Union Violations

Unions exist in almost every industry from manufacturing and construction to banking and government. Their objective is to represent workers by acting as a bridge between management and employees. Among other important issues unions facilitate negotiations for increased wages, benefits, and improved working conditions. While the Union’s historical purpose is to offer redress for employer violations of employees’ civil liberties and moral rights the tactics that unions have taken in doing so also raise moral issues. To address the ethical concerns posed by both unions and employers throughout American history the Government has taken on a regulatory role by passing legislation that circumscribes the actions of both parties. In order to fully

Membership levels swelled into the millions during the early 20th century, despite the workers’ great personal risk. With such a strong outpouring of public support, through membership, the Government was forced to take notice. As protection from retaliation and interference with union activities Congress passed the National Labor Relations Act in 1935, also referred to as the Wagner Act. This act prohibited employers from attempting to take control of unions and from discriminating against union members. The Wagner act also mandates that companies must participate in collective bargaining. As a result union membership sextupled, from two million to twelve million members in just ten years. Historically the mass resources of employers provided them all of the bargaining power when pitted against the meager resources of the individual employee. Increasing union size helped level the playing field between workers and management. Through collective bargaining wages and working conditions were greatly improved. That remains true to this day, most benefits enjoyed by modern employees, even non-union ones, can be traced to union triumphs and pro-union legislation such as the Wagner Act. Supporters of unions use this as a justification to charge

This amendment to the Wagner Act reigned in much of the newfound power of the unions. No longer were union only or closed shops permitted. This legislation also restricts unions and their members from sympathetic striking and secondary boycotts, the blackballing of companies who continued to patronize other companies during a strike. Having peaked in both power and number of memberships, 36% of the private workforce, in the early 1950’s many advocates considered this to be a significant blow, perhaps the beginning of the end. Statistics through the last 65 years support this claim. By the 1980’s membership represented only 20% of the labor force, and today just 7.8%. An imminent Supreme Court Ruling on the case of Freidrichs v California further threatens Union stability. In this case the court is being asked to determine the justness of forcing employees to contribute financially to unions which in turn spends their money lobbying for political agendas that benefit the union. According to The Center for Responsive Politics, eight of the top ten all-time political contributors are labor unions. Which is concerning in and of itself. Employee unions have far too much financial influence over politicians during elections who, once elected, must negotiate with the unions. It is improbable to think that unions do not use this financial backing to garner favorable considerations from the politicians during these