Managing Employee Relations: Everything You Need to Know

The benefits and the negative effects of unions has been an issue that has been of major concern to many scholars. In as much as unions have been beneficial over the years, it is not understood why there are a number of union members dwindling in the private sector. The unions offer a variety of benefits to its members and there is no doubt that most employees get better treatment and privileges through such membership. For example, unions offer a platform for employees and employers to have amicable discussions and regulations that enhance stability at the areas of work and in the process enhancing understanding. Unions are also the government’s eye on the working space to ensure that all the laws and regulations pertaining human rights and labour laws. In this light, it is therefore safe to conclude that unions are good for America since they enhance cohesion in the workplace and thus ensuring the rights of employees are upheld (Bivens et al., 2017). However, in as much as unions may be beneficial, their popularity is dwindling in the private sector mainly because of the introduction of technology and globalization. The use of advanced machinery has led to the replacement of workers or rather, most companies in America outsource cheap labour overseas, and this consequently has reduced the number of employees. This will definitely reflect on the unions’ membership; there has seen a great decline in the union membership in America. To add on this, most unions have faced hostility from members of the anti-union campaign who do not seem to support the ways of the union since they tend to disrupt the unity at places of work. Some employers are content with the low wages and the poor working conditions that they tend to cripple any activities of the unions just to meet their selfish demands (Gunn, 2018). 

References

Bivens et al. (2017). How Today’s Unions Help Working People . Retrieved on January 21, 2019 from; https://www.epi.org/publication/how-todays-unions-help-working-people-giving-workers-the-power-to-improve-their-jobs-and-unrig-the-economy/ 

Gunn, D. (2018). What Caused the Decline of Unions in America? Retrieved on January 21, 2019 from; https://psmag.com/economics/what-caused-the-decline-of-unions-in-america