Question: Can a person join a union as an honorary member...no benefits?

The reason I'm interested is that it seems to me the unions have done more for the citizens-at-large than our politicians have and I'd like to support them.

that helps get others involved.

I've been at this six months as of two days ago and I have no one to spell me....not good but.....I'll keep this in mind for my future.

http://www.workingamerica.org/join/

It's the affiliate of the AFL-CIO.

have my card! That looks great.

We have had open enrollment for over 2 decades

all the anti-union, for lack of a better word, crap, that is gooing on. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to strengthen unions.

I have never been a Union Member and being an IT geek will likely never be a Union Member.

But if I could be an honorary member I would be all over it.

They tend to be under CWA: http://www.cwa-union.org/

Here's a California directory (since your profile says CA):
http://www.cwa-union.org/get-local/directory?district=&state=CA

Oh, and it's *totally* in a businesses best interests to convince IT people that "they're not eligible to be in a union".

"independent" members? I likes me some Wobblies! Since I've been self employed or a "department of one" for the last 20+ years, I haven't had the opportunity to be in a union. I miss it.

After all in America today "self employed" usually means "worker with absolutely no job security".

I was just over at their site last night looking at membership requirements.

4 years now, when I've actually worked. And this stretch isn't the FIRST 1099 experience I've had.

http://www.iww.org/join/questions.shtml

But it can depend on the circumstances

I'm going to check it out.

The minimum is decided by the local GMB and can be as low as five bucks.

A lot of International Unions have various divisions with some locals you can join quite easily, others not. Some locals require that you be hired by the employer before you can join - others are far less restrictive. Construction locals can be quite expensive with the dues since they support apprenticeship programs, regular certifications, etc. - and can have some very elaborate training facilities, but my International, as with most, is very diversified. I belong to one of our shipyard locals even though I do not actually work at the yard. I could not join just any of our shipyards, though, due to their individual rules and whether or not they are a federal shipyard, etc. Labor unions are not as monolithic as folks imagine they are, and within an International, you will have hundreds of locals who all have to follow a general set of rules, but are really separate entities, elect their own officers, manage their own business, etc. All very democratic and de-centralized, and very much like herding cats.

Try contacting your local Central Labor Council (every state has several, and I guess the new term is Area Labor Federation) or your State AFL-CIO to get more info on becoming a union member even if you're not actually working in a unionized workplace.

Good luck!!

I'd like to see the numbers of union members rise. Practically all my friends' Dads were union members (50's/60's) so I've become quite disheartened learning that union membership has decreased so drastically over the last few decades. I think only good can come from building membership rolls.

Tried to unionize my shop. Offered to pay the dues. Didn't care about the benefits. In this business, it helps to just to have the union bug on everything with certain clients. They won't even do business with you if you aren't a union shop. None of the unions would have us. One union sent over the contract and say Oh sorry you don't have enough full time employees. The same reason I have been giving for years for not being a union shop.

I asked my accountant about setting up a union and he told me there's a lot more to it than meets the eye and persuaded me not to do that either.

So when I have to vote in a stupid online poll that asks if you have a "favorable view of unions" I'm inclined to vote no.

http://www.unionofunemployed.com/

You can join the AFL-CIO. It's called Working America.

http://www.workingamerica.org/