Are Labor Unions in the U.S. Obsolete - 1306 Words

Are Labor Unions in the U.S. Obsolete? To understand the worth of today’s unions, we must first understand the history and purpose of these organizations. Simply put, a union is an organization of employees formed to bargain with the employer. There are many types of unions. For instance, a craft union is one whose members do one type of work, often using specialized skills and training. An industrial union is one that includes many persons working in the same industry or company, regardless of jobs held. A federation is a group of autonomous national and international unions (Mathis 529). The main purpose of all these organizations is to secure benefits and rights in the workplace. The history of unions in the United States dates†¦show more content†¦Unfortunately, employers don’t always have to hire their workers back. For instance, if they believe the union did not act in good faith, they may have the right to fire their workers. Few private employers can afford simultaneous 100 percent t urnover, even temporarily, so a strike threat encourages negotiations. Today, management holds more leverage knowing that many people cannot afford the risk of losing their jobs in such a competitive economy. So instead of negotiating labor issues, employees are satisfied with what is given to them. The rhetoric of solidarity has long obscured the reality of unionism: Unions drive up wages by pitting workers against workers, insiders against outsiders (Reason). Another challenge that has effected the growth of unions is the organizing of unions themselves. Institutional developments indicate that the U.S. labor movement has been slow to respond to the challenge of new private sector organizing (Bennett 466). There are committees and institutions that help the development of new unions, such as the Organizing Institute proposed by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization (AFL-CIO). Unfortunately, many existing organizations are more concerned with satisfying current members rather than organizing new ones. As mentioned before, the declining union representation is largely effected byShow MoreRelatedCampaign Finance Reform and the Necessity of Democracy Essay1492 Words   |  6 Pagescommittee(PAC) donations. „h Banning  ¡Ã‚ §soft money ¡Ã‚ ¨ donations. „h Spending limits on campaigns in exchange for free or reduced-price advertising. „h More public financing of campaigns Many Republicans favor: „h Prohibiting labor unions from spending compulsory union dues on political activities. „h Raising limits on individual donations. „h Restricting donations from PACs. Source: CNN.com Obviously there are some differences inRead MoreCold War Analysis1913 Words   |  8 PagesWith the presidential election of Donald Trump a year ago, there has been ongoing investigations of Russian interceptions in the 2016 president election. 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