research paper unions good or bad?

Question

do you think unions are a good topic for a research paper. like workers unions. are they good or bad

Answer 1

It's a Great topic!

Most people are ignorant of the history of the Labor Movement and what Unions are.

- History: Why was there a need to organize? Opposition? Results? (hint: 40 hour work week, overtime pay, child labor laws, etc)
- Compare/Contrast the differences between Industry Unions and Craft Unions. This is one MAJOR misconception people have. People lump all Unions together thinking Teacher's Union & Boilermakers Union are the same - they're NOT.
- Things that have lead to the weakening of the Labor Movement: Politics & Policies (Reagan Admin hurt), Greed & Corruption in the high ranks of the Unions (Hoffa), Economy (unrestrained imports, jobs exported, Union wages increasing all wages), Increasing Power & Influence of Big Business, and Education (the more people improve themselves, the less they think they need a Union to represent them. They don't see the hundreds of thousands of Blue Collar workers who DO have a better life BECAUSE of the Unions.)
- Anti-Union and Pro-Union view points. Many Anti-Union people want an end to ALL Unions calling them antiquated relics of the past and blaming them for the downfall of the American Economy. Pro-Union people see how relevant Unions still are today.

Answer 2

Labor unions are a good topic, but you need something more refined than "good or bad." Most interesting academic questions aren't simple black-and-white arguments. Besides, that question already has an answer that everyone knows: sometimes labor unions do good things, sometimes they don't.

You could focus on something in particular that was accomplished by a labor union in recent history, and talk about the impact of that accomplishment. Or research a controversy that a labor union was involved in, and discuss the ways in which the situation might have been handled better.

A good approach would be to ask one of the questions suggested by response #2, and to do so by conducting a "case study" of one one union, one period of time, one industry, one historical change.... something small like that, instead of all labor unions at all times and situations.

Contrary to what most students think, the *smaller* a topic is, the more you'll be able to write about it, because you won't be buried under a mountain of information, and you'll be able to make an argument or point that doesn't have to apply to every single labor union in the world.

Answer 3

You might want to select a specific union. I am partial towards the Carpenters Union as four generations in my family came through the Carpenters. But the Carpenters first established in 1724 in Philly. A few examples with regards to the labor history:

1724 Carpenters Hall (eventual first meeting place of the First Continental Congress)

Active with the Sons of Liberty and Samuel Adams with regards to the Boston Tea Party. (Very closely tied to the Masons)

Carpenters led the charge to established the 8 hour work day

Co-founded the AFL (later known as the AFL-CIO) which stirred contraversy by breaking up the Knights of Labor.

Carpenters are credited with Establishing Labor Day

Rebelled and fought against the communist parties attempts to infiltrate Labor Unions

As most unions, they were plagued with corruption in the 60s and 70s in some parts of the country

The Carpenters have always been rebels in the Labor Movement. Even today they have changed the face of organized labor once again with their adaptation to the ever changing construction industry. You could show the good and the bad, the risks that were taken and how they paid off, the outlook to the future. Its a long and established organization that offers a lot of colorful and interesting topics.

Answer 4

I think that would be good. My opinion is that they were great when labor laws were lax and workers were taken advantage of. I think they are out of place these days and have handcuffed companies and put them in horrible positions.

If they still fought for American workers and prevented the illegal aliens from taking jobs, then I might get behind them again. But here in Texas the few we have tend to work for the illegal immigrants and don't keep wages up like they used to.

Just my opinion though.


Following Mike G's suggestion, you might think about the airline union. There are TONS of recent articles and issues involving the airlines and unions.

Answer 5

Yes, it's a good topic. There is a lot of history involved, like in the US in the 1800's and 1900's.

You could talk about:
How they are good for workers or bad for workers
How they are good for businesses or bad for them
How they affect the relations between management & laborers
How businesses without unionized labor compare & contrast with businesses with unionized labor (do they make more money? give a better service? have better working conditions? have more fighting between bosses and workers?)

Answer 6

One should have specified the course under study (like M.Phil ,Ph.D,M.Com,MSW etc)for which research paper need to be submitted.
Unions are good topic for study.If One is from India,Unions in India have died (lost credibility, exploited by corrupt union leaders(corrupt workers group),corrupt Politicians & /industrialists,etc).If country in which one is doing research project need to be considered for present status of unions(vibrant /died).One may also look into modification in functioning of unions from the year of entry till now in a given nation/given set of industries /units under study.Study can be at unit level,industry level,& at national level.This depends on time available to prepare paper.For Ph.D more time & depth of study is needed.

Answer 7

ya, i guess if u can find alot of info. i would reccommend writing on the grocery stores workers union(cuz they have had some strikes in the last years u can talk about) and SAG-screen actor's guild.......im in that one, its for actors who have done a certain type of big job that required them to be in that union. after that job, and joining the union, they can get paid more and are supposed to be treated better at sets. if they are not paid what they are supposed to be paid or treated well, the employer gets in trouble with the union and thats not good when they want to hire more actors. its an interesting union for u to write about. e-mail me if u need any more help with SAG.

Answer 8

Unions:
good for workers
bad for business owners

great topic for paper.

Answer 9

An end to the unlawful taxation by misrepresentation imposed by the United States. Texas would become its own sovereign nation, make and enforce its own laws, impose taxes as seen fit, control all of its natural resources and commodities and retain all of its income. Texas would represent itself in foreign relations. I can see no cons.