The Importance Of Collective Bargaining

Decent Essays
Collective bargaining is a great way for employees to voice their ideas and opinions on a particular issue within their workplace. Employees having a voice is key in building the workplace environment and showing respect for one another. Unions can be structured to help with compensations, bonuses and investments. Unions have the power to negotiate compensation packages for employees. The support of a union is good to have, in these times where employee’s jobs are not guaranteed. “Prevailing economic conditions influence bargaining strategy. In recent years, belt tightening, downsizing and privatizing have led to two related trends: concession bargaining and productivity bargaining” (Berman 2013, 450). Workers can benefit from …show more content…
Therefore, when employees feel as though they have no job-security, this can affect performance and may even cause some to look for other jobs that will give them that sense of security. “Berman show that unions are important because often times they have to switch adroitly from offense to defense, fighting from onerous threats such as reduction in force, two-tier wage structures and benefits copayment” (Berman 2013, 450). Employees want to know that they have someone fighting on the behalf and having union and bargaining tool is one of the ways the feel secure in their jobs. Whether it is an employer or employee, everyone wants to feel involved and feel as though their opinions matter. Employees need an avenue to be able to negotiate with their employers. If collective bargaining or unions are taken away this will bring about more problems and abuse of employees. There should be some form of checks and balance concerning collective bargaining since it causes so much of a debate. The fear of public unions using their power to abuse the system in the arena of politics and government contracts. When it comes to public sector unions the main concern is money. The future of being able to negotiate an individual’s salary, benefits or promotion is at stake. Unions stand behind collective bargaining as being a right and eliminating it will leave employees …show more content…
In reading employees are often times face with many challenges such as long work hours and low wages. This is one of the reason why collective bargaining was established and the threat of losing this can be detrimental to an employee. “According to Berman, the union leaders view the proposed changes as union busting that would reduce workplace protections for employees, harbor mistrust, replace bilateralism with top-down decision making, and set the precedent for dismantling collective bargaining rights in other agencies” (Berman 2013,

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