Labor unions are widely considered invaluable when it comes to advocating for workers. However, from my online research and conversations, as well as the materials from this week, it is clear that there are strong opinions on both sides of the union debate. Talking with a family friend, who’s a part of a union, I learned that her union has helped her and her coworkers get better wages, helped protect them from unfair punishments from those above her, and helped advocate for better working conditions on their behalf. However, she did talk about some downsides, too. She noted that she didn’t really like having to pay mandatory dues. She also talked about how when you’re a part of a union, it can be difficult to express dissenting opinions, and those minority opinions often go unrepresented. This was echoed in my online research, where I read that unions give employees collective bargaining power, which can result in better wages, benefits, and job protection. Throughout history, unions have improved workplace safety and fairness. They have also helped reduce inequality in the workplace and have supported political causes that promote worker rights. However, I also came across several downsides, including increased labor costs for businesses, inflexible rules, and the potential of protecting underperforming employees. Some employers also argue that unions can reduce innovation and freedom for managers. Similarly, lectures 1 and 2 discussed how unions can protect workers from arbitrary management decisions, while also discussing downsides like increased costs and reduced control. In short, I think unions play an important role in giving workers a voice, but they are not without drawbacks. The question about whether or not I would join a union would come down to the specific work environment. If I were in a workplace where management was unresponsive to worker concerns, or where there were health, safety, or equality issues, then I would definitely strongly consider joining a union.
Sources
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2018/04/24/the-right-to-work-really-means-the-right-to-work-for-less/
https://theweek.com/business/labor-unions-pros-cons
https://www.laborsoft.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-labor-unions
https://smartasset.com/career/the-pros-and-cons-of-unions