Unionization In The Workplace

Unionization

Every workplace is either union or nonunion. A union is a group of workers that are joined together in a specific type of organization for improving their working conditions as well as to help in promoting the common interests of the group. In a nonunionized workplace, the employer makes the rules; they get to decide on things such as wages, promotions, and hours of work the employees shall receive. The employees do not have a say in these matters. Whereas in a unionized workplace a workforce has the opportunity to negotiate its wages or salary rates through the union, a union workforce can also bargain for things such as employee benefits, safety guidelines, complaint procedures, etc. The collective agreement between the union

“Union workers are more likely to receive fringe benefits, and generally, fringe benefits comprise a higher percentage of total compensation for a union worker than for a nonunion worker — 39 percent vs. 28 percent, respectively” (Douglas). Unions are more likely to compensate an employee with benefits in exchange for the work that is put in by the employee over nonunion companies. Most union employees receive a wide range of benefits. “Federal statistics gathered in 2006 show that union workers were much more likely to receive health insurance, short-term disability insurance, vision insurance and dental benefits than nonunion workers” (Douglas). These benefits are outlined in a union contract. The majority of people in unions have access to these benefits more so than nonunion workers because they negotiated their benefits with the union to form a collective agreement of their rights in which they are entitled

“Unionized employees generally earn higher wages than nonunionized employees in comparable jobs — approximately 17 percent more on average between 1973 and 2001” (Douglas). Union workers receive more money than nonunion workers for doing similar tasks. How much of a difference is this pay scale? “The median weekly income of full time wage and salary workers who were union members in 2010 was $917, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and for nonunion workers it was $717” (Keller). Workers that are a part of a union will generally receive $200 more per week than nonunion workers will. Although the increased pay raise is great it may come at a price to the employer. “The higher total compensation that union workers receive — $11.14 more per hour in September 2011, according to the federal labor statistics — is a cost to the company” (Douglas). This cost may lower a companies’ profit, but a union environment can offer an increase in productivity in workers. “According to the U.S. Department of Labor a 1997 report indicated that productivity in unionized workplaces was 10 percent higher than in comparable nonunion environments” (Joseph). The productivity of union workers can increase the business’s production rate and make up the cost the employer is losing by paying their employees higher wages. Statistically union workers’ productivity allows for more work to be done faster and more efficient than nonunion