The first union in the United States formed in 1794, but it was an effort that ended in disaster. The Philadelphia shoemakers, who were called “cordwainers” at the time, were barely earning enough money from their work to buy food that would feed their families. They banded together to go on strike to demand higher wages for their work. The state government at the time responded to the strike by indicting the union, alleging that they were involved with a criminal conspiracy. This action bankrupted the effort and placed the workers on trial. Although the actual court actions were not documented, the outcome was that the union members had to pick up the cost of the proceedings and pay a fine of $8. Using a standard inflation calculator, that is the equivalent of $182 today. Although the fine was not unreasonable, when households are struggling to make ends meet already, an unexpected cost that is comparable to a speeding ticket today can be a challenge to manage. The debate about labor unions today follows a similar path to the one that happened over two centuries ago, especially when the discussion involves public-sector employees. These are the critical pros and cons to review on this subject to discover if this structure is helpful or harmful to the average employee. List of the Pros of Labor Unions1. Labor unions typically provide better wages than comparable non-union positions. Those extra funds add up when you consider them in the context of a year. In 2018, a union worker earned almost $10,000 more in wages assuming a 52-week payment schedule. 2. Union members often have better access to employee benefits with their job. 3. Labor unions provide better access to retirement benefits for employees. 4. There is more job security available for unionized workers. Employees who receive representation from a labor union must be terminated for “just cause.” This misconduct must meet a specific definition of severity to qualify for such an action. Most workers can go through a grievance process or even arbitration before they actually lose their job. That makes it easier for workers to speak up if they see something unjust happening in the workplace. 5. It offers more strength because workers come together as a group instead of as individuals. 6. Labor unions create contractual obligations for both parties to follow. 7. There is a measure of job protection available to union workers. 8. The collective bargaining agreements are usually short-term contracts. 9. It is easier to find solutions for disputes or complaints in the workplace. List of the Cons of Labor Unions1. Employees must contribute to a labor union for it to be successful. Most unions require a 3.5% royalty from each paycheck as well, although the percentage can be less for some positions. Workers are then asked to advocate for the union and their work environment during their free time and provide stewardship services in the office where union officials are not often present during the regular working hours. 2. There can be a lack of autonomy when working for a labor union. 3. It creates a working environment which can discourage collaboration. Workers who are not unionized also report that their supervisor creates an environment that is open and more trusted compared to employees who joined a union to work. When eliminating government workers from this result, the margin was 80% to 71%. Although there aren’t large differences in the job satisfaction rates of these two groups, it is clear to see that the relationship that people have with labor unions is becoming more acrimonious. 4. The political climate can often turn against labor unions. 5. There is the issue of seniority to consider with labor unions. This issue can even cause junior workers to lose a position even if their job is not part of the downsizing effort. Some collective bargaining agreements allow workers with more seniority to “bump” out people with less to take their position. That process continues until the least-senior member of the team loses their job or someone decides to leave, taking an early retirement. 6. It can be challenging to remove disruptive employees from a unionized environment. 7. Labor unions can disregard worker experience or educational assets. The pros and cons of a labor union show that on the balance, most workers are better off with one than without its presence. There are significant increases in wages and benefits which can apply to the entire family. The working environments are typically safer as well, and job security is much less of an issue. Although there are more dues and fees to pay for these privileges, many union workers find themselves earning up to $200 more per week than their non-union counterparts for completing the same work. Author Bio |