I’ve heard mention in discussions recently about whether a union would be a good idea or even possible for the yachting industry. It certainly is an interesting topic and one that I hope would encourage some thoughtful dialogue among those in the industry.

I am not writing this from any position but rather to put a little more background and history to the subject and to pose some questions about how unions might (or might not) fit in yachting. So let’s start with a little history.

Unions date back to the 14th century in Europe where they were outlawed till the 19th century. They became popular in many countries during the industrial revolution, and began in the United States in the early 19th century. 

A trade or labor union is a group of workers who have banded together, often for the purpose of getting better working conditions or pay. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with an employer on behalf of union members and negotiates contracts with employers. 

OK, this is getting a little tricky already but wait, here is some more. This may include the negotiation of wages; work rules; complaint procedures; rules governing hiring, firing and promotion of workers; benefits; workplace safety; and policies. 

Activities of trade unions may include:

1. provision of benefits to members, such as health insurance, training, legal advice and representation.

2. Collective bargaining, which is the negotiations with employers over wages and working conditions.

3. Industrial actions, including strikes to further particular goals. 

Could all this be a good thing for yachting, or could it get too big and out of hand?

Also, remember there is membership here, meaning membership dues. How much those would be is hard to say but it’s certainly a factor to consider. So a basic question could be, is the additional deduction from your pay worth higher wages and rules for employers to follow?

Now, I don’t know about you but when I think of unions and why they were formed, I think of factories, sweatshops, assembly lines and basic worker and human rights. Movies such as “On the Waterfront,” “Norma Rae” and “Hoffa” come to mind. Tough stuff; sometimes a life-and-death struggle. 

Certainly, the yachting industry does not fall into this category but neither do many industries of today. Look no further than the present situation with professional basketball to see how twisted the original purpose of unions has become. 

Basketball players, as well as American football and baseball players have a union, too. They are all billion-dollar industries. Basketball players are on strike now because they want more of the revenue their sport generates. That’s kind of a weird stretch from union history. 

So what about the yachting industry? I don’t think too many people would consider working and living on a yacht to be an unfit working condition (even though your cabin may be the size of a closet) but working hours can sure get crazy, can’t they? 

In my work as a life coach to captains and crew, a common issue or complaint is salary, especially dealing with owners regarding usually verbal agreements about promises you thought were going to be kept but are not being kept. 

This, of course, can lead to further problems with owner/crew relations and morale. It’s right at the top of the list of concerns. 

Would a union take care of this issue? The owner would be required to pay along a wage scale according to credentials and experience. This would also have to be a universal, global requirement so owners could not just go around it by hiring cheaper crew and captains. 

So what about non-union workers? Are there going to be those who will work for less and start replacing union crew, or will union membership be mandatory? Is that even legal?

As you can see, there is a lot to chew on. It’s a big undertaking with many layers and legal issues. That may be one of the reasons this has never come to pass. 

In the meantime, I would advise getting your contract in writing so you can eliminate the verbal promises with vague timelines and conditions. That is what you can do now; the rest is certainly open to discussion.