Does anyone have experience of buying a business with a labour union?

I consider unions just another factor to deal with which is at best good and at worst fatal. In distressed asset sales you can often de-certfiy the union. I dont recall the exact details but I think the business has to fail through a legal insolvency process to do this.

In theory, unions provide trained and qualified workers but most often they just collect the money and I dont see a lot of support. Some unions will send in Lean mfg experts and really help the business, others have never heard of the concept. As Jeff Brewer mentioned above, you need to DD them for what's behind the curtain.

For summary, here are a few North American union situations I know well.
- Food Mfg places orders ever night for number of workers they need next day. They order 113 and 113 show up at 5:45am. The next day they only need 100, only 100 show up. Total pull system that relies on the union's ability (and financial incentive) to send workers. Everything about this situation is something I'd like in my own companies.
- Fabricator. Union helped us leverage the seller (bank, asset deal) and make the deal go through. They have worked with us, been a partner and we've been very fair and honest with each other.
- Industrial mill, controlled by one enormous union where we are 1/10th of 1% of their workforce and they have deep pocketed strike budget. They are aggressive, throw their weight around and put about one company per year out of business just to make an example out of them. It's just awful.
- Two companies; old tired union, old tired union reps > they unenthusiastically bought into our vision and did they best they could. Most importantly, didnt work against us.


Best of luck to you.
Jeff

I would suggest you get absolute clarity on your pension obligations and how they might impact your business or even you personally. Here's a nice summary from a local large law firm: https://www.employmentandlaborlawblog.com/2020/05/pension-plan-withdrawal-liability/