“Are Unions Still Beneficial?”
| “Are Unions Still Beneficial? ”| Ginny Dion| | | 10/22/2011| | Unions are still beneficial in today’s work environment. From the beginning labor unions have been considered controversial. Most times people are either for or against labor unions. There are currently people fighting to try to pass laws to make it easier for labor unions to form. This is an issue because many companies are against labor unions and often try many different tactics to keep their employees from starting up a labor union.
They go as far as showing videos to new and current employees speaking out against labor unions. According to the textbook, Human Resource Management, people join labor unions for many reasons such as; wages, benefits, working conditions, job security, and a desire for better communication with management. (374) Without labor unions where would we be in today’s work environment? It is possible that workers would still be working extremely long days for low wages in an unsafe work area.
I am in support of labor unions and their right to organize. Labor unions as defined in Social Issues In America: An Encyclopedia, “Are groups of workers organized to pursue their economic and social goals under the sanction of federal law. ”(Ciment 1789) Labor unions have helped to pass or been in support of many laws that we as workers enjoy today. Some of these laws are: workplace safety, having a minimum wage, unemployment insurance, FMLA of 1993, overtime pay, Social Security Act of 1935, and a reduced work day, etc. (ehow. om) There are four categories for unions: local unions, city and state, national or international, and federations of local, national, and international as found in the textbook Human Resource Management. (365) When I worked at the telephone company, SBC, as a 411 operator I was a member of Communications Workers of America (CWA). I do not believe that this job would have had the great wages, medical benefits, nor other benefits received by employees if it had not been for the union fighting to receive these benefits for the employees. Having the ability to organize, bargain, and/or strike if necessary helped to achieve these benefits.
Because of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 workers gained more power. When NLRA passed, “It gave unions the legal right to organize and establish a federal agency to enforce labor laws. ”(galegroup. com) In today’s work environment unions could play a major part in helping to boost the economy helping to take the country out of recession according to the article “Unions Are Good for the American Economy”. Also noted in the article, people who have union jobs tend to make more money, have medical insurance and pensions compared to those who are not union members.
The more money employees earn the more likely they are to go out and spend which in turns helps the economy to improve. Even though today’s work environment is much better than it was when unions first began to form unions can still help with the modern issues faced by employees. Unions will continue to make sure wages are competitive; benefits are fair, and the work environment safe. Unions help to prevent managers from harassing workers, firing without reason or cause, or any of the other reasons a worker experience on a non-union job.
Employers seem to be afraid of the power union’s possessed through their ability to organize, bargain, or strike to accomplish the goal of its workers. This is likely why some states passed the right-to-work laws. Though membership has dropped in recent years there is an increase in union membership for government workers. Unions are beneficial to today’s workforce and would benefit employees and the employers because increase wages would increase production which makes money for all involved.
Union leaders may need to adjust the way they attack this new work environment. Though some of the issues are the same they have to find a new way to approach to bring the focus back to increasing memberships. Once workers start in investigate things for themselves and see how the union can work to increase benefits and wages for them I think membership will be on the rise again. There are still problems with wages being paid fairly and medical benefits and issues with managers and how they communicate with employees.
Having worked a non-union and a union job before, I can definitely see the difference and understand the benefits of having a union. I think that employers are against unions because they do not want to pay a higher wage or provide better benefits to it workers. The company keeps most profit for itself while its employees continue to work harder for the same little pay. Now that the economy is in a slump and many people are out of jobs and employers know that there is more competition to find work, which this will further reduce the likelihood of salaries increasing.
The passing of the Employee Free Choice Act will further give workers a voice and a right to organize a union without fear. This Act will continue to provide a voice to the union workers enabling them to seek better wages and other benefits. Also unions will benefit today’s worker because they will not be able to just fire you. With a Union job there are steps and procedures that must be followed. The employee has a voice in that if he/she doesn’t agree with what the steps management is taken they can file a grievance to get the matter resolved. This is another benefit on union jobs.
I think once it’s easier to form a union, especially here in the south, that there will be a good change for the economy. Workers would benefit as well as employers and the community it serves. When workers are happy, wages are good, and the employee has a sense of job security their work production will dramatically increase and be better which intern makes more money for the employer. When people have access to more money they tend to spend more which boost the economy all because the union fought to have these benefits provided to the employee.
I am not saying that labor unions are perfect. They do have their flaws but overall I think the benefits they accomplish outweigh these faults. Also union jobs are strict with attendance and productivity. You have to be at work on time and at your work station working at you scheduled time. Logging onto the computer a minute late was a tardy at my old job. Looking back at all that’s been accomplished by labor unions who knows what the future holds on how they can take care of the American workforce and help get us passed this recession we are currently facing.
I also think that union workers will continue to make more and have better benefits than non-union workers. The establishment of unions continues to be a hot topic for some people. No doubt this controversial issue will continue to cause great debate on rather or not the labor unions are still needed in today’s world. Through my research and from personal experience I find that overall labor unions definitely benefit the workforce and will continue to do so even though they face much opposition.
Not only does union workers benefit from labor unions so do the community around them. Work Cited Byars, Lloyd L. , & Rue, Leslie W. , (2011). “Human Resource Management. ” pages 343-386 http://www. americanprogressaction. org/issues/2009/02/efca_factsheets. html http://ic. galegroup. com. libproxy. troy. edu/ic/ovic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetails… http://www. ehow. com/info_8104355_labor-laws-unions-helped-enact. html Ciment, James,(2006) “Social Issues In America: An Encyclopedia. pages 1789-1802
