The labour Unions in the Modern United States of America - Assignment Example

Kyoung H Kim UMS 00476398 MGT 402 What is the issue? Human nature dictates if something is broken, humans are compelled to restore them to working condition. Over the decades the traditional union organizing process has been broken down with resulting membership decline. Many union leaders are figuring out to fix this problem there is a need to go back to the basics. “Special ballot elections” ran through National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) do not work. These elections create many obstacles for the union supporters. Harry Raynor, the leader of Unite Here, is promoting new programs like “Card Checks” that could fix the long declining union membership. There are many opposing parties including government officials and employers because it does not promote a secret ballet election that is the foundation in a democratic society like the U.S. However special ballot elections are not fair and justifiable because, employers use corporate tactics to undermine union supporters making the elections nothing but controversy. Which is the right process to create a better society for all? Creating a union is not always good for the society; it could have a backlash effect. To a certain point the need of union is unavoidable. Currently the U.S.’s capitalism is not working properly. It is time to fix the problem. Mr. Raynor is one of the many who is trying to repair the broken system. 2. Why is it important? The core idea of business is profit maximization. In the process of making maximum profit two distinct groups exist, employer and employee. These two groups have to work together. Over the past decades these two groups have been experiencing tremendous difficulties. In another words they are not working together. The trend has become employers using workers as mean and not recognizing them as members of society. The owners have disregarded a worker’s way of life and focused on expanding personal wealth. Employers cringe at the thought of the creation of a stronger union. Workers are uniting together to be recognized, to be treated better and finally work as a team not as two distinct members of society. However, employers are using their own methods to prevent the organization of the union, which promotes fair and equality work environments for the workers in our society. Many organizations and people have tried to fix this broken system, but the goal has not been reached yet. This is why it is very important when something breaks humans restore the broken to working condition. 3. What are the controversy and complexities interesting issues at stake? “The idea that workers can’t join a union by signing their name is ludicrous.” Mr. Raynor stated sarcastically. This statement that criticizes a broken system of unionism is correct. This statement brings crucial enlightenment to the systematic approach of applying a controversial method of creating union within the businesses; special-ballot elections or card checks. Card checks can help the unions organize and represent a better variety of workers. On the outside looking in special-ballot elections may seems to be a fair contest between employer and employee, but history shows that special-ballets do not work. Special-ballets are more favorable towards the owners of big business. The employer could and have abused funds and power to prevent these elections by firing and/or threatening union supporters. This has resulted in declined membership of union over time. However, the card check method has increased the membership of union. Like the reading of A National Assessment of Union Strategies, workers have come up with a new strategy that could compete with the employer’s strategy of preventing organization of a union. The card check tactics have been successful for the worker is an interesting issue. Many government officials are trying to outlaw the card check method since they assert that it is not a fair contest in relation to elections. It is true that the card check is arranged behind the back of the employers which gives the union the higher chance to win the collective bargaining in favor of the union supporters. The employers and the government officials are claiming that the employers do not have equal rights in regulating the union organizing process through elections. However in secret-ballot elections workers are subject to be fired or threatened if they support the union. But at the same time if the court finds out that the management coerce the voter with high hands, the court has and will punish anyone who executed illegal action. For workers working from paycheck to paycheck, they have no choice but to retain their jobs at any price. These workers cannot wait for courts to decide their fates. Court action may perhaps be legitimate, but the problem is time. The case of the Consolidated Biscuit bakery in NYT shows that the court found the employer had committed illegal actions two years after the election. This has caused much hardship to the penalized workers who stood up for their rights, only to suffer hardships. 4. How does it relate to this class, specifically? In this class we have learned about labor relations. Further more we have learned labor relations not only deal with business organizations. Labor relations also make direct connections with social and moral issues. Over the past decades the U.S. has experienced many difficulties such as the economic crisis of the Great Depression. There have also been many different labor movements and human rights movements. Humans must learn from the past. When humans learn from the past, the way is paved to create better society. The system of labor relations and capitalism is like a young born baby compared to the history of civilization. Children make mistakes and learn from it, then grow old to be adults. The stage of labor relations today are very child like. The government officials and the employers are arguing to keep the special-ballot elections. The special-ballot elections are more favorable for the government and employers because they have more access to sources compared to the workers who left with much few choices. The union leaders, such as Raynor, are promoting card checks to fix the broken system. However, as the government official and the employers are claiming that it is not fair to them. In the field of labor relation these types of issues will an ongoing process that has no end. Which is the right system? I do not know. Being in the employer’s position, they do make clear argument. At the same time the workers point of view brings clear argument. Although both points of few have merit, the one thing that stands out is the systems are in need of major repair. As a management student I will face theses issues directly in the near future. 5 Conclusion. The labor unions have fought the battle to earn the right to run the elections under the organized union of the NLRB. This election system does not work. The system may seem to fit perfectly in the democratic society, but because of corrupt employers’ abusive strategies the system fails. Thus, the union leaders have created new tactics, the card checks to accomplish its’ organization of a union. It is chain reaction, which has no end. One group will come up with new tactics. Then the other side will bring up newer tactics to overcome the opposing group. Why do they have to be divided into two distinct groups as the employers and the employee? Is it because, business organization started in that manner? The union organization and the employers’ attitudes have caused corrupted and broken communication between the two groups. The issues clearly show that the system has been broken down. It is time to fix it, not to fight about who is right and who is wrong. The employers are being greedy to satisfy profit maximization. The workers are being greedy to fulfill their so called American dream. Creation of unions could bring up the living standard, but it also can promote inflation. Nothing is free in America. If the creation of the union is realized, it is good for the workers. These workers will receive higher pays, better working condition, and perhaps better life. Yet, somebody has to pay. Who will pay the price? The answer is very simple, all the members of the society will pay; that includes the both parties. Then again the workers will suffer more than the owners, because employers can always hirer more employees. I like to raise a question to each group. To the employers: How much is enough? To the workers: In the U.S. average Big Mac cost about four dollars. Are you willing to pay ten dollars for the Big Mac because you had to have a raise? Another solution must be found, because something is not right in the market system. Read More