UNIONS need to do more

I can only speak to Ontario on this but many security guards here are forced to belong to a union.  Now unions can still be positive but what I am seeing here in Ontario is disgustingly inadequate.

I speak of the majority -
-steep union dues
-wages that are at the legislated provincial minimum
-have to pay for own uniform
-pay for additional training
-benefit packages that do next to nothing to provide for real needs

What in God's name are these unions playing at? This is shameful!

These unions have been in place now for a number of years and should be starting to make positive advancements for their members. They should be fighting for legislation that would force a set wage and benefit structure for security guards and private investigators.  

The wage structure should be set with a minimum of the designated livable wage for the area they are in. Most minimum livable wages are at $15/hour. In Ontario general minimum wage is $11.25/hour. This is despicable.

In my view, for Ontario, security guards should have a set minimum wage of $15/hour. But the sad reality is that the guards themselves are afraid to stand up to their own unions to make those unions WORK for them. 

Security is a big industry. Bigger than many understand. Despite this, it is an industry that still treats the lions share of its front line workers extremely poorly. Security guards are still viewed as a "dime a dozen" and (very) disposable. No wonder it cannot be a profession.

Nice Point of view really unions need to do more for security guards.

I may be alone on this but I HATE Unions, and think Unions are destroying the industry. Why do I say this? Let's say you are a veteran with a company, and you have been with a company for say 15 years, and  you are a terrible worker, and unreliable. You will get better shifts, sites, and opportunities over me, if I have "less seniority" then you. Even though I never book off, call in sick, have more experience, and more courses under my belt, the guy with more "seniority" will always get the better opportunities. You may think thats fair and i need to wait my turn, but i disagree. I have seen so many guards have full time permanent sites that are dumber then shit, and constantly book off, yet i can't seem to move up. It pisses me off, and if there was no unions, then seniority wouldn't matter. The best sites, and the permanent sites, should go to the best guards.

It is sad but in actuality it is the guards themselves that are their own worst enemies. They are NOT holding their unions to account! Unions, like politicians work for us, not the other way around. If half the unionized guards in Ontario stood in unison and demanded their union(s) take action to improve wages or the guards would demonstrate against the union(s) you'd see prompt action.

That won't happen because many are immigrants who are simply afraid. Others are simply lame ducks. And the many that are using security as a stepping stone to policing...oh my God what a joke that is (on them).