Private Labor Unions

The history of unions in the US is based on a time line that represents workers struggling to organize unions. In the United States, the history of unions played an important part in the independence process for trade unions and everyday workers. Labor unions have played a tremendous part in molding the workforce as we know it since the passing of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) in 1935. However, not long ago, collective bargaining and unions opened the eyes of many Americans by negotiating with management about working conditions and pay wages. Whether they are still perceived as important today is still a major question. As noted in the text, union favorability ratings have declined from 35% to 7% over a thirty-year span. A questionnaire was distributed to a non-random sample (N = 50) to ascertain their attitudes and perceptions on labor unions. Sixty-seven percent of respondents believe that unions should be in every state with 60% of those in a non- Right to Work

The shift in organized labor in the United States (U.S.) from the private sector to the public sector has been a dramatic one. Union growth in the American public sector is part of a 60-year trend fueled by the decline of labor power in the private sector (Norcross, 2011). In 2009, union membership in the public sector passed that in the private sector for the first time in U.S. history

In the period immediately following World War I, American workers struggled to earn a living as prices rose and wages stagnated, forcing them to seek union support. Labor unions endeavored to represent the working class against their employers and corporations, who refused to increase wages or improve working conditions. In order to combat the capitalist’s immense political clout, unions made their voice heard through strikes. After the war, capitalists linked unions to the mounting communist threat, stressing that strikes undermined capitalism and threatened a republican form of government. As a result, government sided with capital against labor unions and the struggle of the American workers, who had no voice against corporations. This struggle can be exemplified in a correspondence between union leader, Samuel Gompers and bishop William Quayle, published in “The Twenties in Contemporary Commentary: Labor & Capital”. The letters demonstrate that in the 1920’s, labor unions were necessary as a means to overcome capitalist greed and enhanced the ideals of democracy by empowering the working class.

LEWIN, D., KEEFE, J. H., & KOCHAN, T. A. (2012). THE NEW GREAT DEBATE ABOUT UNIONISM AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IN U.S. STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. ILR Review, 65(4), 749-778 Retrieved from https://web-b-ebscohost-com.bethelu.idm.oclc.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=71a03270-ad95-41f9-a574-414b59891617%40sessionmgr103&hid=101

The unions of yesterday have left the public feeling fearful of what might happen in the future. Will history repeat itself? Will employees be deceived through the mighty power of Labor Unions? Promoting benefits of unionized labor is one approach to regaining the trust of the public. Benefits include medical aid, heath insurance, worker compensation and overall respect of employees in the workplace. I feel with these measures taken Labor unions will once again reach the productivity that it once had pre-WWII.

Throughout American history, labor unions have served to facilitate mediation between workers and employers. Workers seek to negotiate with employers for more control over their labor and its fruits. “A labor union can best be defined as an organization that exists for the purpose of representing its members to their employers regarding wages and terms and conditions of employment” (Hunter). Labor unions’ principal objectives are to increase wages, shorten work days, achieve greater benefits, and improve working conditions. Despite these goals, the early years of union formation were characterized by difficulties (Hunter).

During the Civil War, many unions became synonymous with strikes, promoting workers to strike for better wages and a decent way of living. However, this act encouraged employers to unify against poor workers and to penalize those that tried to start strikes. By the time that the Civil War would end, the interactions between companies and laborers would leave negative connotations over the heads of union leaders as rebels that slowed production during a trying time in the history of the United States (Paludan, 196). While unions were able to have influence on the local level of politics, by the end of the Civil War, unions would not be able to reach a national audience. Instead, the war offered the groundwork to organize into a strong movement where workers and industrial manufactures would be able to civilly interact with each other while trying to reach common ground between the owners and the workers of a manufacturing

Unions in America today have grown smaller and smaller in the past 30 years. There are many reasons for this. The major one is that industries in other countries that are non-union have much cheaper labor costs, and therefore can offer products and materials at a much lower price than our US union-run, high wage cost factories. “During the 1970s and 1980s, a fifth of large unionized companies in the United States went bankrupt, unable to compete against companies with lower wage costs.” (Rachman, 308)

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,

Unions have a positive impact on workers lives and in the workforce. Unions and employers have the bargaining power that can affect wage determination, atmosphere of the workplace and environment (Ferguson, 1994, p. 387). Individuals that are not part of a union have no bargaining power, which could be frightening (Ferguson, 1994, p. 388). Unions are powerful due to the fact they are able to change certain factors in the workplace by having their voices heard. “Having a voice is a key aspect as it can sometimes reduce the negative aspects of the firm” (Ferguson, 1994, p. 392). It is quite interesting to see that neoliberals challenge unions by suggesting to them that a union renewal is essential (Camfield, 2007, p. 283). At times a union renewal

The rise of capitalism as the dominant economic system in the United States made the rise of unions inevitable; given the natural division between those with capital that control the means of production, and labor, who is treated simply as another factor of production (Hodson & Sullivan, 2008). While labor unions have made significant improvements to the working environment, with the regulation of safety, environment, labor and wage; labor unions have also contributed to the decline of U.S. dominance in industries like steel, automotive, education and airlines. In today’s global economy, can labor unions continue to be a force for good in the United States, or have they become harmful institutions?

This brief history of more than 100 years of the modern trade union movement in the United States can only touch the high spots of activity and identify the principal trends of a "century of achievement." In such a condensation of history, episodes of importance and of great human drama must necessarily be discussed far too briefly, or in some cases relegated to a mere mention.

Organized labor has seen a long and ever changing history in the United States. What began as minimal organized labor movement catapulted into astronomical union membership rates as the nation grew and developed. The intense power unions possessed only lasted so long and in the years since 1970, union membership in the United States has collapsed. This paper will examine the most significant reasons for the decline in membership. In brief, organizational redesigns, the development of technology and substantial public policy changes have all contributed to the drop in affiliation rates. In addition, policy suggestions will be provided in an attempt to support the continuation of the trend. Much of the research regarding this topic refers to

b. Members of Unions do not Speak of Them as Highly as in the Past

If labor laws were repealed and labor unions made illegal, employees would not be able to express their “dissatisfied with physical characteristics of the workplace, low wages, or lack of benefits and job-related conditions Walsh, 2013).” Moreover, employees who are displeased with the working condition of their working environment and condition decide to join a union (Walsh, 2013). Furthermore, a collective body of employees stating an issue gets noticed more so than a standalone employee.