After conducting an internet search, I found that unions provide great benefits to employees both inside and outside of work. At work, employees may see improved benefits such as increases in pay, better benefits, safer workplaces, and feel that they have a voice. Better benefits may be in the form of employer-provided pensions and health insurance. Improved and safer working conditions are essential to preventing illness and injury. Additionally, union representation allows employees to advocate for improved benefits without fear of retaliation, which gives employees a sense of empowerment. Outside of work, unions may provide greater personal well-being, which encompasses physical and mental health. This is accomplished through health insurance, and paid sick and family leave.
However, all of these benefits are not without a cost, quite literally. One of the cons of labor unions is that they cost money. Union dues are charged to members, and they can be costly to employers as well. Additionally, unions can lead to less autonomy for employees as there are certain union rules that employees have to follow. Conflict could arise due to various sources including lack of autonomy and conflicting views. Lastly, unions go on strike, which leads to various potential cons for both employers and employees. On the employer side of things, strikes halt business and productivity. Depending on the type of business, temporary replacements may be required immediately. For example, when nurses go on strike at a hospital, the institution must quickly find replacements as nurses are essential for patient care.
These ideas are fairly similar to the content reviewed in this week’s lectures; however, I was not aware of the decrease in autonomy for union members.
I have previously been part of a union when I was a teacher, and I plan to join as a pharmacist. I believe that they are important and their pros most definitely outweigh the cons.
Banerjee, R. • B. A. (n.d.). Unions are not only good for workers, they’re good for communities and for democracy: High unionization levels are associated with positive outcomes across multiple indicators of economic, personal, and democratic well-being. Economic Policy Institute. https://www.epi.org/publication/unions-and-well-being/
Justin Klawans, T. W. U. (2024, October 2). The Pros and cons of Labor Unions. The Week. https://theweek.com/business/labor-unions-pros-cons
What unions do: AFL-CIO. AFL. (n.d.). https://aflcio.org/what-unions-do
