Disadvantages to a Union
Unions provide workers with a method for negotiating with big business and improving their working conditions. Unions give employees power in numbers and leverage things such as collective bargaining to ensure that they are not taken advantage of by large corporations. Unions have many advantages for workers and business, but there are a few ways in which a labor union can have a negative effect.
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Stress on Companies
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Unions help workers to earn higher wages and wages that are more competitive. When a business is doing well, it often has no problem meeting the requirements of unions and keeping its workers happy. However, if business begins to decline, many unions are unwilling to waver on their requirements. This makes the business unable to support its union workers and may cause the jobs to be moved to another location. A lack of flexibility for the employer makes them less likely to use union labor.
Consumer Costs
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In many areas of employment, unionized workers earn more than non-unionized counterparts in other states or countries. These costs are often passed on to the consumer as the business attempts to maximize profit, meaning union-produced goods may be more expensive than non-union counterparts. If one product is more specific than another, similar product, consumers usually opt for whichever is cheaper. Paying higher than average salaries to workers can hamstring a company's competitiveness.
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Cost to Employees
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Unions fight for the rights of their members, but these services are not free. Most unions require that members pay annual dues and other fees that can total up to hundreds of dollars. While union workers often make more money that their nonunion counterparts, they are also responsible for staying in good standing with their union and paying fees that they otherwise would not owe. Individual costs will vary based on your profession and union, so you have to make a decision on what is worthwhile for your bank account.
Potential to Strike
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A strike is a union's final play in a brutal negotiation. A strike called by a particular union means that every member of that union is expected to quit working immediately. This is a powerful tool for unions but can cause serious repercussions for people unrelated to the debate. For example, if teachers decide to strike in order to negotiate higher wages, school has to be canceled, putting students out of class. Transportation worker strikes can seriously injure a city's ability to function and strand millions of subway riders at home. Strikes are rare but the potential still must be considered when discussing the benefits or problems with unionized labor.
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References
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