and other low-cost countries. Many of the protections unions claim to provide at the entry level could easily be handled through government labor standards, without the heavy-handed influence of collective bargaining mandates.
Moreover, union contracts should never be indefinite. Agreements between employers and unions should be time-bound and performance-based, ensuring accountability on both sides. When contracts automatically renew or persist indefinitely, they create stagnation and discourage innovation.
Ultimately, unions should exist by choice, not by compulsion. Forcing membership through workplace votes or legal mandates violates the spirit of a free labor market. True economic progress depends on individuals making their own decisions — not being bound by collective pressure.
Voluntary unions can coexist with independent workers, but freedom must always come first.