Labor Unions Benefits

To begin, labor unions can be beneficial to different labor groups for different reasons. Labor unions can provide employees of companies and businesses with a platform to voice their opinions on personal work experiences. Normally, strikes are carried out by labor union members which can result in positive changes in their work environment. In The Jungle, Jurgis decides to join the union in chapter 8 to hopefully change the way the meatpacking business treats him. Jurgis continued to work long, hard hours and not get the pay that he rightfully deserved. People who are involved in labor unions are provided with the opportunity to fight for what is thought to be right. In Jurgis’s case, some would fight for a higher salary since it was worked
for. In labor unions, there is a group of people working to receive justifiable pay and treatment, making it difficult for bosses to punish workers. People who make up the unions are essential to the workplace so it would not be logical for bosses to fire a group of workers who are not immediately replaceable. On the contrary, labor unions can be detrimental to both employers and employees. Employers may not be considerate of their employees physical well-being. For Jurgis, his employer continued to push him well past his limits despite his unhealthy condition. “Then Jurgis covered his face with his hands, for there were tears in his eyes, and he felt like a fool. But he had had such a horrible fright; strong man as he was, it left him almost too weak to stand up.” (Chapter 4). Although his ankle injury, he was still expected to return to work. His employers cared more about the well-being of the factory than the actual people who are there to make sure the company receives the income. This can become a motive to start a strike towards the company. However, the employer would make false statements by ensuring that something will be done to provide a solution to the problem, however nothing would be done to take care of this situation.