@ISIDEWITHQuestionseconomyStarted 10yrs agoActive 3wks ago

Do you believe labor unions help or hurt the economy?

There are currently 55 trade unions with membership of Congress, representing about 600,000 workers in Ireland. Unions members represent 35% of the country’s labor force, down from 55% in 1980. 50% of union members are in the public sector. Opponents of Ireland’s unions argue that public sector workers have too many benefits and the government cannot adjust them due to union contracts. Proponents argue that unions give workers a collective voice that is necessary to negotiate pay and worker safety.

73%
Help
27%
Hurt
53%
Help
24%
Hurt
13%
Help, in theory but have recently become corrupt and should have their powers limited
3%
Hurt, I support some private unions but am strongly against public unions
7%
Help, but ban their ability to make political donations

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Other Popular Answers

Unique answers from Ireland users whose views extended beyond the provided choices.

 @9Q7TSKCanswered…3wks3W

Whilst they provide safeguarding for a lot of employees, they can sometimes limit growth for the economy for example the ARC furnaces. The stance of the union has not saved any jobs and in fact sped up the companies ability to close the other blast furnaces quicker

 @9H622GRanswered…8mos8MO

Help and have a long and proud tradition dating back to the rising, which kids should be learning about.

 @98HP2R9answered…2yrs2Y

Helps workers more than employers so limits their profits and spending but increases the spending of workers I think there’s an equilibrium

 @932VN3Danswered…2yrs2Y

I’m pro union

 @92Q58WWanswered…2yrs2Y

I believe unions are an important pillar of democracy but some are out for their own benefit and not their members

 @8Y7975Zanswered…3yrs3Y

Labour unions help their members. Other vested interest groups are allowed do that with very little restriction, regardless of how they affect the economy, and Labour unions should be no different.

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…4mos4MO

DOJ opens formal investigation of U.S. Steel takeover by Japanese company

The Justice Department has opened up an in-depth antitrust investigation of Nippon Steel’s $14.1 billion takeover of U.S. Steel, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.The move escalates U.S. government scrutiny of the controversial deal, which has drawn fire from lawmakers, labor unions and others who argue the storied U.S. industrial titan should not be owned by a foreign company — even one based in Japan, one of America’s closest allies. It also follows a preliminary antitrust review previously reported by POLITICO.Last month President Joe Biden highlighted those concerns in a highly unusual statement, saying it must “remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.”The United Steelworkers union — whom Biden and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump are both courting on the campaign trail — opposes the deal, saying it puts U.S. jobs at risk.It couldn’t be learned exactly when the DOJ officially opened up the in-depth review, but it happened recently according to the people, who are not authorized to speak publicly.A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment. Spokespeople for Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel did not immediately respond for comment. The opening of the antitrust probe roughly coincides with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s official White House visit this week. The Japanese leader said he hoped the proposed deal would proceed in a positive direction but did not criticize U.S. scrutiny of the transaction.“Japan believes that appropriate procedures based on law is being implemented by the US government,” Kishida said Wednesday at a joint press conference with Biden.

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