Beginning Or End Of Unions Essay

1427 words - 6 pages

Beginning or End of Unions
12/17/2013
Maryjo Hyatt

The Constitution states that every American is entitled to the right of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". Unions are a great vehicle to help employees secure change in the workplace. Giving employees the opportunity to unite against employers, gives them the power to negotiate for better wages, benefits and others terms or conditions. When employees join or form unions they get to act as one and give a voice to be heard by management. It aids employees in the demand for change in the workplace.
We need unions because they help workers ask for their rights. Unions have the authority to enforce standards in an ...view middle of the document...

This set the groundwork for large scale unionization efforts in the public sector. 2010 The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights went into effect in New York State thanks to the amazing work of Domestic Workers United. The bill reforms New York laws for nannies, caregivers, and housekeepers who keep families functioning and make all other work possible it guarantees basic work standards and protection. Unions have done many great things over the years and America is better because of the work they have done and will continue to do.
The lives of Americas are affected every day from the past and future acts of our labor unions. From blue-collar to white-collar workers and from students to retirees they have shaped our future. Since the beginning of labor unions they have been known to champion and fight for the rights of workers, the workers who had no voice to speak up about the conditions and treatment they were subjected to.
Labor unions were first officially recognized in the year 1783. Due to the separation of the American colonies from Britain a new government was formed and this stemmed the first labor union in 1794 known as the Shoemaker’s union. This was the start of many new laws and strategies that kept labor relations running smoothly. In 1866 the National Labor Union was created followed by the AFL and CIO. From 1900 to 1919 there was a decline of unions, but in 1935 the Wagner Act revived the union movement and was the first act that had a permanent factor in the industry. All of these unions were created with one goal in mind to protect the rights of the American worker. The focus that labor unions have is mainly on collective bargaining for wages, compensation, benefits and working conditions for the members. The American

Federation of Labor-Congress of industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and the Change to Win Federation are the two most common labor unions.
In 1935 the National Labor Relation act gave workers the right to join or form unions as a way to help employees bargain with employers over issues such as wages, working conditions and many other issues that were important to the American worker. Union workers earn more in wages than non-union workers by 14 percent. Unions not only help raise wages, they also reduce workplace inequalities based on race. Because of the acts of labor unions we can enjoy forty-hour work week, weekends, eight-hour work day’s occupational safety and health standards and many other things that we take for granted today.
Union membership is on a decline and has been losing the battle on public approval since the 1950s. The pressure to change in the 21st century is greater than ever and for unions to be able to survive they must really comprehend the need for change and take drastic measures that will allow them a future. The biggest changes that unions need to make to maintain support from their members, the community and employer’s is to utilize social networking sites. Things...

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