The Pros And Cons Of Labor Unions

Unions first started in the 19th century as a political movement during a time when there was low wages, long working hours, and the safety regulations were for the most part absent. Employees gathered together to address these issues which gave them the ability to make decisions over management. Now in the 21th century, rather than being a necessity, they have become more of a luxury (Saez). A union can advantages and disadvantages to both employees and employers.
Labour unions can benefit employees by having compensation. In a non-labour organization, there is no guarantee that two people who are doing the same qualified job, will receive the same salary and benefits. However, a labour union will provide the same wages and compensation that
From the employees point of view, there are fewer disadvantages than advantages. If negotiations between managers and union representatives cannot reach an agreement, all workers must go on strike if the majority of vote is in favour. That can lead for financial hardships for the workers. The employees that do want to return to work or if they cross the picket line, they will be outcast by their colleagues and labelled as “scab” (Saez). In some cases, you can be fined or disciplined if you choose to work. When you are on strike, employers can hire other workers and you won’t have a guarantee to be called back to work immediately after the strike or receive any back pay. Also, you cannot negotiate your wages or benefits for yourself. Sometimes, what the union bargains, may not be what you are looking for
When a there are lay offs, the less senior worker will be let go instead of a less-productive worker. A reason for when a unionized worker to oppose their employer is that sometimes the employer will treat the employees more as an aide. When that happens, employees will feel their employers won’t trust them as much (Farnan).
From the employer’s point of view, unions can be disadvantageous. When a manager has to terminate or discipline an employee, there is a process of grievances and unions will put a lot of effort in order to prevent such actions of the manager. When there is a strike or lockout, the organization will have loss of revenue. When there is a change in union contracts it may become difficult financially, for example, when there are layoffs or a reduction in hours. This sometimes results in an “us versus them” mentality between unions and management (Saez).
Overall, unions have both advantages and disadvantages in the point of views of both employers and employees. Over the years, there have been many changes in order to work together to have benefits for management and the