What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Labor Unions

Organized labor began to rise as the business tycoons and big business owners, "…took advantage of this lawless environment to build fortunes, destroy reputations, exploit both workers and the environment, and gouge consumers" (Shi &Tindall 620). Such acts by the business tycoons prompted many workers to demand higher wages, better working hours, and safer working conditions. As the turn of the 20th Century approached, factories started emerging, and technological innovations since, "The U.S. patents office, which had recorded only 276 inventions during the 1790's, registered almost 250,000 new patents in the 1890's" (Shi &Tindall 622). The inventions led to the advancement of machines in factories as they reduced labor costs, lowered the production costs of certain goods, and essentially creating a widespread mass production of goods. As most individuals began to notice, unfairness among their workplace, they included themselves in certain labor unions including the Knights of Labor (KOL), Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), and the American Federation of Labor (AFL). All three groups had different beliefs: the Knights of Labor included all members whether skilled or unskilled in their group; the AFL rejected Capitalism and focused on working conditions—as they were successful in organized labor; and lastly, the IWW strived for strong industrial unions or Unionism.

     The modern model for government intervention in a strike came about in 1902. On May 12, of this year, mineworkers in northeastern Pennsylvania went on strike under the name of the United Mine Workers. More than 100,000 miners spent that summer on strike, keeping the mines closed. After mine owners refused a proposal for arbitration, President Theodore Roosevelt intervened. On October 16, 1902, Roosevelt appointed a commission of mediation and arbitration. Five days later, the miners returned to their jobs and five

Sometimes unions encourage people to boycott products from an industry or company. Managers can bring in strikebreakers, who work, but are not a part of the union. They can also use a lockout, which means that the management just locks the employees out, until they agree to the terms of the contract that the management draws up.

* Strike is a big time damage threat to the companies. There is a huge advantage of the non-unionized workplace

Workers would not be able to successfully accomplish the established goals without the help of the union.

Thefreedictionary.com defines union as, “combination so formed, especially an alliance or confederation of people, parties, or political entities for mutual interest or benefit.” When I read this definition I found many points’ of contention and imperfections. The first being “alliance or confederation of people”. Everyone knows to be human is to be flawed. Another point of contention is “For mutual interest or benefit” what’s good for one may not be good for another and when greed is placed in the mix everyone is going to look out for themselves and not the betterment of the group.

Today, the Department of Labor, California State law and a host other regulations exist to protect public employees; therefore, unions are no longer necessary for public employees in California. Legislation has gone as far as to provide additional regulations for protection for employees that are not in a collective bargaining agreement. Increased protections, rights to sick leave and health care, overtime compensation and property rights to employment are mandatory without union membership. This eliminates the unnecessary burdens of union dues, delays in compensation increases and divides in the working environment.

The rise of capitalism as the dominant economic system in the United States made the rise of unions inevitable; given the natural division between those with capital that control the means of production, and labor, who is treated simply as another factor of production (Hodson & Sullivan, 2008). While labor unions have made significant improvements to the working environment, with the regulation of safety, environment, labor and wage; labor unions have also contributed to the decline of U.S. dominance in industries like steel, automotive, education and airlines. In today’s global economy, can labor unions continue to be a force for good in the United States, or have they become harmful institutions?

Labor Unions began in the United States in the mid-late 1800’s. The first founding labor union was the National Labor Union, started in 1866. This labor union was not set on a particular type of worker and even though it did not succeed in making a difference in workers’ rights, it set an important precedent in our country. Being a part of a labor union has lots of pros and cons, as well as, because of them, the right to work movement was created.

Striking should be avoided if at all possible because of the risk and disruption they tend to cause (Ferrell. Hirt & Ferrell,2014). They are often done as a last resort when the management team and its employees fail to come to an agreement of salary, working conditions and hours.

Being a part of a group or an association that you pay into as a worker should have benefits that can help you continue to improve their lives. The benefit of having someone speak up for you could be better pay, better health benefits, and being better treated in the work place. Collective bargaining, while not being a guarantee, can help gain these benefits. It is the process of negotiations between representatives of workers and management to determine the conditions of employment. The collectively determined agreement may cover compensation, hiring, practices, layoffs, promotions, working conditions and hours, worker discipline, and benefit programs. So since the discovery of

Pietro briefly glance at the pamphlet, not really paying attention to anything, but what was written in bold. He flip the flimsy paper back and forth to make sure he didn’t missed anything special, but quickly grew bored with it and tuck the pamphlet into his back pocket as he followed Elijah to the side. Allowing the few entering superiors entrances to take identical pamphlet from the slaves as they browse the shop wares.

Works councils may cause too much employee power in larger union industries like auto industry and fast food and cause demands for large

The workers usually join unions for gaining benefits suggested by such membership. For example, the union workers tend to have higher wages than the ones who do not belong to the union. Besides, the union members can get other benefits in the form of insurance, sick pay, and overtime premiums, among others. Additionally, joining a union provides additional security in terms of not being fired or laid off without a substantial reason for that. All in all, unions defense their members from being treated illegally and unjust. Thus, the advantage of joining a union for workers is the security and the representation opportunities that they provide to the employees.

What are the are three advantages and disadvantage of an unionized organization; why. As of the viewpoint of an employee, union stand-up and fight for employees who do not have a voice about any employment issues. A significant advantage of a union is jobs secured, better pay and benefits and better working conditions. Today, most jobs are not secure, but with an unionized employment, union subordinate is the support system for all employees and management tension. Also, they participate in the final decision about any punitive, vindictive or termination