Unionization In The Workplace Essay

Unions have paved the way to the improved work environment that we enjoy today; for the past 150 years they have been setting the standards that benefit us all. The argument has been made that unions are no longer relevant due to government regulations that protect workers and improved working conditions. However, unionized workplaces provide many benefits to all workers and there are still injustices within workplaces that unions work to correct. Unions have improved the working conditions for all workers. Higher wages are not the only benefit, unions also provide workers with maternity/parental leave, vacation pay, health benefits, better working conditions, protection from discrimination and workplace safety standards. Unions provide solidarity amongst workers. Unions are instrumental in allowing workers to fight for workers’ rights in the workplace. As well as protecting workers against injustices, and ensuring there is equality. Solidarity boosts the morale within the organization by providing workers with a unified voice. This helps during times of collective agreement negotiations between the employees and employers, as employers are more likely to listen to a group

Employers continue to hire workers in part-time positions to avoid having employees qualify for benefits. Younger generations are taking jobs offered by the governments, for example the Federal Student Experience Jobs (2015)Using them to work as cheap labour and without the protections and benefits that paid employees enjoy. There is also discrimination from the government by condoning less pay for temporary foreign workers than Canadian workers. These circumstances provide younger workers with a negative attitude, feeling as though unions cannot benefit them. Keeping them out of the bargaining units lowers the solidarity in the workplace, which in turn leaves it weaker and more