Labor Union In Canada

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“Alone we are strong but together we are stronger” is a famous quote that can essentially be used to describe the major idea of the union. It is always better to know that you have a voice and the support of someone at your workplace. The Oxford Dictionary describes union refers as an organized association of workers formed to protect and further their rights and interests. The first union in Canada was the Canadian Labor Union, founded in 1972 and since then unions at workplaces play an important role in workplace. Unions are essential factors of workplace since they ensure that the employee is given justice. They act as a bridge that connects and communicates between the employer and the employee. The union offers the employee with the …show more content…

During the situation of an issue, the labor union makes the negotiation process much easier for both the employee and the employer. As an employer facing the issue, it is easier to deal with the labor union since it simplifies the negotiations process and avoids facing multiple employees. For an employee on the other hand, the union represents the voice of the employee, which allows for higher employee satisfaction. In addition, there have been many incidents in the past where the union has found the solution to issues that could have otherwise taken a much longer time to solve. Moreover, another advantage of labor unions for organizations or employers is that they lead to less turnover. This means that with labor union, the employer is off to making better profit since the employees, who are members of the union, would not want to leave their positions. The reason for this is because the employees would have to pay dues regularly to be part of the union, and giving up the position means losing the money, which they would not want. Meanwhile, if the employee is not a member of the labor union, there are much higher chances of them giving up the position. Furthermore, unions provide democratic organizations through which the employee can bring a change to their workplace, communities and to the wider world. Therefore, having a labor union at the workplace is beneficial for …show more content…

This might sound as common knowledge as it is one of the key responsibilities of a union. However, to this day, many individuals, especially those who are considered as minorities, face issues when it comes to being hired at an organization. Unionized workplaces give higher compensations with relatively higher wages for lower paid workers and less wage gap for women, young workers and racialized workers. For example, according to the Canadian Labor Congress, there were 2,425,000 women union members working across Canada in 2013 – about 32.6% of women employees and they earned, on average, $6.89/hour more than non-union women because their unions negotiated fair wages and work hours. The $6.89/hour is a great difference when taken into consideration and it shows the real advantage of being a union member. The union therefore ensures that the employee is entitled to fair wages and a safe environment. In addition, the Social Justice Principles on work suggests that if the dignity of work is not protected, then the basic rights of workers – the right to productive work and the right to decent and fair wages – must be respected. Moreover, having a union ensures that the economy serves the people. Furthermore, unions have historically been a major force in humanizing, democratizing and promoting higher levels of economic equality and social rights for all

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