The Power of Joining/Creating a Labor Union

To improve the lives and their communities, Americans have long worked together. Whether it is a parent-teacher association or just a local community group. In unions, workers join forces in an effort to better the conditions of the place where they spend most of their waking hours – their workplace. The right of workers to form unions and negotiate with their employers, also referred to as collective bargain, is universally accepted as a fundamental human right around the world. United States citizens have a constitutional right to free speech, which many Americans support diligently. More than 16 million people working in the United States are exercising their right to union representation. 

This means more than one in every ten American workers are members of a union, according to a recent study. The figure shows that organized labor union is one of America’s most powerful institutions. Anti-union activities and regulations have made it more difficult for workers to use their collective voice to enhance their working conditions. 

The Power of Collective Bargaining

Collective bargaining is the means by which workers are given a voice in the workplace and a say in how they are treated. As an employee, almost everyone has experienced a sense of powerlessness or being ignored. As a member of a union, you and your co-workers have a voice in determining the terms of your employment. 

Securing salary increases and access to proper health care as well as workplace safety improvement are some of the issues that can be adequately addressed by a union. Additionally, the union works with management in collective bargaining to design a framework for dealing with conflicts between the employees and supervisors. 

Members of unions and management work together to ensure that rights and obligations outlined in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) are upheld. Then there are high-stake cases like when a worker is injured due to a safety violation at the workplace. Negotiating collectively allows workers to have a vote in the conditions of their employment, as well as the assurance that there are defined procedures in place for resolving workplace disputes. 

Workers’ rights, resolving conflicts, and giving support for the bargaining unit members are some of the reasons why unions collect dues. Collective bargaining in the private sector is governed by the National Labour Relations Act (NLRA) of 1935. State governments have no authority over private-sector unions, but NLRA, as amended, allows the state to regulate fees paid by workers in unionized private firms. 

Union contracts cover half of all the public sector workers (approx. 48.1%). The Federal Labor Relations Act of 1978 governs federal employee collective bargaining (FLRA). Since the late ‘50s, state and municipal government employee unions have been handled by state statutes. 

Collective bargaining for state and local public employees is governed by different legislation in each state. Some states prohibit collective bargaining; others limit some specific activities like the right to demonstrate or the right to collect dues directly from the payroll processing. Collective bargaining rights for public sector employees are not covered in about one in ten states. 

Why It is Important to Join a Union

It has never been more critical to join a labor union than it is now. As the wealthy continue to amass more wealth at the expense of the bottom poor people, fighting for workers' rights continues to be more complicated. To ensure a strong economy and a stable society, labor unions must be created to fight for the interests of workers. 

Workers form unions to protect themselves from what they perceive to be arbitrary decisions like sudden wage cutbacks, layoffs, or firings. The union is also a desirable mechanism to compel management to alter what they perceive to be hazardous working conditions. Unions also help employees to negotiate for longer-term contracts so as to have more certainty in their livelihoods. 

Some of the benefits of joining the unions include:

1. Negotiating for Decent Wage and Benefits

Workers who belong to a trade or labor union make more money than those who don’t. Collective bargaining power is used by trade unions to secure higher wages and benefits for their members. Employees don’t have to worry about negotiating with management because the union does it for them. 

Workers can have a significant impact not only on their workplaces but also on the entire industry and communities when they work together. The union offers the workers a platform to utilize the power of numbers to push for a raise, better working conditions, and benefits. 

It is safe to say that unionized workers earn more money than those who are not members of a union. Employees who are members of an association use the power of collective strength to ensure that they receive a more equitable share of the wealth they generate. Unionized employees will negotiate their dues with their employers on a collective basis. This way, they have higher chances of getting a rise and better benefit than when done by an individual approach. 

Employees who gain bargaining power by joining a union improve pay for both union and non-union employees. Non-union firms must pay more to keep qualified employees when a particular sector is more unionized with a rise in working conditions and living standards.  

2. Protection to Its Members

The labor union offers many advantages to its members, including protection. The labor union are responsible for fighting for the workers' right and protecting them from policies that may hurt them. The union is there to help you if you’re mistreated by your employer. When a worker is not happy with the management at their workplace, the union representative is the persons to turn to.

It is the responsibility of the union to ensure that its members are adequately trained in order to transition effectively at the workplace. For example, with the advent of robotics and automation of the workplace, the union’s social protection responsibility is to ensure that the employee is well trained to fit into the new working environment instead of being eliminated. 

3. Ensures Equality to All Members

The unions advocate for equal rights and equitable remuneration for all workers. Cases of discrimination against race, sexual orientation, and disability are some of the issues fought against by the unions on behalf of their members. Respect and dignity are promoted in the workplace as a result of the actions of the blocks. 

They support maternity rights, flexible work schedules, and paternity leave issues to ensure that the burden of caring for a family is evenly distributed. A number of major labor unions are now headed by women and are actively promoting the advancement of women and young people in leadership roles. As a member of a union, you can improve the conditions at your workplace. 

It is necessary for workers in the lower to middle-income brackets to have access to a fair share of the growth of the economy. Union representation helps enhance this equitable distribution of resources. After the passing of the National Labor Relations Act in 1935, the development of collective bargaining led to decades of quicker and more equitable economic growth until the late ‘70s.

A decline in unionization has contributed to increased inequality and a stagnant economy for the middle class since the ‘70s. Unions ensure that salaries are more evenly distributed among occupants by boosting pay in low- and middle-wage jobs than in high-wage positions. As a third benefit, unions ensure that the earnings of individuals with similar characteristics are more evenly distributed. 

When it comes to reducing inequality, the unions have a long history of supporting people in the middle class rather than those in the upper class, such as blue-collar workers and white-collar workers. This is why the union wage boost is bigger for low-income workers than for high-wage workers and those with lower education levels. An increase in wages for these groups helps reduce wage disparities. 

4. Advocate for better Health and Safety of Its Members

Labor unions are usually on the front to push for better healthcare and security for their members. A unionized workplace offers better health and security services to their employees. The labor union will ensure that members don’t put themselves at risk to accomplish production objectives or save the organization money. 

The union provides a haven for airing work safety issues without the fear of losing your job. The vast majority of the progress in occupational health and safety in many workplaces can be attributed to the relentless efforts of the labor unions. 

Investing in training and equipment promotes morale and productivity in the workplace. Everyone gains when workers are well-cared for. Businesses and unions don’t have to get into a war of words. Because employees are seen as disposable, employers may become less concerned about their safety. Without union representation, employees may be unable to speak out for themselves when it comes to workplace safety concerns. 

Cooperation becomes more apparent when workplaces are more organized. Companies are aware that they may improve the safety, productivity, and effectiveness of a stable staff by providing employees with training, upgrading their tools, and making greater use of their expertise. Additionally, the need for companies to be customer-focused and competitive is increasingly being recognized by labor unions. For some industries, the mere fact of having a union workers can be a competitive advantage. 

According to a recent study, there are around 4,800 workplace fatalities each year. As many as 60,000 people die annually from occupational diseases, while over seven million workers suffer from work-related injuries and illnesses. Workers’ union long-standing commitment to promoting workplace safety includes funding programs that inform employees about the potential dangers and collaborating with employers to find ways to cut down on injuries and lost time. 

Unionized employees have a right to have a union representative present during investigations of workplace injuries and fatalities, which offers workers the ability to voice their safety. By so doing, unions enhance the safety of the workplace since workers who belong to a union that are shielded from punishments for reporting safety hazards are more inclined to do so. Work hazards may be reduced as a result of improved reporting and openness of the workers. 

5. Enhances Solidarity Amongst Members

The unions have a global network that spans national and international borders. This enables the unions to share notes and learn from each other to better serve their members. They also have the ability to derive lessons from other unions spread all over the world and implement the best practices from these other unions. This enhances the unions' operations by being part of the global family to better serve its members. 

Labor or trade unions are usually members of other umbrella organizations, for example, the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and the Change to Win Federation, which are the two largest umbrella organizations for most labor unions in the United States today. Therefore, works rights advocates can be involved in both organizations’ matters. For the AFL-CIO, its main area of focus is the global trade and economic worker-related issues. 

6. The Ability to Bargain Collectively 

The main reason for the formation of unions is collective bargaining. Employees may engage in collective bargaining in order to leverage their collective bargaining power. For example, a single worker may believe that a new safety precaution should be introduced in the company, but may lack the authority to persuade the management to apply the new measure. 

It is much more likely that the company will install the new measure if the whole workforce is made aware of the necessity for it and works together to exert necessary pressure on the company. In a labor union, single workers' voices can be heard and made a goal of the entire organization. In most cases, unionized workers pick a representative to represent their interests to the union.

7. Create a Knowledge Sharing Platform

Unions facilitate the exchange of knowledge and enhance the ability to solve workplace problems. Employees usually have the best ideas on how to improve their job and make the workplace safe and even more productive. This is simply because they are on the front lines of their respective departments or industries. Unions allow workers to openly discuss what works best and what doesn’t for every situation in the workplace without the fear of being criticized or being sacked. 

This ability to safely share information is of crucial benefit to the organization and, by extension, for the welfare of the employees. Employees in unionized organizations have broader access to company finances and operations, which can be influencing their reactions to issues.  

8. Unions Secure the Employees’ Retirement Benefits

Very few Americans can afford to retire comfortably. There has been a move from traditional benefit pension to defined-contribution plans, such as the 401(K)s and related programs, which forces employees to undertake investment risk without offering any guarantees. This shift has contributed to a rise in retirement income uncertainty. It has also worsened inequality, enriched some very wealthy people, while leaving the great majority ill-prepared for retirement. Many people have no saving for retirement. 

Retirement security for union members is better than that of non-union workers. Firstly, union members will probably have pensions, and secondly, union members’ benefits are usually better than those of their non-union counterparts. 

9. Unionized Workers Enjoy Better Benefits

Union supports families by seeking the best benefits for its members from the employer. The rate of job security has drastically reduced compared to what it was many years back. Today, many employees are unable to afford basic needs because they do not have access to paid sick days, which is a particularly a serious issue for low-wage workers, who make up around 75 percent of the workforce. 

Families are suffering as a result of erratic work schedules and other scheduling practices. Communities and society as a whole are also affected by insecure jobs, unpredictable, and risky workplaces. Better benefits and job security are more likely to be extended to unionized workplaces. Unionized workers will enjoy the health benefits offered by the employer. 

10. Enhance Gender Equality and Reduces Wage Gaps

Unions play an important role in narrowing inequalities and wage gaps. Wages for women, people of color, and Hispanics have lagged over the years. Unions help close the wage gap by the establishment of pay transparency where workers know what other workers make, correcting salary disparities, clarifying terms for internal processes like raises and promotions, and assisting workers who have been discriminated against in achieving equity. Unions also help to reduce racial wage disparities. This narrows down the wage difference for people from different races. 

11. Improves Democracy and Gives Workers a Voice

To protect their financial interests, managers, entrepreneurs, and CEOs often come together to push their interests. That is how the chambers of commerce and business associations work. Having a say in the policy debates that affect your life is one of the benefits of union membership. 

People in the United States have a constitutional right to organize and seek change. Speed limits, school policies, gun ownership restrictions, and other issues are among the many that have been addressed by the people of the US as a result of their collective action. To enhance their way of life, employees had to traditionally join unions. 

Many of the most popular policies and standards that protect Americans have been pushed by unions, and they continue to do so to date. Social security, child labor regulations, anti-discrimination laws, health and safety policies, unemployment insurance, and compensation for workers injured at work are among the most popular laws and programs in the United States.

Many important workplace rules on which previous generations relied have been lost as union membership, and employees’ voices decreased over time. For example, overtime pay protections has been eroded, workers’ compensation programs have also been slashed, and the number of minimum wages dropped. 

Challenges Faced by Labor Unions

Even with the clear benefits of unions and the associated advantages, the workers' unions are facing major challenges every day. These challenges span from system automation in the workplaces to employee intimidation, which is a growing trend in many countries across the world. Anti-union activities and regulations have made it far more difficult for workers to exercise their rights and utilize their collective voice to improve the working and living conditions. 

In the United States, unions help to ensure that employees are paid fairly and have a say in the democratic process. Unions in America have been weakened by decades of attacks and a rapidly changing economy. Employees have suffered as a result, with wages and living standards plummeting and wealth disparities widening. Other challenges faced by trade and labor unions include:

1. Anti-Union Lobbyists Passing Weakening Legislations

In states that were formerly union strongholds, anti-union lobbyists have recently passed legislation aimed at weakening the unions. This move not only scares the employees from engaging in union activities but is also used to intimidate them into thinking that unions are the worst enemy for their job security. Because of this, many employees across the country are not protected from the attacks on collective bargaining by employers because of antiquated labor laws. 

Reforms to labor legislation would better protect workers’ collective bargaining rights by strengthening fines for infractions and streamlining the organizing process have also been resisted by anti-union lobbyists. To circumvent the law and avoid the protection of labor laws, some employers are abusing loopholes, such as misclassifying employees as independent contractors. 

2. Employers Going After Union Funding 

Another challenge faced by unions is the fact that the employers constrain the amount of money allocated to the unions. By doing this, the unions will have less money to spend to advocate for workers rights because of the restrictive legislation that restrict their capacity to collect administrative fees from the workers they represent. 

3. Intimidation From the Employer

This is a major challenge to unions in many states. With aggressiveness and intimidation, employers regularly use both legal and illegal methods to oppose unionization attempts. Like the case of Starbucks. Unions are not opposed by all employers. Some employers support and appreciate the role of unions in their organizations by granting the employees the freedom to join and form unions. However, it is not strange to see some employers hiring union avoidance experts to oppose the idea of joining unions. Some employers will fund and support strong and aggressive anti-union campaigns, while others will use direct intimidation tactics to the employees to prevent them from joining unions. 

The private sector has been notorious for such tactics to the point that the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) made it illegal to harass or terminate workers who participate in union-organizing campaigns. Still, the sanctions are insufficient to offer a strong economic disincentive for such activity. 

4. Wrongly Classifying Employees

Since independent contractors are not covered by the NLRA, they cannot organize unions. Some employers are using this tactic of reclassifying their employees so that they are not eligible to form unions. This is a major challenge that is preventing employees from joining unions. It is a strategy that employers use to avoid paying unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation. 

In the United States, workers who are incorrectly classified as independent contractors are denied the opportunity to join unions. Because of this, these workers are unable to form unions and bargain for better working conditions. This is a major problem in the foodservice and construction industries where workers are often misclassified as independent contractors, causing their salaries to stagnate while profits skyrocket. 

5. Prohibitive 'right-to-work' laws

Right-to-work policies pushed by corporate lobbyists aim to defund private-sector unions. This has been a growing concern recently for private-sector unions. Unions offer their members a wide range of tangible benefits, like contracts and benefits and sometimes legal assistance. These services are not free of charge. The state can enact ‘right-to-work’ laws under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), even though private-sector unions are outside the scope of state authority. Unfortunately, such laws have no effect on the workers’ chances of getting employment. 

To put it in another way, right-to-work laws don’t allow union contracts that force all workers benefiting from the representation of the union to contribute to the costs incurred by the union. For instance, right-to-work (RTW) rules prohibit unions from requiring non-union members of a collective bargaining unit to pay fair share fees that cover the minimum costs or represent works in their jobs. 

Thus, nobody can be compelled to join a union as a condition of employment under federal law. Unions, on the other hand, must represent all members of a bargaining unit regardless of whether or not they are official members of the union. In the event that the employer mistreats a non-union employee, the union must pursue that employee’s grievance exactly as if it were an official member of the union. Hence, non-union workers will get the higher salaries and benefits than their union counterparts receive. 

Right-to-work legislation have the effect of reducing union membership and funding. These prohibitive laws are backed by proponents who claim they increase investment and employee growth, yet there is no solid data to support this claim, hence affecting the employees. 

6. Attack on Public Sector Unions 

The right of public-sector union workers is under attack by corporate lobbyists. Business-centric governors in some states moved to limit the authority of public sector unions during the great recession by claiming that public-sector unions were to blame. Even though these anti-union laws were presented as homegrown responses to specific fiscal distress in each state. In reality, the crisis was caused by the many risks taken by Wall Street and not the unions. 

How to Form a Union

It is possible to negotiate salaries, benefits, and working conditions when you join a union. If there is none, you can create one at the workplace. The process for creating a union is the same for most of the sectors even though some procedures may differ slightly. 

The first step is to get together with co-workers that share the same goal. If you don’t have the necessary skills, consult a union organizer to guide you through the essential steps to follow. Seek support for the union idea from your co-workers. 

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) will hold an election when 30 percent of employees sign cards or petitions expressing their desire to join a union. A majority of those who vote will certify the union as a representative of your interests in collective bargaining provided that the NLRB agrees. Having a union represent you doesn’t always necessitate an election. 

A majority of your co-workers may be able to persuade your employer to recognize a union by signing a union authorization card. Once the union is certified or recognized, the employer is obliged to negotiate with the union representatives the terms and conditions of work and other workplace issues. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do unions affect the labor force? 

There are two primary ways in which labor unions affect the workforce environment. It is by limiting labor supply and by increasing the demand for labor. Some economist considers this move a cartel. Unions can influence the salary that the company will pay its members by engaging in collective bargaining. This can reduce the number of hours employers are willing to demand from their employees by requesting more salary. 

Given that a higher wage means less effort for the dollar, unions generally have difficulty negotiating higher rates and instead focus on raising the demand for labor. Unions can utilize a variety of methods to enhance the demand for labor, which in turn increases the pay for workers. Some of the methods employed by unions include: 

• Advocating for minimum wages increases

• Boost workers’ marginal productivity through training

• Encourage the imposition of import quotas and taxes to limit the flow of commodities into the country. This raises the damn for local labor and, hence, leads to an increase in domestic employment. 

• Improve immigration policies. Even the arrival of low-skilled workers from abroad is limited by this policy. A shortage of low-skilled workers, like an increase in the minimum wage, raises their salaries. This makes high-skilled laborers be more sought after by employers. 

When it comes to antitrust rules, unions possess a unique legal status, and in specific ways, they are a  monopoly. Unions have a lot of control over the labor supply in a specific industry or company, thus preventing non-union workers from lowering wages. This is possible by following legal guidelines. 

How do workers’ unions help in negotiations? 

Collective bargaining can be used by unions when they want to raise pay for the members or seek other concessions from their employers. During collective bargaining, employees and their employers will meet to deliberate the working conditions. Union will submit their case for a particular issue, and the employer will have to decide whether or not to accept their workers’ request or present theirs. 

“Bargaining” conjures up the idea of haggling over a price in the market, which can be misleading. Instead of attempting to enhance the conditions of the workers, the union seeks to ensure that the company remains in business by negotiating collectively. Negotiations are an ongoing process rather than a one-time event. 

Unions may strike or go on a go-slow if they disagree with the results of collective bargaining. Threatening to strike can be just as effective as actually going on strike if employers believe a strike is feasible. To be effective, a strike must persuade employers that their demands are reasonable. 

Are Labor Unions Worth it? 

Depending on which side you are on, unions can either benefit or harm the labor market and, by extension, the economy. Unions claim that they assist raise wages, improving working conditions, and providing incentives for people to continue their education and training. It is common knowledge that union wages are greater than non-union earnings worldwide. This implies that workers’ union are worth it. 

The reason for salary reviews and improvement of workplace conditions is to increase the productivity of the employee. But this is not usually the case every time. Sometimes salaries can fall if there is a shortage of workers because of an increase in the supply of labor in the market. Here, the threat of a walkout would halt the production and may help unions deter employers from laying off workers even though the move is not very effective. 

Labor is just like any other factor of production in the process of manufacturing products. High wages will mean the resulting products will be expensive and less likely to be bought by consumers. Non-unionized workers may suffer as a result of higher union salaries since they lack representation with management as unionized workers. No matter how many workers belong to the union, the government considers it an official representative for the workforce. Additionally, unions can take union dues from employees’ paychecks without their permission as a condition for employment. 

It is debatable whether or not the drop in labor demand was primarily caused by unions. Even though unions pushed wages rates higher than those of non-union members, this did not inevitably lead to few jobs in those sectors. The old economy industries have been declining steadily over the past few years as the economy turns away from heavy industry. 

Conclusion

The unions play a vital role in maintaining a growing economy and thriving democracy. Since the passage of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (NLRA), it marked a significant turning point in the labor history of America as it was supposed to empower employees to establish unions and bargain collectively with their employers over salaries, working hours, and workplace conditions.

Workplace conditions and economic policy decisions that affect employees are better managed when workers have the support and representation of unions. This is the primary reason why the unions exist in the first place. Achieving shared prosperity calls for the use of collective bargaining to secure a better deal at the negotiation table. 

Because of the effectiveness and necessity of shared prosperity, unions always find themselves under attack by employers who wish to preserve an excessive amount of leverage over employees and by lawmakers defending the interest of the top one percent. These attacks have scared some workers from joining unions. An example is Starbucks, which has been one of the most popular non-union firms in the world as the voting continues at three Starbucks Corp. coffee shops in New York, where over 100 employees will vote for or against the union. This brings forth the importance of having a union and the challenges that unions get at their formative stages. 

Democracies cannot function without empowering workers to have a say and influence. Working people uniting together in unions play an equalizing function because they may drive members to donate their time and efforts to political issues, even though historically, unions haven’t reached the level of political groups. 

With the increase in the number of part-time jobs, unpaid internships, and the gig economy, there is a need for labor unions to combat the problems of employee exploitation. Unions help to ensure the economy is working for everyone regardless of their age, occupation, color, or gender. They improve employees’ collective bargaining power to achieve an inclusive economy and a strong democracy. 

In summary, there is no doubt that unions have had a significant impact on the economy and will continue to play an important role in influencing the economic and political landscapes. They can be found in a wide range of industries, from manufacturing to government agencies, and they help workers secure better wages and working conditions.