Labor unions are organized groups of workers who come together and join forces in protecting their welfare at the workplace. They advocate for better remuneration and benefits, better working conditions and fair rules and regulations at the workplace. Labor unions are bound together by the fact that all the members share a common goal that is to have a favorable and comfortable working experience. In general the unions represent the employees and their sentiments are able to be heard through a much formal platform. The unions through its leaders present the employees grievances to the management or employee. They bargain for better pay, additional workers, and better working conditions through a collective bargaining process. They sit with the employers and other legal bodies on behalf of the union members and negotiate on the best possible offers. Labor unions have been there for many years and have been instrumental in protecting employees’ welfare through better representation. They have almost been a part of workers and an employee who does not belong to any labor union seems to be incomplete. They have therefore played a significant role in shaping the present workplace. This paper addresses some of the contributions by labor unions shaping the workers’ rights in the 20th century.
All activities carried out by recognized trade unions are legally binding and are applied by the management or employers as soon as the agreement is signed. The trade unions are governed by a powerful constitution designed and passed by the members in accordance with the law. The decisions reached after the process of collective bargaining must be followed by the employers and members of the union. Failure by any party to meet their obligations leads to bleach of the agreement and could lead to serious consequences and law suits. The labor unions negotiations have always been effective and in some cases the agreement reached with employers are applied across the industry where even non members enjoy the benefits. This is mostly the case in large and powerful trade unions. The government recognizes trade unions as a very important component in the working environment as they play a crucial role in shaping the working environment to be favorable for all. Currently there is a labor union campaigning for workers right in almost every industry. This is attributed by the struggles by earlier labor unions especially during the industrial revolution that championed for employees sentiments and voice to be heard and be part of the decision by the management.
The History of labor unions
Trade unions originated in Europe and became popular at the time when workers were being mistreated by the employees by being denied their rights. This was during the industrial revolution when the employees lacked the skills to perform most work related duties. This gave the employers the power to dictate the wages and since most of the workers lacked the necessary skills, they had to comply with the oppressive nature of the working environment and low wages that they termed as the ‘wage slavery’. During this time workers had no say in the length of time of work, the wages they receive or any other benefits at the place of work. This made the working experience hard as the employees always ended up being oppressed greedy employers. As there were no leaders or representatives the employees suffered in silent until they decided to form the popular labor unions which threatened to destabilize the business environment leading to employees accepting to have talks with the union leaders. However, this came after a long struggle that saw some employers hire demonstration breakers in the name of protecting their property from destruction by the striking workers.
The employees struggle was not only challenged by the business environment and the employers who were opposed to better pay and improved benefits to workers but also some government officials were a major threat to the success of the unions. While the employers hired and developed the strike breakers, the security forces engaged in battles with the striking workers leading to serious injuries and deaths of many workers. For instance, serious gun battles were experienced in 1892 when Pinkerton security forces engaged Carnegie steel mill striking workers in running battles at Homestead, PA. This lead to serious casualties and greatly affected the workers struggle to free themselves from the oppressing employers by championing for fair remuneration. However, the great depression played a major role in shaping the present position of the employees. President Franklin D Roosevelt also played a major role that boosted the unions’ campaign by passing the Federal labor laws changes proposed by Senator Robert F Wagner. This allowed employees to go on strike if they feel that the employers are mistreating them. As a result of this, the numbers of employees in labor unions increased rapidly leading to major changes in the work environment.
Trade unions activities
Over the years trade unions have developed to offering various benefits to its members as well as engaging in different activities. Based on the principles and objectives of the union, activities and practices may vary. However the principle activity in all trade unions involves collective bargaining to ensure that members benefit and have a comparative advantage to non members. The following are some of the activities that trade unions have always engaged in.
Benefits provision to union members is the sole responsibility of all trade unions. For members to join a trade union they have to be assured of the benefits that they will get and the comparative advantage they will have over people who are not members of the union. How their lives will be affected by being members of the union is very important (Wright, 2003). Over the year trade unions have attracted huge membership by championing for their benefits which include being insured against lack of employment, old age and other expenses like funerals. In some countries the employees are provided with these benefits by the state and the role of the unions therefore, becomes representation of their members.
The labor unions have always been instrumental in the protection of the rights of their members. This includes rights against exploitation by the employers in terms of pay and the total working hours. The unions have therefore, ensured that their members get fair remuneration based on their work. They engaged the employers in negotiations to decide on the best way to handle the issue of fair wages. This attracted many people into joining the labor unions.
In the process of fighting for the rights of their members, unions engaged and called for strikes and other forms of industrial action. This was in a bid to champion for the rights of their members. This was met by serious opposition from the employers as well as the government but the unions were determined to deliver a better life that they had promised their members.
Unions engaged in political activities in the process of championing for the rights of their members. They ensured that they support laws that protect the rights of their members and guarantee them maximum benefits. They campaigned for these laws and supported the people they felt they would serve their interests and that of their members. This included financial support in campaigning, endorsing and lobbying for support from all affiliates and members of the union.
Significant role played by the labor movement
Labor movements had played a significant duty of ensuring the employees’ relations at work place were properly observed. This was achieved through the formation of labor Acts and codes of conducts that ensured the employees’ rights at workplace were put in a firsthand consideration. Among the main concerns that led to formation of labor unions before and during the 90s included concerns on unfair treatment of employees by their employers which resulted to multiple conflicts at workplace, relatively low salaries and wages and long working hours as well as unfairness in hiring and firing of employees without any proper explanation of such drastic measures that employers took especially in the firing process.
One of the major roles that were shaped by the labor movement is the creation of a conflict resolution strategy at workplace. This involved strengthening employer-employee relations at workplace hence reducing work related conflicts that could lead to strikes and more wasted days without work (Beik, 2005). The conflict resolution effort arose as a result of creation of an open forum where employees through their union representatives, could air the concerns and dissatisfactions directly to the management thus giving a fast decision process to resolve the presented issues. Industrial Union is one of the labor unions that were formed in 1990s in an effort to unite employees of a particular industry that led to the then and current employees networking programs in related industries for easier job related brainstorming and decision-making processes.
As a result of formation of Labor movements that criticized the low wages paid to different employees in an organization, the employees’ rights on proper wages and remuneration show a significant positive change in the 20th century. This was based on an argument by the striking workers on the basis that the ratio of their wages versus the companies’ profit margins was significantly low and as a way of appreciating their labor which contributed to the net profits, companies had to give the employees equal or at least a recommendable share of the profit. This way, the employees’ felt more appreciated at work place and had a sense of belonging to their work place as a result of the labor unions concerns on fair and equal employee treatment policies. Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 is one of the legal Acts that was emphasized by the labor unions lobbying for better pays and reduced working hours for the employees on the basis of the wages paid for their respective labor. Haymarket Riot in Chicago is an example of the employees’ strike that show he establishment of eight-hour working schedule for the employees.
As a result of rising concerns in unequal and unfair treatment at workplace, labor unions played a crucial role of fighting for various employees’ rights as indicated in various Acts of Parliament. For instance, through the labor movements and lobbies on the employees’ rights in hiring, selection and recruitment processes as well as equality at work place, labor unions insisted on reviewing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1960, Civil rights Act of 1964 and Age discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. These three respective employees Acts insists on fair treatment in the process of employee recruitment whereby discrimination against people with disabilities, age, gender or religious differences or denying a person employment on basis of their age ire prohibited. This had a positive impact on the equal opportunities in white collar jobs which were initially given particular groups of skilled on semiskilled labor on the basis of nepotism and favoritism. In an attempt fight for the rights of the minority groups in employment sector especially women and minor races, labor unions empowered these groups actively participate in fighting for their rights on employment opportunities based on merits and skills.
Apart from enhancing the rights of the labor unions members, some of the movements that emphasized on fair treatment of the union members only were abolished in an effort to protect the rights of those who did not belong to any union. For instance, the Closed Shop union that emphasized on the employment of labor union members only was abolished and rendered illegal under the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947. This gave way for those employees who did not want to join unions get equal employment opportunities just like any other labor union members. Although labor movements had a significant impact on some companies which had to be closed down or moved to new places, their vibrant role resulted to an increased productivity at work places as the employees were empowered to work whilst knowing their rights were safeguarded. This resulted to a tremendous industrial growth as the employees were more dedicated in improving their skills and productivity in their respective sectors particularly manufacturing industry.
Labor movements played a paramount role in shaping the workers’ rights in the 20th century. The labor unions which came up with the movements negotiated for the best bargains for their members and although the employers opposed this move, the unions won especially after the labor laws were amended and the unions got the endorsement of the then president Franklin D Roosevelt. The unity of unions led to successive movements and industrial action that championed for the workers’ rights. This influence led to them endorsing people and laws that they felt would serve their interests and that of their members.
References
Wright, O. (2003). Chronology of Labor in the United States. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Company.
Lichtenstein, N. (2002). State of the Union: A Century of American Labor. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
Beik, A. M. (2005). Labor Relations. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.
