I've been able to keep my job open with a union.

I'm a primary school teacher. Schools have been shut down for 6 weeks now (some of my colleagues are rightfully grumpy about that). But I don't have to worry, I've got a contract. Schools are shut down, because parents aren't allowed to send their kids to school (another story, another time), but teachers still have to work. I'm able to do that, because of my contract. <br><br>TAKE A MOMENT TO APPRECIATE THE UNION!!! <br>I don't have to worry about getting fired, even though I end up with 60% of my salary because the kids aren't at school (some kids have to stay at school, but not enough to make a full salary). I've got a contract that says what I'm gonna get paid. I've got a contract that says I won't get fired. <br><br>If the schools aren't going to open up again, I'd rather have the kids stay at home. However, parents who have a job or essential profession aren't able to take care of their kids themselves. That's why they have to stay at school. Parents whose job is important and those who've got no one to take care of their kids will be able to send their kids to school. But how am I supposed to make a living? Without a contract, my boss could just tell me to stop coming to work for a few months and I wouldn't get paid. <br><br>But because of the union, you can't just kick a teacher out of their job. <br>Other jobs don't have that luxury and are being forced to quit. Now imagine a small shop owner who can't keep their small store open because they have to take care of their own kids. The big supermarket chains aren't gonna end up with a problem like that. And that's why I'm so fucking mad at the government. <br><br>Other than that, the union is just great in general. With a contract with a union, you can't get fired that easily. You can't just get kicked out for being pregnant. You can't get kicked out for some made up reason. The union will help you out if your boss is being unfair. <br><br>And I'm also in a union because I want to join the fight.