Labor Union Formation - Collective Bargaining Analysis

Running Head: Research Project: LABOR UNION FORMATION

Research Project:

Labor Union Formation

Collective Bargaining Analysis

MGT-441: Labor Relations

Labor Union Formation – Collective Bargaining Analysis

A labor union is an assembly of employees joined together in a specific type of association for the purpose of improving their working conditions, increasing their income as well as to help in promoting other additional common interests of the group. (Business Dictionary) The employees use this as a podium to bargain collectively on behalf of the mainstream of the employees of the organization. The role of unions in today’s workplace is to offer employees a method of countering employers’ power to unilaterally change employment conditions and introduce democracy into the employment relationship (Fossum, 2015, p. 02). This could be done by displaying the importance of unity among the members of the union if they would like to proclaim power in the workplace. Another role of the unions according to the textbook is Unions also will stress the importance of continual improvements in living standards for their members, best attainable thought increases in their pay (Fossum, 2015, p. 02).

One of the purposes of forming a labor union within an organization is to ensure the employees are receiving the maximum deserved income rates for the reason that the employees play a huge part the success of the organization due to their productivity. (Davoren) Employees who are support and represented by a union receive about twenty percent increase in their wages then opposed to other employees or job positions that are not supported by a labor union organization. Another perk of being supported by a union is the employees are steadily receiving pay raises as a result of the collective bargaining between the organization and the union on behalf of the company’s employees that ends in an contract that clearly break down and explain the terms of the agreement such as the pay rates and other terms and procedures. On the other hand, the employees who are not supported by a union do not have much leverage and the organization can set the pay rate at whatever rate they please without having to go through the bargaining process or consider the input of the employees. (UWUA)

This is because when the workers of the organization are supported by a union, the union expects for the company’s employers are receiving the maximum deserved income rates since they are an important factor in the success of the organization due to their productivity and dedication. So for helping the organization be successful the employees should be rewarded for their hard work which increased the level of productivity with the company. They also expect the company to pay their employees fairly based on the work they are required to perform on a regular basis. They should also base their employee pay rates on the cost of living, allowing their employees to pay their expenses such as meals, travel, parking, toll, and accommodation thus allow the employee to perform their job effectively and efficiently. (Davoren)

Another perk of being supported by a union is they make certain the working condition for their members at the organization’s facility are appropriate based on the job they are preforming on a daily basis. The first benefit mentioned in this research paper was to ensure that the organization employees are getting increased wages based on the job and performance, so since the organization is paying more wages they also invest more in the training of their employees and also invest more the equipment they will be using to perform their job efficiently. When the employees feel the organization is taking care of them the workplace morale and productivity both increase which is benefit for both the employee and the employer. (UWUA)

Not only is the labor union ensuring a secure working environment the labor union is also working to ensure the employees of the organization they represent receives shorter working days and or working weeks. Whether that is that labor union members are not required to work no more than 40 hours a week if they the facility is not climate controlled and it is during the summer in the heat. A instance of the labor union ensuring their members are working in a safe environment is, a mine worker works in time and again risky work circumstances so the union negotiate with the employers and demand that there is acceptable insurance coverage and the best and the most up to date safety equipment provided to the employees. As part of the enhanced working conditions, better-quality working conditions extends to the establishment of health care and endorsement for vacations for labor union members and they also seek job security for their members by demanding that employers to agree to compensation laid-off workers or pledge an annual wage at the time of employment. (Davoren)

Collective bargaining is the most important element of the labor union. It is a process that involves a group of individuals such as the personnel staff at the organization, ensembles together to increase their level of negotiating power with the company. This process allows the employees to gain more leverage to negotiate with the organization they are employed with. An example of how collective bargaining provides the employees with more leverage to negotiate is when a single individual employee feels that there should be new updated safety measures should be executed in the organization where he or she work whether that is in a factory or office.

On the other hand since he or she is they only person who would like for these new safety measures to be enforced this may result in he or she only have limited power to get the organization to actually develop and enforce the new safety measures. If they gathered more employee or even better the whole entire workforce and make them aware of the need for these new updated safety measures and everyone is on the same page that there is indeed a need for these new safety measures. They can then bring it to the company’s attention as a unit and they have a higher chance that the end results are the organization complying since they workforce as a unit has more leverage than the employee did alone. (UWUA) This situation where the employees of this organization came together to create a change within their organization reminds me of Saint Leo University’s core value of community which states, “Saint Leo University develops hospitable Christian learning communities everywhere we serve. We foster a spirit of belonging,