About Unions

Worker's unions have long been a part of the American economy, and have for just as long garnered criticism and controversy. Unions are designed to protect the rights of workers, but critics argue that they make unreasonable demands of business owners. Whatever the controversial nature of unions, they are undeniably a huge player in labor relations.

History

Since Medieval times, workers of like trades have banded together in 'craftsmen guilds' to support each other in a variety of ways. These early guilds closely guarded their trade secrets, passing on knowledge from generation to generation. Labor unions as we know them began to develop in the early to mid-1800s, in the midst of the Industrial Revolution as a response to widespread problems of worker exploitation and child labor. The earliest unions served steelworkers, and throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, unions for many other trades were formed.

Function

The function of a labor union is to provide for workers in a specific industry a voice in negotiations regarding conditions of working. Unions gather workers together to discuss issues such as wages, benefits, pensions, safety and other employment conditions. The union leadership then negotiates a contract with employers to address these concerns. For example, a union contract might provide for a minimum wage for overtime or a mandatory break time for a given number of hours worked.

Types

There are two main types of unions in America today: Industrial Unions and Trade Unions. A trade, or craft, union organizes workers of the same occupational type, regardless of where they work. An example of a trade union would be the National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC) that is open to all nurses. In contrast, industrial unions organize workers who are employed by a particular industry regardless of their specific job. The New York Hospital Workers Union is an example of an industrial union, and offers membership to all New York workers who are employed by a hospital, regardless of their specific job.

Benefits

There are many benefits to union membership for workers. First of all, unions participate in collective bargaining with employers, and for this reason union workers, on average, have substantially higher salaries and better benefits than workers in the same industry who are non-union. Unions also provide a specific procedure for workers to file grievances regarding working conditions, and unions will often advocate on a worker's behalf.

Considerations

Critics of labor unions cite what they consider serious problems in the movement. Many economists and politicians state that labor union demands are unreasonable, and put union companies at a serious economic disadvantage. Additionally, 'insider-outsider' theory posits that while unions benefit the 'insiders' (employees who already hold union jobs), it makes it far more difficult for 'outsiders' (unemployed job-seekers) to get a job in the field and secure the same benefits and wages.

Resources

• Labor union resources and list of active unions