The Role of Management and the Union in an Organization

Why do employees join unions? There are a number of reasons that an employee may join a union but three major factors are evident. They are; dissatisfaction with economic aspects of the job; a desire to influence those aspects of the work environment through union orientated means; and, a belief that the benefits of unionism outweigh the expected costs (Deery et al, 2000).

Labor unions are an organized association of employees who come together who would all like to better the relationship with their employer. They have power to impact things such as wages, job training and other work related issues. So why would employees want to start and organize a union? Well, one reason employees would want to start a union it’s usually because employees are dissatisfied with something in their job and they would like to fix it. The ‘things’ they would like to fix could range from something as basic as wages and to job security (Hunter 1).

To be efficient and effective in management, certain tasks must be performed by all managers. Managers must be able to plan, organize, lead, and control. Manager’s tasks are important no matter the level of the manager. Managers must be able to use and improve these skills depending on their position within the organization.

Labor unions are a gathering of people for a united cause. People within a labor union fight for common goals such as better pay and fair working conditions. In most cases when a union attacks a certain aspect it is so they can all acquire the same out come, such as raising the minimum wage to twelve dollars an hour for all. The primary reason unions were created was because workers weren’t always treated appropriately throughout history. Industrial leaders would make maximum profit by making their employees work twelve to fifteen hour workdays for seven days a week and they would only earn pennies for each hour of work. The conditions in which employees conducted work was unsafe and unhealthy yet no one could complain because they could not afford to lose their job. This is when labor unions were introduced, at first they started off small only pertaining to a specific geological area in regards to a specific craft such as shoe making in Philadelphia. The smaller unions are known as locals, an employee affiliated with the union is then appointed as a liaison between their fellow workers and the corporation making them the shop steward. However, people realized they held power in numbers and ultimately national unions were established such as the, Knights of Labor.

Labor unions  formed for a good reason to help workers fight back together. There were many reasons why Labor Unions protested. If it wasn’t for the Union everyone would still be earning a low salary and have bad working conditions. We now are earning more money, working fewer hours and have better working conditions because of the Labor

Labor unions date to the 19th century.  The three labor unions were created  to improve work life in the factories. Workers had long hours, poor conditions and low wages; while their employers enjoyed vast wealth.  Labor unions are groups of workers and employees who bond together to get safer working conditions, better wages, and reasonable hours.  Most famous union is the American Federation of labor (AFL), founded in 1886 by Samuel Gompers.  Labor unions protect the rights of workers in specific industries.  Labor unions tend to be more common in manufacturing, mining, construction, transportation, and the public sector.  Labor unions have been around for a long time.  The earlier unions were called craft unions, consisting of members who worked in the same trade such as carpenters and printers.  Working people need to earn enough to support their families; good wages are a part of that, so are health care, paid sick leave and other rights that make sure that working people can do their jobs and take care of their families.

If corporations are given unchecked power they would quickly run over the workers in order to increase profit. It is not in the corporations’ best interest to provide livable wages and benefits to employees. It is almost impossible to imagine a world without pensions, paid vacations, and sick leave. A happy and healthy work force is more likely to be more productive. The human element is often lost by a company as it grows.

According to Dias, a union is an organization of employees that forms to negotiate or bargain with an employer (Dias, 2012). Unions are a part of our Nation’s history, allowing workers the power to negotiate wages, work hours, benefits, health and safety guidelines, training, and other work related issues, and helped to create todays labor standards. These standards include minimum wage, social security, eight-hour workday and weekends, overtime pay, the American with Disabilities Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Unions help to ensure fairness in the workplace and to give a diverse workforce an equal voice.

A major topic that comes up with unions is getting better wages for the employees. This is one of the main reasons that unions came to be. Workers of all fields were tired of being paid unfairly by big companies. They realized that they needed a way to organize themselves to fight for better pay. Unions helped aid in this fight. According to History.com, “ The formation of the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers (shoemakers) in Philadelphia in 1794 marks the beginning of sustained trade union organization among American workers.” This was the first time workers tried to organize themselves to get more money for what they did. A key way that unions used workers to make businesses meet their demands was organized strikes. With these organized strikes, the big companies had to comply with some of the demands to raise the employee 's wage, or it would cost them more money in the long run. Strikes are a very powerful tool that unions have used often in the past. Unions orchestrated the strikes in the past pretty well, and the majority of strikes accomplished the goal they were trying to complete. Unions have always fought with companies to give the workers the pay they deserve.

The Labor Movement was necessary to protect the common interest of workers. The state of working environments during the Industrial Revolution produced a mandate for this movement. The Industrial Revolution served as a turning point for all western nations because of the influx of businesses and factories. America generally benefited from the revolution; however, it was at the expense of the workers. Industries were only interested in profit so workers were generally underpaid, worked long hours, and in unsafe conditions. Working conditions during the revolution were generally dreadful. And since there were copious amounts of people willing to work for any compensation, employers could set wages as low as they wanted. Labor unions arose because there were many who disagreed with how big businesses ran. A prime objective of labor unions is to make sure its members are paid fairly. Labor activists believe that employees and the company share its successes and that they should be rewarded for its productivity. Labor unions want to improve working conditions for their members. They demand reasonable working days along with safe working environments. Also, labor unions provide more than just job security and safety services. These services include provision of education and training to inform union members of their employment rights and to improve their basic skills. Labor unions are a group of employees who organize to provide a balance in negotiations between management and the

A union is an organization of workers who join together in order to have a voice in improving their jobs and the quality of work within the organization. In many occasions, unions help employees of an organization negotiate pay, benefits, flexible hours and other work conditions that may arise. Unions have a role because some degree of conflict is inevitable between workers and management (Noe, 2003). In this paper, I will be discussing the impact of unions and labor relations within an organization.

The world of business has undergone radical and dramatic changes in the last decade changes that present extraordinary challenges for the contemporary manager. A manager is an organizational member who is responsible for planning, organizing, leading, and controlling the activities of the organization so that the goals can be achieved. According to a widely referenced study by Henry Mintzberg, managers serve three primary roles: interpersonal, informational, and decision-making. Management is process of administrating and coordinating resources effectively and efficiently in an effort to achieve the goals of the organization.

Answer: a. 4. Planning in organizations is usually: a. formal and detailed b. formal and flexible c. informal and detailed d. informal and flexible Answer: d. 5. Which type of managerial role usually requires the most time and attention? a. entrepreneur b. spokesperson c. disturbance handler d. negotiator

The relationship between unions and organization is a touchy one. Dating back to the start of unionization in the 19th century, the two bodies have held opposing viewpoints. Unionization was formed from the opinion that organizations took advantage of workers and some form of a negotiating agreement was needed. There were documented events of workers working long taxing hours for insignificant pay; no healthcare coverage; dangerous working conditions; and gender and or racial discrimination. Companies believed that unionization caused less productivity which endangered profits. Companies also believed that unions interfere in daily processes, and limits the employer’s say over compensation and benefits. The

2. Organising – A manager needs to organise her/his team and materials according to her/his plan. Assigning work and granting authority are two important elements of organising. A manager is responsible for organising staff, resources, tool and work schedules to achieve the organisations set goals and objectives.