Does employment at will contradict union protection?

Under employment at will, you can be fired for any reason, without notice. However, in my understanding, part of having union protection is having to have a valid reason for dismissal. So can how can, or can, employment at will apply to a union employee?

The negotiated contract has precedence over state "at will" laws, but it doesn't mean that workers have to continue on the job either.

I'm speaking from a Skilled Trade Union perspective. Workers have the protection of a larger voice advocating their rights under Employment Laws, OSHA standards, etc. The contract also protects the employer. Almost all of the time the contract will state the number of workers to be dispatched out to the job. If, for some reason, the contractor releases one of the workers (or the worker drags up) the Hall dispatches another person.

There are so many fine details about negotiating a contract and the regulations. If you are considering hiring Union Contract Labor, consult an attorney. Talk to the Business Agent of the Local Hall to find out what services a Union can provide you that a non-Union company cannot. For one thing a Union has an almost unlimited pool of workers. If one Local can't man the job, boomers from other Locals will travel for work.

No problem, I enjoy answering questions about Unions because they are so misunderstood and maligned. There has been a great deal of change since the Hoffa days. Report It

Unions have lost a lot of work to non-union companies that can submit lower bids because they don't take care of their workers and don't supply the tools for the job (workers have to). Report It

For any reason doesn't mean for any reason. You can't fire someone for being black or a Jew, for example. You can't fire someone for reporting illegal activities by the company.

Unions offer collective bargaining, a pool of skilled workers that a company would rather not do without.

There are two things; 'right to work' - which bars companies from forcing workers to join a union - and 'at will' - which as you say means you can be fired for any reason.

If you are in a company that has negotiated a deal with a union - a hospital for example - then the negotiated contract will be superior to the local 'at will' law. In other words, the union negotiated contract will protect you from being fired unless the union feels it was justified.

usually the fall back option under state law is that every employee is an employee at will unless the employer and the employee make other arraignments, as such a union will negotiate its own terms for employment of union people to wit both sides agree to the terms thus a contract is formed giving union employees more protection then state statute

The answer is yes. A Union contract is like any other contract; it changes the law between the contracting parties. Most union contracts eliminate the "at will" status by requiring some type of cause for termination and/or some type of termination benefits. However, there are Union contracts that do not change "at will."