The cons of the decline in union membership in the US
Despite public opinion of unions has declined in recent decades, we still shouldn’t forget all the good that unions have done. From employer perspective, they indeed wish there is no union existing in their organization, they don’t want autonomous unions springing up, because of the potential threat to their authority. Employees will be beneficial if unions play a role in protecting employees' basic rights such as safe working conditions, no discrimination, overtime compensation, and so on. “The employees feel that when they meet with management about the issue, they will benefit from strength in numbers—a core belief of why employees decide to work as a group rather than taking individual …show more content…
At first, the monopolistic practices of the employer encouraged the employees to unionize. Workers need to guarantee their own rights though unionization, so that to improve their work condition, wages, work hours and various benefits. Union indeed has important effect at this point. But sometimes unions may lead some strikes that could lose public support because of their violence and incorrect way.
Over time, the labor laws become more complete. Employees could be protected by labor laws since fair labor standards act (FLSA) and the labor-management relations act passed. For example, the 1935 FLSA achieved a long-time goal of early labor unions-the abolishment of child labor, the Equal Pay Act that requires employers to provide “equal pay for equal work” regardless of gender; the Civil Rights Act which prohibits employers from discrimination based on color, race, gender, religion, or national origin; and the Age Discrimination Act which prohibits discrimination against individuals over the age of 40, as well as other important laws, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). (Carrell & Heavrin,
Despite public opinion of unions has declined in recent decades, we still shouldn’t forget all the good that unions have done. From employer perspective, they indeed wish there is no union existing in their organization, they don’t want autonomous unions springing up, because of the potential threat to their authority. Employees will be beneficial if unions play a role in protecting employees' basic rights such as safe working conditions, no discrimination, overtime compensation, and so on. “The employees feel that when they meet with management about the issue, they will benefit from strength in numbers—a core belief of why employees decide to work as a group rather than taking individual …show more content…
At first, the monopolistic practices of the employer encouraged the employees to unionize. Workers need to guarantee their own rights though unionization, so that to improve their work condition, wages, work hours and various benefits. Union indeed has important effect at this point. But sometimes unions may lead some strikes that could lose public support because of their violence and incorrect way.
Over time, the labor laws become more complete. Employees could be protected by labor laws since fair labor standards act (FLSA) and the labor-management relations act passed. For example, the 1935 FLSA achieved a long-time goal of early labor unions-the abolishment of child labor, the Equal Pay Act that requires employers to provide “equal pay for equal work” regardless of gender; the Civil Rights Act which prohibits employers from discrimination based on color, race, gender, religion, or national origin; and the Age Discrimination Act which prohibits discrimination against individuals over the age of 40, as well as other important laws, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). (Carrell & Heavrin,