Summary
The article by Emily Bazelon explains the current challenges workers face due to the gradual breakdown of labor laws. The developing issue has seen many workers called off and fired because of their involvement with unions. For example, Caldwell, a previous employee at one McDonald's restaurant, worked four days a week cleaning frying vats, unloading delivery trucks, mopping, and restocking the restaurant (Emily, 2020). Although he was active in his work, he earned $8 an hour, limiting his job. This prompted him to support and join the $15 campaign fighting for a raise in the minimum wage. Besides, he tried to influence others by handing out fliers and carrying a cardboard sign that asked drivers to honk in support of "$15 and a union (Emily, 2020)." It was after this incident that Caldwell lost his job later on after appearing late for work. He was surprised at the claims said in his dismissal, however, it was evident that it was due to his association with the union campaign.
As of 2015, McDonald's was the second-largest private-sector employer in the world. The firm employed the franchisee tactic that made them invincible or unattached to their 850,000 workers wearing the McDonald's uniform (Emily, 2020). Following Caldwell's case, the firm rejected the claims that they were involved in firing him due to unionization. McDonald's, however, uses franchisees to formulate their fight against union membership. Among other anti-union organizations, this firm has had a significant influence on the National labor relations board. Trump's administration has hamstrung union activism through classifying Uber drivers as independent contractors and barring graduate students from forming unions, among others (Emily, 2020). This limits the worker's ability to demand better pay. In conclusion, labor laws require reforms to handle this developing challenge to workers.
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Analysis
In the modern corporate world, various institutions' success depends on the proper treatment of the employees. The active and fair treatment of the workers in the industries results in the equivalent work as the input and the treatment of the human resource within the organization. According to the law, it is illegal to fire or dismisses an employee for union organizing (Emily, 2020). Since Trump's administration entrance, Caldwell's case was not appropriately handled, showing how workers are being exploited. The National Labor Relations Act protects employees who participate in lawful strikes. Lawful strikes occur after a collective bargain agreement and are either an economic strike or unfair labor practice by the employer strike.
On the other hand, employers have a right to replace striking employees with strikebreaker workers. For an economic strike, the employer has a right to permanently replace striking employees, unlike for an unfair labor practice strike, which requires temporary replacement. According to the article, the breakdown of labor laws has silenced the workers who intend to strike or unionize to make reforms. The existing union membership rights, employer, and strikebreaker rights are essential to prevent scenes experienced during President Ronald Reagan's reign. He ignored the labor rights and declared their action illegal, firing more than 11,000 striking workers and hiring replacement (Emily, 2020). Strikes are challenging on employers, unions, and employees who intend to fight for workplace values, therefore there are no wrongs or rights in strikes, but laws protect the interests of all involved. This would greatly help the business world.
Response
The question of whether labor unions engage in ethical behavior is a strong yes. Like other facets of human society, labor unions have had their history and continue to evolve to fit into the prevailing laws and circumstances. I agree with McCartin that the country needs "militant re-emergence of workers" as the precondition for turning around the labor movement's losses (Emily, 2020). The Trump administration rulings clearly show how low-wage workers in the food and gig sectors, among others, experience exploitation, and the American labor law is utterly deficient. The National Labor Relations Board should revolt from undermining such vulnerable employees and protect union members, employers, and strikebreakers' rights.
Reference
Emily Bazelon. (2020, March 18). Why are workers struggling? Because labor law is broken . The New York Times - Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/02/19/magazine/labor-law-unions.html?searchResultPosition=1
