Solutions are easy to list off
but are harder to accomplish. And this is why it’s harder to form a union in a
workplace setting, depending on the environment. A union can work with
employees or work against employees depending on the situation of the company.
Solutions can be easily thought of but is harder to put in control to keep
things tight and clean a company will have to take care of each issue at a time
to benefit with no loses while staying away from the label “sweatshop”. Some organizations that help workers in
dealing with abuse and unsafe working environments in factory settings are Free The Children, Child Labor organizations,
Amnesty, UNICEF and Canadian Labor Congress. And these are just a few of many
that work together to benefit workers around the world.
Some
Pros to having a union:
·
Provide support
against big companies
·
Helps workers solve
problems between the employer and themselves or between two employees
·
Allow employees to
band together to negotiate for better wages and benefits, and to make sure that
everyone is being treated fairly by the employer.
·
Protects minorities,
and other subordinated groups, from being wrongfully fired.
·
Good for political
use
·
Provides better and
safer work environments.
·
Encourages teamwork
and cooperation.
·
Created jobs for
hundreds of people and immigrants.
·
Increased the number
of jobs available and helped rural areas develop
·
Encourage education
for employees to father their work experience
Ways of
forming a union; http://www.wikihow.com/Form-a-Union
Cons to having a union:
·
Negative affect for
employers: workers can ban together until the employer meets their needs.
·
employers can become
aggressive, and very unfair to try and stop unionization
·
employers can be
charged with unfair labor practice
·
striking can make
union members look “greedy”
·
Children had to work
alongside their parents
·
Conditions can be
terrible or worse in the factories because of unions
·
Employers might
threaten the union members to befit them (in some cases workers are badly
injured)
Other Options:
·
Set Labor Laws in
the country
·
Repair machinery
immediately if hazardous
·
Scheduled
maintenance on the machines
·
Outside agencies to
help improve working conditions
·
Educating employees
and employers
·
Establish polices
that are regularly checked
·
Establish minimum
wage and raises on an hourly wage
·
Working only 8 hour
shifts and some over-time
·
Part-time and
full-time rule to be put in place
·
Encourage education
for young workers and children
·
Enforce labor laws
·
Abolish child
trafficking
·
Promote fair trade
·
Replace child
workers and senior workers
·
Creating medical and
dental coverage
·
Monitoring companies
on their products and purchases
“Everything is produced by the workers, and the minute they try to get something by their unions they meet all the opposition that can be mustered by those who now get what they produce.
Harry Bridges”
"Late George Meaney said, strong Labor unions are essential to a democracy."
