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Minnesota Electrical Union: the Right Choice or Not Labor unions are a group of organized workers thats formed to protect the interest of its members. Union can have positive or negative effects, depending on the incentives they face and the regulatory environment in which they operate. Unions are good for the workers because you get plenty of benefits, better wages, good working conditions. National Labor Relations Act gives employers plenty of way to prevent workers from exercising freedom of association.
To organize co-workers and start union one must answer some questions. Labor unions are a group of organized workers thats formed to protect the interest of its members. A lot of people dont think that though. They think people in unions are greedy and would do anything to get money. Others think you suppose to swear by the union. The public also think unions are the only cause of strikes, sit-ins, walk outs, and cant be trusted.
The existence of a union in a workplace means that you don't have to work in constant fear of your boss, and if you are disciplined or fired, there's the grievance and arbitration process. In essence, being a member of a union means you have some power in the workplace. (Union Newsletter) Minnesota Electrical Union is member of The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), which represents thousands of workers in diverse kinds of jobs and with many different skills. Union was formed and workers continue to join union to this day for a number of reasons: low wages, unsafe working conditions, no benefits and abuse of the employers. As union grew, so did the making of laws to defend all workers, such as safety and health acts, pensions, employment standards, workers' compensation and labor relations acts. (IBEW Facts) It did not matter if you worked in the private or public sector, in unionized or non-unionized workplace all wage earners benefited from gains made by unions. (Union Newsletter) National Labor Relations Act gives employers plenty of way to prevent workers from exercising freedom of association. One example is the Acts guarantee of the right to organize is so poorly enforced that roughly four percent of all workers who vote union are fired by their employers, says the Department of Labors Website, (web). Moreover, union organizers cannot keep pace with the loss of union jobs to outsourcing, automation, and job export.
Reasons for the device vary. The first has to do with employers keeping their businesses union-free. Some were active in their opposition and even hired consultants to devise legal strategies to combat unions. Other employers put workers on the management team by appointing them to the board of directors or establishing profit-sharing plans to reward employees. Secondly, and possibly the most important reason for the decline in unions is that they are victims of their own success. Unions raised their wages substantially above the wages paid to non-union workers. (National Labor Relations Board) Therefore, many union-made products have become so expensive that sales were lost to less expensive foreign competitors and non-union producers.
This resulted in companies having to cut back on production, which caused some workers to lose their jobs, and hence, unions some of their members. Another reason for the decline has been the transition to a postindustrial economy. Industrial and manufacturing jobs, long the bastion of union membership, have declined in recent years. American workers are now more highly educated then ever before and have tended to move towards white-collar jobs not traditionally associated with union membership.
Although there has been a slight and steady decline in labor union memberships due to the factors listed above, there are some good things that these unions can do for companies and employees. Unions have multiple roles and effects. Unions can also play an important role in: a) potentially raising productivity; b) helping reduce discrimination between men and women, and between ethnic groups; c) monitoring health, safety and other working conditions; and d) protecting against abuse or victimization of individuals. (What is a Labor Union? ) Union can have positive or negative effects, depending on the incentives they face and the regulatory environment in which they operate. To join the union you have to pay fees.
Even though fees are paid you still get a lot of benefits. Some of the benefits include union credit cards, life insurance, accident insurance, and personal union loans. These benefits are even offered when the workers are on strike for more then 30 days. Some unions even have Union Plus Mortgage and Real Estate benefits, these help workers that are on strike pay their living expenses. (What is a Labor Union? ) Everywhere in which unions are active, every worker and employer is some how affected by the rules and regulations of labor unions. In all these places some type of negotiating takes place. Even the non-union members benefit sometimes.
Union members try to get as many people as possible to join to join them. Not everyone wants to take part in unions though. Labor unions are trying to increase their membership, by having a more tolerant attitude towards non-union members and employers. Campaigns are even taking place for new members to join.
Union members have even been trying to reduce the number of strikes. Some non-union members dont want to join because they think unions are only negative, so the union is trying to show them there is some good. Unions are good for the workers because you get plenty of benefits, better wages, good working conditions. Neither the employers nor the consumers benefit much from unions. When the workers do decide to go on strike were the ones who are affected because the services thats being provided to us no longer exists.
If this service is not provided anymore the then our everyday lives are affected. When workers are on strike benefits are still provided for them, but the employer is the one whos not making any money. So since, the employers dont have any money coming in they have to negotiate with the workers as soon as possible. (What is a Labor Union? ) Labor union activities can be conducive to higher efficiency and productivity. By balancing the power relationship between workers and managers, unions limit employer behavior that is arbitrary, exploitative, or retaliatory. By establishing grievance and arbitration procedures, unions reduce turnover and promote stability in the workforce conditions that, when combined with an overall improvement in industrial relations, enhance workers productivity. (IBEW Facts) In many jobs, in particular electrical, workers are better informed than management about how to improve productivity.
They will be more willing to share this information if they are confident of benefiting from any resulting change in organization. The presence of an agent on the workers behalf, the union, may make them less suspicious that any information they reveal will benefit only management. If the union involves workers in activities that improve efficiency, unionism can be associated with a more productive organization. Labor union tends to increase wage disparities between union and non-union workers, but they usually push for greater wage equality for their own members. When union members are women or belong to ethnic minorities, unions also fight against discrimination. Although sometimes desirable, the compression of wage differences due to union activity may reduce efficiency, by sending wrong signals to workers about which skills are most needed and which industries and occupations have the highest productivity.
To organize co-workers and start union one must answer some questions and follow next guidelines. First, you must decide why you want a Union. You want more money or better benefits, want better work rules or safer conditions or want to be treated fairly and with greater dignity? Having a union means that your goal must to be to work under a written Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Obtaining a CBA means that you can have some affect on all of the above reasons. (Organizing in IBEW) Second, you and your co-workers must decide if you are willing to make an effort. The NLRA provides legal protection for workers who act together to address problems or improve wages, benefits, and conditions of employment in the workplace. Next, You and your co-workers must contact the IBEW. And finally, you should be aware that you and your co-workers have control of your future. (Organizing in IBEW) A lot of people ask questions about labor unions and the future. How would unions be in the future? Would unions still exist?
Would labor unions fail or succeed? In my opinion unions would always be around as long there are workers and labor union is the right choice. Bibliography IBEW Facts, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Website, 2004 < web > What is a Labor Union? International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Fifth District, 2004 < web > Organizing in IBEW International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Fifth District, 2004 < web > National Labor Relations Act.
National Labor Relations Board. U. S. Department of Labor, 2004 < web > Union Newsletter. Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 116. Volume 1, Issue 5.
February, 2001 < web >
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