Labor unions exist across the county, and are comprised of various different individuals working in different jobs. When it comes to whether or not labor unions are effective, individuals opinions range across the board. For employees joining unions, it can aid in them negotiating increases in wages or benefits, as well as working conditions. Unions as a whole have played a large role in advocating for workers rights across the nation for centuries. As for critics of unions, the main proposition is that they’re anti-employer, and it can make it more difficult to promote and terminate workers, and they can also drive up costs. Overall, whether one believes unions are beneficial or not can be subjective, depending on one’s personal understanding of labor unions. After conducting some research on labor unions and their purpose, the main contrast I have found between sources is on what supervisors should not do, or unfair labor practices. Due to the fact that individuals may have subjective stances on labor unions as a whole, the conduct of what managers should do when discussing labor unions can also be subjective. In the source materials, it states that managers should not make promises or spy on union activities, yet in some sources it suggest to do so. After reading more about labor unions, if I wanted to stand up to unfair working conditions or unfair wages, I would join a labor union, as the advantages of labor unions are beneficial in my opinion. Mostly, the fact that labor unions can provide worker protections and promote higher wages and better benefits.
Sources Cited:
Connett, W. (2023, February 26). Are labor unions effective? Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0113/are-labor-unions-effective.aspx
Lecture Outline- Labor Relations
HR Exchange Network. (2023, November 20). Pros and cons of labor unions. https://www.hrexchangenetwork.com/hr-compensation-benefits/articles/pros-and-cons-of-labor-unions
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