How Right-to-Work Law Affects Labor Relations - Term Paper Example

How Right-to-Work Law Affects Labor Relations Introduction Right to work law is considered to be a statute in US regulating the agreements taking place between the businesses and its employees. It is also known for governing the extent to which the Union being established by the employees may require to practice the payment of dues, the membership of employees or the fees taken as the condition of employment before or after the hiring of the employees. Right to work law is considered to be significant for the business world. There is no doubt about the fact that right to work law helps creating new and attractive jobs by businesses, improves the accountability of unions and also lead to much higher wage rates. However some of the critics of right to work law argue about the fact indicating that this law hurts the union, lead to lower wage rate, reducing the living standards of people and is considered morally wrong. Effects of Right to work law on employees-businesses relationship The right to work law affects the process of collective bargaining between the labor class and the management not only in the private sector but also in the public sector. It is through the process of collective bargaining that the labors and the management meet for negotiating a contract which covers the terms and condition of employment. Both the labor and the management agree to all the requirements present in the contract before its implementation. It is then that the labors vote on whether or not they agree to the contract that covers their working conditions, wages, benefits and several other issues. Many laborers and the employers at this point also agree to add the “union security clause” which states that all the labors having rights to the collective bargaining process must also agree to pay their part of cost in the union representation (Plumer). There are many proponents of the right to work law that agree to the fact that it imposes a positive impact on the labor-management relationship. Right to work law allows labors to gain some benefits from the organization such as receiving union services or enjoying free rides, which also leads the businesses to gain employee satisfaction and build a sense of loyalty in them for the firm. There is evidence present about the fact that right to work law accelerates the economic activity of the state, it lowers the ratio of employment in the state and help businesses to create new and attractive jobs. When the economy of a state prospers the productivity of the businesses also increases as the customers begin to utilize their products or services at a much higher rate. Higher sales not only brings benefits for the businesses but also for the labors as businesses starts to invest more in their health and safety. The labors being provided with a safe and secure environment start devoting much more towards their firm which results in building stronger relationship between the employees and the businesses (The Associated Press, 2013). Right to work law provides the freedom of association to the labors, which means that they have the right to join the union or to refrain if they are not willing to. The right outlines the fact that by forcing the labors into a collective bargain the union actually causes the violation of their freedom of choice. Not all the labors want to be the part of the bargain of the union with the firm that they do not agree to. Many want to present their own separate views on the issues which are different from that of the union. Laborers think that their own separate opinion can be beneficial for the firm and have the power to make a difference. They do not want their distinctive and effective opinion to be suppressed under the mutual opinion of the Union and hence they want to stand alone working to make a change. Such labors are seemed to be satisfied by their firm willing to work for the prosperity and betterment of the organization (Dimonda, Andy, & Brian, 2012). The businesses present within the States that practice “rights to work law” respect the opinion of the minorities as well as the opposing majority. Such businesses try to tackle with the different opinions being presented by the labors. Under the fair representation it is essential that the union represents all the labors working in the organization with a single opinion. However, right to work law allows the individuals to give its own separate opinion. This does not allow the power to get shifted in the hands of the majority but the minority expressing their different opinion also has its own power over the issue. The firms where the power does not lie only in the hands of the majority often succeed in building stronger relationship with its employees. Firms practicing rights to work law consider each and every opinion significant and use them for progressive purposes (Cohn). Conclusion There are several researches present which support the fact that right to work law imposes positive effects on the labor management relations by providing the labors with their right to express their own separate opinion. The right of law makes the businesses to listen to the opinions of the majority as well as the minority and then make a decision based on what is effective for the firm and the employees. Right to work law also helps the labors to gain additional benefits through the union such as the union services and the free rides. It also allows the businesses to think that the power lies in the hand of the labors and therefore the opinion of each and every individual matter to the firm. Thus right to work law helps businesses to build strong relations with the employees by providing them their rights and respecting their individual opinions. Work Cited Cohn, Scott. Is 'right to work' law a competitive advantage? 2013. 5 Sseptember 2014 . DIMONDA, ALESSANDRA, NEWBOLD ANDY and BRIAN. Myths And Facts About "Right-To-Work" Laws. 2012. 5 September 2014 . Plumer, Brad. What do ‘right-to-work’ laws do to a state’s economy? 2012. 5 September 2014 . Press, The Associated. Poll: Michigan evenly divided on right-to work law. 2013. 5 September 2014 . Read More