Essay On Labor Unions

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Recommended: Disadvantages of trade unions

Rafael Ramirez
Ms. Kaufman
Government
22 April 2014
Labor Unions: Representing Workers of America
Labor unions are legal representatives of workers in the United States. They mainly bargain with employers for higher wages, benefits, and better working conditions. However, there is a major controversy on whether labor unions should even exist. Some people are for labor unions because they benefit much from one. Others view unions as selfish organizations. The United States labor force wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t for unions fighting for workers rights.
In the past, workers worked long hours in the worst of working conditions six days a week with little pay. Now a days, that is unheard of, and illegal. Unions have contributed much to eliminate all of the injustices in the labor force. Unions have advocated for labor laws and regulations that protect workers in the labor force. As a result, the National Labor Relations Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act were passed. Unions act as the voice of the workers by identifying where laws and regulations are needed. According to the article “Unions Today” on UnionPlus.com, “Employers are trying to shred responsibility for providing health insurance, good pensions coverage, reasonable work hours and job safety protections”. Employers these days are trying to get away with not having to pay for health benefits for their employees, especially now that Obamacare is in effect. This is affecting workers today because people are losing their jobs or are given less hours, therefore making it hard for them sustain themselves or a family. In today’s economy prices are only going up, so having a job is necessary. With unions, Americans can demand better pay and more work hours f...

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...nt that labor unions are beneficial to the American work force. Unions give workers strength in numbers. Together, workers can achieve what they want whether it better pay or more work hours. Unionized workers have better benefits that non-union workers, like job safety. Although there are unions fees that have to paid, the benefits are well worth it. From an employee standpoint, the decision to join a union or not should be an obvious one.
Works Cited
Becker, Amanda. “U.S. Justices Wary of Free-speech Argument in Union Dues Challenge.” Reuters.com. 21 January 2014. Web. 15 April 2014
“Labor Unions Today.” Unionplus.com. Web. 17 April 2014
Stohr, Greg. “Union Fees Debated in Supreme Court Case Over Labor Power.” Bloomberg.com. 21 January 2014. Web. 17 April 2014.
“United States, Appellant, V. Travis Paul Enmons ET AL.” www.law.cornell.edu. Web. 17 April 2014.

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