Preview

Why Do Employers Use Labor Unions?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
968 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why Do Employers Use Labor Unions?
Labor unions became known in the industrial revolution as companies grew larger and protecting workers right in the industry rapidly lost its importance. Unions are designed to protect the rights and interests of the workers, but they are also a good way for business leaders to obtain collective buy-ins to the vision and growth of a company. The labor unions strive to ensure that members receive fair wages, safe working conditions and reasonable work schedules. The union makes these changes happen by using collective bargaining; which is the focal point of the union. Collective bargaining happens when an organized group of workers come together to increase its negotiating power. Even though each company has their own union groups, they are typically affiliated with the American Federation of Labor Congress of Industrial Organizations; it oversees and supports union activity across a wide range of industries. Employers perceive unions as a high cost to the company directly and …show more content…
From things like long term contracts which could limit flexibility, strikes may bring in a monopoly situation, it limits technology, job security as a value will lessen necessary termination. Pro- union employees view the union as a helper because they feel that the employers do not have their best interest. Pro-union employees perceive unions as: job security, help with increasing wages and benefits, better supervision, help when they are feeling helpless, positive work conditions, and a supporter of topics that personally matter. Anti-union employees believe that unions do not encourage employees to seek advancement. They believe union employees receive more handout opportunities than most which makes them a target in a bad way. It causes other co-workers to lose motivation, lowering productivity leaving the bulk of work on other teammates while union members skate

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    There is a long ongoing battle that is being waged between unions and business since the rise of large corporations. Unions were created to fight higher official corruption and to protect workers from unfavorable conditions and unfair treatment by top-level officials, companies take extreme measures to prevent the creation of unions within their organizations. There are positive and negative effects for both nonunion and unionized companies. Preventing workers from unionizing is a difficult task for organizations especially as they expand into the global arena. More is demanded from employees usually with little added benefits (thus the reason for unionization). A notable successful company is Trader Joe’s, who’s business strategy and cultural…

    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Bama Inc.

    • 1138 Words
    • 5 Pages

    * Employers can offer their opinions about union policies, alert employees of facts about unions that they may or may not be aware of and discuss effects that unionization may have on the business. However, employers may not use these to imply a negative consequence for employees if they choose to support the union. An employer also has the right to explain why unionization is unnecessary. The general rule is that an employer can be a dispenser of information, but not a collector. An employer may predict the negative effects that unionizing could have on the organization, as long as it is based on facts outside of the employer’s control.…

    • 1138 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Unions are very beneficial because they speak volume and it assists employees with getting their voice heard compared to if it is only one individual. An employee that is not in the union can be let go at any time, but a unionized employee has a contract that will provided a grievance and arbitration procedure in the event of an adverse employer action. Unions also able to bargaining with employers for higher wages, benefit packages, and vacation time. It also increases job stability and recognizes seniority rights for the employees.…

    • 282 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Essentially, labor unions are associations of workers who are banded together for the purpose of improving their employment conditions and protecting themselves and their coworkers from economic and legal exploitation. Members of labor unions engage in collective bargaining with their employers, as well as general political activism.…

    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Why Are Unions Unfair

    • 715 Words
    • 3 Pages

    I was raised in a union family but grew up to be a company man. I can see both sides and their opinions. I believe we need unions to keep the companies who are not union from treating their employees unfairly, regarding wages, days off, etc. There are good unions that are so effective and there are weak unions who give unions a bad name. Some companies will always treat their employees well and be fair but for those who don't, there has to be someone watching out for their rights. If those companies know that if their employees are treated unfairly, there is an organizer willing to step in and help, the company generally will step up to the plate and do the right thing. My father and uncles worked for the plumbers, electrical, and teachers…

    • 715 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    People in labor unions are just searching for and requesting a sense of security for themselves, and their families (“Labor Unions”). Union workers enjoy benefits such as health,…

    • 1557 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Why Are Unions Important

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages

    As the economy worsens, it only puts more strain on the importance of keeping unions. The union comes in to make an economy that is sustainable for workers to be rewarded adequately in order to purchase goods that they need. Without the unions, there would not be a middle class for the many American workers, as well as the benefits that come with it, healthcare being one of the examples. Compared to the non-union counterparts, those who are union members are more likely to earn more, as well as getting the benefits provided to them. However, those who are non-union workers in the higher industries are able to get benefits financially, wages being increased to avoid the issue of unionization.…

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Imagine a society in which the rules of the workplace are dominated by the employers. Employers would treat their employees poorly in an attempt to maximize profits. Employees would be working in unfair conditions and have no control over their own safety and rights. This is why labor unions are so important to society. Labor Unions prioritize the rights and safeties of all workers so that employers don't treat the employees unfair.…

    • 495 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Labor Unions are essential to our society because it gives the workers the rights that they need to be able to be safe, fair wages, and rights in the workforce for the employee. The first record of labor unions began around, “1619 The first labor strike on American soil was organized and staged by Polish workers and artisans in Jamestown” (AFL-CIO). The more commonly know strike happened in New York, which happened in 1787. The workers were protesting fair wages for their labor and not to be underpaid for their hard labor.…

    • 679 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Labor unions are dissociation of workers that seeks to improve the economic and social well-being of its members through group action. A labor union represents his members in negotiations with the employer over all aspects of an employment contract, including wages and working conditions. These contract negotiations are known as collective-bargaining. By giving workers a united voice a unique and often negotiate higher wages, shorter hours, and better fringe benefits, such as insurance and pension plans, then the individual workers can negotiate on their own. When the employer and you cannot reach an agreement through the collective bargaining process you may conduct a strike, which is an organized work stoppage. Or an employer may prevent…

    • 1246 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are a multitude of reasons why workers to decide to join or attempt to create a union. The overwhelming majority of employees seek to unionize because of dissatisfaction with one or more conditions of employment. Among them, the most common areas of employee discontentment usually originate from disagreement with management over compensation, benefits, managements’ response to grievances, high levels of job stress, and low job security. While dissatisfaction with one of these areas alone is not enough to compel workers to join unions, it is usually a good indication that a push for unionization may be coming.…

    • 1409 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    I come from a long line of union members. My grandfather was a union member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), my mother was a union member of the Communication Workers of America (CWA) and one day I may be a union member as well. The Union and the labor movement has always had some influence in my life since the very day I left the womb. The Union allowed my mother the time off to take care of me and make sure I was healthy and stable before leaving to go back to work. The union allowed my mother to work an 8 hour day with no forced overtime. They made sure every employer compensated for overtime. Employers could not overwork somebody with paying them their money. The only relationship I have with the union is…

    • 317 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Unions In The Workplace

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Workers formed unions so that they could have some say over wages, hours, working conditions, and the many other problems that arise in the relationship between a worker and employer. Unions are important because they help set the standards for education, skill levels, wages, working conditions, and quality of life for workers. Union-negotiated wages and benefits are generally superior to what non-union workers receive (http://www.iuoe.org).…

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Labor Unions

    • 1017 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Unions were formed initially for the common good and as a form of protection, but now they abuse their power to the detriment (disadvantage) of its members. When unions first came into existence in the 19th century, it was the beginning of the industrial revolution where workers moved away from agricultural work areas into factories and mines. In the process of this transition, many faced terrible working conditions: long hours, little pay, and health risks. Women and children who worked, generally received lower pay than men did, but even the men weren’t receiving enough for the amount of time they worked. The government did little to limit and resolve these injustices so therefore, labor movements raised; lobbying for better rights and working conditions; collective bargaining. This gave the workers…

    • 1017 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A Union is formed by a group of workers who join together to form a strong alliance against the company they work for. These alliances are formed so that these groups of people will have the means to peacefully bargain with their employers for safer working conditions, equality in the workplace concerning wages and health benefits, and better rights concerning discrimination due to race, handicap, sexual orientation, etc. In the late 1800’s unions began to form, however Unions became all powerful in the early 19th century. Unions had a great impact on having laws passed for the protection of children who had to work. Laws…

    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays