Managing a Unionized Workforce Michael Thomson Clark University Author Note This paper was prepared for Management 170: Managerial Communications for the fall Semester of 2015. Managing a Unionized Workforce Overview of Unions Employees Unions can be a very helpful tool that make it difficult for employers to take advantage of their employees. Unions help employees work together with a larger group of people to accomplish fair working conditions, as well as fair compensation for their work. The goal of unions is to make it so that a large group of employees can have some sort of leverage when dealing with their employers. Unions are proven to work for employees, and the statistics are there to prove it. According to workplacefairness.org …show more content…
It is detrimental to the work environment if the union becomes the enemy of a manager. It creates hostility in the workplace that is not conducive to working for either the manager of the employees. A large part of the job of a manager is to find a way to work with a union in a conducive way. The best boss-employee relationships are built on cooperation. If a union of workers finds themselves feeling as though they are not being fairly treated, their work will not be as good as it could be. Korshak (2001) states that when workers are “accorded a voice . . . and respect at work” it can create a very good work environment, in which employers can get the most out of their employees. Management and unionized workers are both trying to reach their own personal goals, but the goals can be reached far more efficiently if both sides simply work together to find a middle …show more content…
This same article claims that it is no coincidence that wages of workers have barely improved over this period of time. America is in a difficult situation currently with employment. Given how large of an issue wages and employment currently are, it would be extremely beneficial to see a rise in those percentages of participation. It makes the job of managers/employers easier to not have unionized workforces. When there is not a method of checks and balances in the workplace to ensure fair treatment of workers, wage gaps will increase. The wage gap in America is already daunting. Rich people are incredibly rich, and poor people are not earning living
The disadvantages of union membership are viewed from the employee and employer perspective. Through the employee lens, the disadvantages manifest in the form of fees, loss of autonomy, and less collaborative work environment. As part of the union, you surrender many of your individual rights in exchange for the organized results that can potentially manifest through the collective bargaining process. Therefore, there isn’t any assurance that your individual concern will even be addressed.
Do labor unions have a positive or negative effect on the economy and human rights of a person? Even though my experience with labor unions has not been so pleasant, I am still indeed in favor of them because of all the positive effects that they bring. Through my research and analysis of labor unions, I have examined one side that provides that unions have a positive effect and the other side conversely states that they have a negative effect. From all of my collected data, I have deduced that the positives of labor unions significantly outweigh the negatives. In this paper, I will first and foremost define labor unions and how they operate.
Even though the very purpose of a union is to defend the interest of its members, the company could also use the instrument to promote the official point of views of the company’s management. In clear, the union and the management could work in good intelligence to promote the interest of worker and the interest of the company. Generally, the problem between management and union come when they one as another as an adversary and not as a partner. To be more constructive and create a working atmosphere profitable for both parties, union and company’s management need to work side by side to address real problems. Thus, worker must understand that the best job security for them comes primarily from the existence of the company and so their union should not be a mean for jeopardizing the company’s purposes. Similarly, the management must also understand that he will not achieve his annual goals unless the workers are well treated and the condition of work meet the standards set by official rules and regulations. This is a clear psychological contract between the company and it workers. The success of the company depends heavily on the respect of that psychological contract. Personally, I will play the role of a mediator between my boss and the worker who want to unionize and explain. I will clearly explain to my boss the benefit of having a union in the company and also explain to the worker the necessity to help the company increase it performance by working harder. And the union should not be a tool for undermine the efforts of the management to achieve better
Primarily, to have a voice on the job. Unless workers are organized, management is free to exploit workers. Union members also earn better wages and benefits than workers who aren’t represented by a union. On average, union workers’ wages are 30 percent higher than their nonunion counterparts. While only 14 percent of nonunion workers have guaranteed pensions, fully 68 percent of union workers do. More than 97 percent of union workers have jobs that provide health insurance benefits, but only 85 percent of nonunion workers do. Unions help employers create a more stable, productive workforce, where workers have a say in improving their
The advantage of unionized workforce is better wages, shorter workweek, and safer workplace. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the medium weekly income for full time employee in 2010 for a union worker was $917 compared to $717 non-union worker. In addition, a survey taken by the National Compensation Survey in 2009 that 93% of unionized workers were entitled for benefits compared to 69% of non-union workers represented by 101 million private industry workers and 19 million local and state government workers. Unionized workers has more power as a cohesive group compared to an individual which can help negotiate better wages, improve health and safety issues, benefits and working condition with the management of the company (Keller,
There are two types of relations that unions can have with management; acceptance, and accommodation (Huston, 2010, p. 297). Since unions have realized that they don’t make progress when they are aggressive they try to use these tactics to help improve their relationship with management (Huston, 2010, p. 296 & 297). Acceptance is when management is willing to accept what the union is proposing, but is still hesitant, and apprehensive of them (Huston, 2010, p. 297). They sometimes feel as though the union is stepping on their toes sort of speak. With accommodation there is a mutual respect for one another, and together they can establish mutual goal (Huston, 2010, p. 297). Of course out of the both of these the unions would most prefer to have accommodation with management, since it would be much easier on them to deal with management.
The purpose of this report is to explore how managerial communication theory can be implemented in today’s business marketplace. This will also explore the how the communication climate in an organization can increase effective communication.
Even till now unions have been overall successful; they have been capable of the task to establish rights and equality to all workers. They gave workers better working conditions, minimum wage, maximum hours, and benefits, such as overtime and fringe benefits. This made being a labor worker an actually decent job to peruse and have as a career. It helped also make labor workers an actually important part of society and of construction that is key to beginning and finishing a project. Even though some people may have mix feelings towards union it has impacted labor rights in a fruitful way.
Employers respond to unions in a negative way and discourage employees from joining unions as unions fight for extra pay, extra work hours and additional benefits for employees. Many employers ignore employee’s interest in joining a union as they believe that trade union have to play their role effectively as there are rising pressure on employers to deteriorate collective bargaining on wages, working conditions and job security. The tactics of employers has a significant impact on the choices made by unions. The relationship between the employers and unions is built on the power imbalance in the workplace. A union is formed for the purpose to negotiate with an employer or employees over working conditions, wages, and the term and condition
This shows that the importance of trade unions have become a greater concern for the employers and employees in the nation. More trade unions are formed to maintain the beneficial employer-employee relationships and protect the rights and welfare of the employees. Meanwhile, the total number of unionized employees also increased from 764,881 to 918,673 since 2001 until September of 2014. The awareness of the need of unionization has improved throughout the years. More employees join unions and embrace the rights they
The Collective voice/ institutional face: on the other hand is quite different. Under this, unions have positive effects on productivity, by reducing quit rates, inducing managers to alter methods of production and adopt more efficient policies and thus improving morale among workers.
Managers are paid to manage and they should be free to do that without interference. Critically evaluate in regards to one aspect of the Employment Relationship.
1.) Individuals may elect to become involved as a member of a union for many benefits and advantages they offer. The primary issues surrounding individual decision for unionization are their dissatisfaction with wages, benefits, operating conditions or environment, promotions, and lack of job security (Rue, Ibrahim, & Byars, 2016, p. 392). Union involvement opens up a direct line of communication with members and their employers to increase the odds of negotiations or attempts to resolve any discrepancies employees may experience within the workplace (Rue, Ibrahim, & Byars, 2016, p. 392). Unions advocate on behalf of employers for their health, safety and overall well-being (Rue, Ibrahim, & Byars, 2016, p. 392). Having stronger communication
For employees, being unionized offers many advantages. Unionized employees experience more job security than non-unionized employees, because the union has to be present and defends their members against disciplinary action or termination. They can also file grievances, & complaints with their union representatives, who then take them up with management on their behalf. Unions are thorough when it comes to working conditions, in order to ensure a safe, pleasant working environment. Unionized employees can also expect steady raises and benefits, such as health coverage, sick leave and paid vacation time, to name a few. The exact nature of monetary compensation and coverage varies based on the CBA, which is reviewed and negotiated before expiration.
Adverse working conditions, Limited employment options and options for vertical mobility have resulted in unification of workers so as to get their demands met. Employees have their unions and employers their bargaining association and there is a constant tussle to establish the relations between these two sides. Rapid changes in methods and techniques of production and government legislation have also helped improve worker welfare. Thus government, employees and employers constitute the key stakeholders in industrial relations. Ancillary stakeholders include employers’ associations, trade unions and tribunals. Industrial relations if they function well will help reduce industrial disputes, generate High morale, Mental revolution 4) New programs. & 5) Reduce wastage. The drawbacks of industrial relations include Commutative class struggle, Misleading of workers by TU Leaders, Physical fight between management and workers, by-passing legal methods by trade unions among