Unionization In The Workplace Essay

Unions raise the bar of equality for all workers. In Canada, the law guarantees employees the right to take partake and freely join trade unions. These same laws provide standards of suitable behaviour of employer in the face of unification, and specify the arrangements a manager may take. Whether the discussion is regarding pay, performance, promotions or anything else of the nature, it must be strictly negotiated between union and employer. It is also understood that employers are strictly forbidden from compelling, intimidating, inducing or coercing an employee to avoid joining unions. Unions use their collective strength of their employee to control and protect skills and jobs to achieve their goals, and to fight for the share of the surplus production that arise from the employees’ combined

While the benefits are great for employees, there has been a steady decline in union membership over the past few years. Although 70 percent of workers in the public sector are members of labor unions, current statistics indicate that only 15.9 percent of workers in the private sector are unionized (Parker, 2014). In the year 2013, the unionized workforce hit a 97 year low in America. Only 11.3% of all employees were unionized while unionization in the private sector fell to 6.6% down right from 35% in the 1950s (Collins, 2015). Unions are losing their relevance, and most of the work that was done by unionized workers are now being done on a contract basis. Contract work has deprived most workers in lower paying jobs many benefits that they enjoyed before. Some of the benefits that unionized members enjoyed before their jobs were contracted out included health care, dental insurance, and legal insurance. Union workers are an essential part of the economy and the local community because they spend their earnings in the community and their spending supports the