Why Do Labor Unions Matter Essay - 1600 Words

Introduction The labor union movement over the years has shaped the way individuals work and live for both the nicest and unpleasant. Some would think the unions influence has created a power struggle between management and union leaders. In today’s time, some citizens insist the existence of unions are a must to aid in employee freedom, while others view the labor unions as just another problem in the line of progress. The purpose of labor unions was for employed workers to come together and collectively agree on fundamental workplace objectives. The rise of the union came about after the Civil War- responding to the industrial economy. Surprisingly at the least unions became popular within the 1930-50’s and began to slowly decrease,†¦show more content†¦Workers would not be able to successfully accomplish the established goals without the help of the union. If unions are that beneficial to workers, why the increasing decline? Several reasons come into play. One issue being, there has been a rapid growth within particular categories, such as women. There are more women currently in the labor force, who are more prone to working sporadically and half the time compared to others. Secondly, there has been a decline in union’s actively engaging new members, as well as their being a steady increase in the employer’s unwillingness to take part in unionization attempts. Additionally, because society has shifted from unionized corporations with a manufacturing-based economy to a service-based economy has made it more difficult to unionize. Although, there have been uncontrollable and controllable forces that have led to the decreasing popularity of unions, they have still managed to make up for it in vital areas, such as wages, benefits, working conditions, and others. Whether or not individuals view labor unions as positive or neg ative organizations, they will always matter. Ethics: Corruption An individual’s personal beliefs and moral values are just as significant to any organization as what goes into running a company. Ethics are what we live by from day-to-day, but the concern for most unionShow MoreRelatedEssay about Labor Unions’ Involvement in Politics1627 Words   |  7 Pagesdeeply engrained in the culture of labor unions. Bill Fletcher Jr. writes myth 8: â€Å"the union uses our money for political action and I have no say in the matter,† in his novel â€Å"They’re Bankrupting Us† And 20 Other Myths about Unions. In this myth, Bill Fletcher Jr. addresses unions and how they take political action. Labor unions often take political action in a controversial way, while not always getting full advantage of their work. 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