not unions are beneficial and relevant in today’s working world. An article from the Union Plus website argues that unions serve an identical purpose today as they did in previous centuries. It is insisted that employers are beginning to shirk responsibilities such as providing livable wages, health care, pension plans, etc. “More than ever,” the article contends, “working people need the collective voice and bargaining power unions provide to keep employers from making the workplace look as it did in the early nineteenth century” (Labor Unions Today). Quite the contrary, various other professionals argue that unions are outdated and ultimately detrimental to the economy. These contenders indicate that labor organizations are manipulative and
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Currently, the largest union in the United States is the National Education Association (NEA). Created in 1887, this dynamic union merged with the American Teachers Association in 1966. Those represented by the NEA include the entire gamut of public school educators from students studying to be teachers to retired educators (Mason). Another immensely influential union in today’s working world is the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Representing “janitors, security officers, superintendents, maintenance workers, local and state government workers, public school employees, bus drivers, and child care providers,” the SEIU arose in 1921 and is still over 2 million strong today (Mason). A few other notable organizations include the American Federation of Teachers, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, and the United Steel Workers. Although this is only a small list of labor organizations, it is these unions that claim over 1 million members, some even more. Nearly every line of work has access to union representation (Mason). However, it is important to note that the majority of these associations have a much more dormant influence than those of the last 100 years. This only represents the tip …show more content…
The primary power of unions is through something called a “bargaining unit” (How do unions…). The workers compiling this group are elected by union members in a company to negotiate benefits and assure just conditions with the employer. Once the unit persuades the employer to compromise by just terms, an agreement called a “collective bargaining agreement” is signed (How do unions…). By this process, employees have a weightier impact on their working conditions. Secondly, unions benefit their members by giving them countless discounts and benefits. Despite the fact that members pay a fee to the union they are represented by, participants mostly receive what they desire: fair wages, bountiful benefits and discounts, and a fair say regarding their working conditions (How do unions…). Clearly, the place of unions in the working world today is vastly different then what it was in the
Currently, the largest union in the United States is the National Education Association (NEA). Created in 1887, this dynamic union merged with the American Teachers Association in 1966. Those represented by the NEA include the entire gamut of public school educators from students studying to be teachers to retired educators (Mason). Another immensely influential union in today’s working world is the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Representing “janitors, security officers, superintendents, maintenance workers, local and state government workers, public school employees, bus drivers, and child care providers,” the SEIU arose in 1921 and is still over 2 million strong today (Mason). A few other notable organizations include the American Federation of Teachers, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, and the United Steel Workers. Although this is only a small list of labor organizations, it is these unions that claim over 1 million members, some even more. Nearly every line of work has access to union representation (Mason). However, it is important to note that the majority of these associations have a much more dormant influence than those of the last 100 years. This only represents the tip …show more content…
The primary power of unions is through something called a “bargaining unit” (How do unions…). The workers compiling this group are elected by union members in a company to negotiate benefits and assure just conditions with the employer. Once the unit persuades the employer to compromise by just terms, an agreement called a “collective bargaining agreement” is signed (How do unions…). By this process, employees have a weightier impact on their working conditions. Secondly, unions benefit their members by giving them countless discounts and benefits. Despite the fact that members pay a fee to the union they are represented by, participants mostly receive what they desire: fair wages, bountiful benefits and discounts, and a fair say regarding their working conditions (How do unions…). Clearly, the place of unions in the working world today is vastly different then what it was in the