Contributions of Labor Unions in Society
"Come gather round people where-ever you roam and admit that the waters around you have grown and accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone, if your time to you is worth savin' then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone, for the times they are a-changin'!" (Dylan, 88)
These lyrics, which were written by Bob Dylan over thirty years ago, are as applicable today, or even more so, as they were then. I have always considered the song to be about cultural change between generations. Even so, the analogies of the song can apply to various types of change. With the information age, it is quite possible that our lives are changing at an even faster rate than when Bob Dylan penned those lyrics. The result of change is present in the job market. Most people living in the United States realize that manufacturing jobs are being reduced and service jobs are expanding. This might be good news for individuals seeking employment in the service sector. To those in the manufacturing sector it can be and often is devastating news. However, individuals working today have considerably more protection than workers did a hundred years ago.
The existence of labor unions has had a substantial contribution to our society and the standard of living of most individuals. However, for the past few decades union membership and influence has declined. There are various explanations for the decline in unionization; one aspect that the explanations have in common is change. Unions have grown into large bureaucracies and at times, have been reluctant to change. Recently there have been signs that unions are changing the way they do business. Labor unions have been beneficial to our society. I will argue that for unions to continue to be beneficial they must strive to receive support from all working individuals, regardless of their occupation or field of employment. Today, employees have protection from being unfairly discharged, and have the right to associate with
These lyrics, which were written by Bob Dylan over thirty years ago, are as applicable today, or even more so, as they were then. I have always considered the song to be about cultural change between generations. Even so, the analogies of the song can apply to various types of change. With the information age, it is quite possible that our lives are changing at an even faster rate than when Bob Dylan penned those lyrics. The result of change is present in the job market. Most people living in the United States realize that manufacturing jobs are being reduced and service jobs are expanding. This might be good news for individuals seeking employment in the service sector. To those in the manufacturing sector it can be and often is devastating news. However, individuals working today have considerably more protection than workers did a hundred years ago.
The existence of labor unions has had a substantial contribution to our society and the standard of living of most individuals. However, for the past few decades union membership and influence has declined. There are various explanations for the decline in unionization; one aspect that the explanations have in common is change. Unions have grown into large bureaucracies and at times, have been reluctant to change. Recently there have been signs that unions are changing the way they do business. Labor unions have been beneficial to our society. I will argue that for unions to continue to be beneficial they must strive to receive support from all working individuals, regardless of their occupation or field of employment. Today, employees have protection from being unfairly discharged, and have the right to associate with