Were labor unions ever necessary or good for the worker? If so, why aren't they needed now?

Question

Answers containing facts as well as opinions will be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Yes, they were and are necessary. Unions provide a countervailing balance against the very powerful position of the employer in the workplace. They give the individual worker a powerful body which is capable of standing up for their rights and which is able to ensure the employer cannot enforce excessively onerous working conditions. Without a union an individual worker is unable to bargain fairly with employers and would essentially be helpless to stand up for themselves.

It is a proven fact that well organised, unionised workplaces have better terms and conditions than non-union workplaces:

* On average 6% higher basic rates of pay
* Less sexual or racial harassment
* Less bullying in the workplace
* Better health and safety performance
* More skills and training provision
* Better training representatives and effective procedures

Unions are still needed. Otherwise working conditions would regress.

Answer 2

I think that I have a (Good Answer) There is simply not enough (Qualified Workers) to do the Job/s that require (Certified Workers) to accomadate the ever ex-panding Work Forces to meet the (Demand/s) of someone whom is truly Talented to do the Job/s that meet the Demands of a Companies (Insurance Companies. There are too many people getting (Hurt) in the Construction Field, & that is one of the many (Reason/s) as to why these Insurance Companies Demand "Certified & Skilled Union Workers to do the Job/s that only a Skilled & Certified Union Worker". The (Fact) is, is that Union Companies are in (Seriious Trouble) with getting the right kind of Worker to follow a simple (BluePrint Plan) & in my opinion onlt Certified & Skilled Labor must only be done by a Certified & Skilled Union Worker. There are too many workers out there Getting Hurt on the Job on a Daily basis. Most of the time A Certified Worker can read the signs around His or Her Working enviroment without an incident, but someone whom is not (Certified Or Skilled) is the kind of worker that a Good Co. does not need. I believe that we do not need Unions to make the (Bucks) because the Unions are suppose to garrentee that theire workmanship with Certified Workers but unfortunately, there is a short supply of Certified Workers. There are alot of really good Companies out there that can do just as good or better than the Union/s because alot of these non-union Companies "Train theire Employees with some damn good training. I went to Carpentry School) a few years ago & have been a Certified & Skilled Carpenter now for 12 yrs & it is of the utmost importance in today's Work Force to have Qualified People Working so that the Job gets done in the manner in which it was meant to be done,(Done Right) Unoins are only (GOOD) to theire Workers if they are on top of theire field/s & the un-qualified Workers are treated with Mild Temperment & not a whole lot of room for growth. There are alot of reason/s & alot of Pro's & Con"s in any field- but the Unions Main Concerns are (Safety In The Work Field) & without an Insurance Co.to back a Co. to work-than there is no work... No Indurance = No Work.

Answer 3

Labor unions were quite helpful at one time, because they gave the workers bargaining power they could never possibly have as individuals. Unions were instrumental in promoting workplace safety for instance.

Today membership is dwindling, and unions are slowly fading away. The reason is not some nefarious plot by big business, it is because Big Government has made unions obsolete. Think about it, all the things that unions used to fight for, all the worker protections that they were advocates for, are now covered by government regulations that the unions themselves demanded.

Answer 4

They were necessary, because workers were being horribly maltreated since the government always protected the owners. Those like Rockefeller, Morgan, etc., made so much money, because of this. The workers were forced to work long hours in unhealthy conditions (Triangle Something Fire? etc.), child labor (see pictures of stunted growth). At the same time, they worked for low pay. However, today, with the Taft-Hartley Act (allowed unions, outlawed yellow dog contracts--getting others to bar union members), Fair Labor Standards Act, Wages and Hour Bill (minimum wage/max hour), and the like.

Answer 5

Of course they were good for workers (still have a role today). But, you have to be honest in where they have come to and the harm that is caused. The amazing thing is how many worker rights violations are filed against unions every year! How they spend a tremendous amount of money on politics that the members have no say on. Or even that they've become undemocratic, meaning no elections now. For more details, go to my source below.

Answer 6

Unions had their time and that time is gone. They were started to stand up for the working man. Now we have laws that do that. Now, unions stand up for the lazy. The stewards all the way to the presidents protect their buddies and will hand over the ones that aren't. Next, they priced themselves out of a job. The starting rate for union electricians (journeyman) is $27 per hour. I have worked with these guys, journeyman my a$$. They couldn't wire a dog house. So you can toss out that quailifed workers claim. We also have guys working at the steel mill and GM making $50 per hour and they can't even tie their shoes. NOTICE TO THE UNIONS, YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY OUT!!!

Answer 7

They are needed now more than ever. War, poverty, exploitation and oppression are products of the capitalist system, a system in which a minority ruling class profits from the labor of the majority. The alternative is unions that would lead towards a society based on workers collectively owning and controlling the wealth their labor creates.

Answer 8

Labor unions were good and necessary for the good of the worker,but they have turned into a political group concerned for only the dues they collect and no longer serve the worker,by demanding outrageous,benefits ,that in the long run hurt company's,and force them to close,or move over seas.look at G.M,Ford,with one leg in the grave,try Toyota,Honda,non union company thriving,if you strike for a 2 dollar increase in heath benefits,you must not want your job!

Answer 9

No they are not need now.... they actually do more harm than good now! They were needed back in the day when there were no labor laws. Now they often hold the business "hostage" and cause problems to the consumer in higher prices and lack of supplies!!

Answer 10

For the same reason we don't need our freedom. This is Amerika.