Topic: Labor Unions

You read about labor unions in your assigned Chapter 15 reading. Now you will synthesize what you learned to respond to the questions below.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the value to a society to have the ability to unionize?
2. How do the goals of labor unions differ from management goals?
3. What industries are currently most likely to have labor unions? Why?

Can you make response each posted below # 1 to 3

1. From: Melanie Devito posted Jul 20, 2018 3:40 PM

What is the value to a society to have the ability to unionize?

Our textbook describes unions as organizations that are formed for the purpose of representing their members' interests in dealing with employers. It adds value to society by resulting in less layoffs. There is also less conflict between employees and management because the union will represent the employee in any confrontation. They will handle and negotiate issues with companies so the worker doesn't have to.

How do the goals of labor unions differ from management goals?

To sum it all up, the purpose of a union is to safeguard the individual employees. The purpose of human resource management is to safeguard the company itself. They do this by holding higher productivity at lower cost.

What industries are currently most likely to have labor unions? Why?

The top 5 labor union industries as of 2015 are as follows:

• Educators: They play a vital role in educating future workers, laborers, and corporate owners
• Steelworkers: Very dangerous job, lots of medical happenings, lots of conflict
• Public Service Workers (Police, EMTs, Nurses, etc.): Do a civil duty, dangerous, high risk job
• Auto Workers: Dangerous, high risk job
• Electrical workers: Dangerous, high risk job.

2. From: Bhupinder Singh posted Jul 21, 2018 5:29 AM

What is the value to a society to have the ability to unionize?

According to the assigned reading and my understanding, union is a firm which help/support employee at their jobs. It helps employees to make sure they are being treated equally and fairly weather it’s pay or job requirements. Their job is to make sure employee are not being discriminated against anything. The benefits for employees will be that the union stands with them when employer holds employee accountable. The representatives and managers have to work through union to address the performance related issues.

How do the goals of labor unions differ from management goals?

The main focus of a union is to protect the employees because they get margins from their paychecks. They also make sure they employer and employee have good relation. The management goal and focus is to produce the output while making sure the cost is low. They also have obligation to comply with all the policies and procedures to avoid compliance issues.

What industries are currently most likely to have labor unions? Why?

According to the article “The Top 5 Most Unionized Industries”, top 5 labor union industries are Educators, Steelworkers, Public Service workers, Auto workers, and electric workers. Industries who deal with machinery or electric work have more risk of safety. The educators and public servants have responsibility to teach/guide (key people) other.

Bryant, S., 2015. The Top 5 Most Unionized Industries. Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/073015/top-5-most-unionized-industries.asp

Noe, R., Hollenbeck, J., Gerhart, B., Wright, P. (2017) Fundamentals of Human Resource Management. 7^th Edition. Retrieved from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10…

3 . From: Traci Delp posted Jul 21, 2018 2:26 AM

Labor union relations have many different dynamics to them. Their impact can be widespread and benefit many people as well as the economy.

First let’s look at the value a union has on society. Unions goals are to provide a better workplace for employees. This creates a standard that society adheres, such as higher wages, and benefits nonunionized workers. Unions play a pivotal role in establishing labor laws that protect all employees, not just those in the union.

Labor unions goal is to represent employees and their best interest. The union negotiates for the employee to get the best pay, benefits and fair system for them. This differs from the goal of management of the company. Their goal is to obtain the most profit they can. Even though this made more difficult through all the benefits union workers have, management can benefit from a structured workplace environment. Having a fair and balanced workplace benefits all involved.

Industries that are most likely to have labor unions are construction, aerospace, teachers are a few. “Unions are important because they help set the standards for education, skill levels, wages, working conditions and quality of life for workers” (frequently Asked Questions About Unions, 2010). Another reason would be the globalization of many industries.