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Labor Relations

In: Business and Management

Submitted By finalterm93
Words 1102
Pages 5
Unions thrived in the 1960s but are now facing declining membership in the 21st century. Unions have attempted to rebuild strength and numbers; however, membership continues to decrease. Manufacturing jobs declined; therefore, union membership declined. Membership has not kept up with the increase in jobs. Unions must bring themselves into the 21st century, because their original purpose may no longer be valid. Are unions a viable entity in the 21st century, and can they meet the challenge of new membership demands?
Due to lack of unionization, workers have not shared the benefits of the U.S. economic upturn of the last 40 years. CEO compensation has increased dramatically, but U.S. worker wages remain stagnant. However, as members continue to lose jobs, such as automotive employees, unions do not believe that their members should accept the same benefits given to managers. Unions have become blind to the economic reality, and workers have lost trust in the union concept.

Approximately 57 million unorganized workers would join a union if given the chance. The AFL-CIO sees this interest in unions as an opportunity in the 21st century; however, the same fears from years ago continue to plague union organizing. The problem is that workers are still afraid to join a union for fear of retaliation by their employers. Unions can take a more proactive role to disseminate this fear by providing a variety of ways for workers to join unions. For example, if there is employer retaliation due to employees organizing activities, the union will fight to reinstate them. Unfortunately, that strategy does not appear to be effective, because 20% of workers attempting to organize are terminated. More than 75% of private sector supervisors deliver antiunion messages to workers. Fear of reprisal can make fear a central experience in the work environment (Mellor & Kath, 2011).

If

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