Labor Unions - 3099 Words

Labor Unions and the Dynamics of Race in Unions Labor unions have been in America for a very long time. There are many unions in a myriad of different fields. Labor unions were and are used to allow for equal treatment of workers. Employers always want to maximize their profits and they try to give the least to get the most in return. For reasons such as this is why unions were formed. Generally a union boss is appointed or hired to protect the rights and privileges of the employees. The union boss is generally very representative of the demographics of the workers. The leader of the employees needs to know what they want and what is fair for them and this is why he tends to represent one type of work force, such as†¦show more content†¦As mentioned earlier Jim Crow laws segregated blacks from whites and this was also the case in labor unions until the 1920s. There was a lack of communication or understanding amongst the people. Interracial labor unions were formed out of necessity not desire. When people are fa ced with injustice they tend to search for justification or revenge and they do not care who helps them obtain that. As was the case in the Alabama coalfields where they were facing unfair labor practices the first interracial labor unions faced the same dilemma. Today interracial unions are not formed today out of necessity, but out convenience because of the strides we made. Some may disagree and say that we have not made many strides, but I disagree. There is a learning curve in all things and eventually all things will work out if we give them time to pan out. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream that black and white would coexist and to a major extent they due and the continuance of interracial unions displays that. One field of work that has taken some gigantic steps in interracial labor unions is professional sports. Professional sports only lets the elite come and competes in their arenas and fields. In the early years they only let elite athletes that were white compete. The first professional athlete allowed to compete amidst the elite ranks was Jackie Robinson. He was a standout athlete in college at football, baseball, and basketball. Professional baseballShow MoreRelatedLabor Unions And Labor Union1677 Words   |  7 Pages Labor Union A labor union is as defined in the dictionary, an organization of wage earners formed for the purpose of serving the members interests with respect to wages and working condition. There are people favor unionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s formation and people against the formation of labor unions. Even though there are many difficulties in organizing labor union, the union was successful in late 1800s. Today there are about 16 million workers in the U.S. that belong to a labor union. The purpose of the unionRead MoreThe Importance Of Labor And Labor Unions1125 Words   |  5 PagesImportance of Labor and Labor unions 1800-1900) Prior to the American Civil War in 1861 much of American workforce was completed by slaves brought from Africa. Slave labor was used mostly in southern agriculture. Working conditions for slaves were dismal at best with inadequate housing, lack of food, resources and broken families. The quality of life for slaves was seldom taken into account by slave owners as slaves were seen as property rather than people or employees. After the Unions victory howeverRead MoreLabor Unions And The Labor Union2368 Words   |  10 PagesEvery year in this country, there are major labor disputes that result in strikes or work stoppages. In each case, the organization, the labor union, and the public are negatively affected. Why can t there be a better way of resolving disputes between the management and labor unions to avert unnecessary strikes? Why does the relationship between the labor unions and management have to be adversarial in nature? Does anybody benefit from strikes and work stoppage s? These are some of the questionsRead MoreLabor Union And Labor Unions Essay2457 Words   |  10 PagesLabor union history began when the National Labor Union (NLU) was founded in 1866. After the creation of this union, several followed after. Many riots occurred during this time, the Haymarket Riot was one of the main reasons that the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was created. The AFL will be a major part in the labor movement in the future. Labor unions began due to the need to protect the workers. These labor unions formed to fight for reasonable hours, better pay, and safer working conditionsRead MoreLabor Unions615 Words   |  3 PagesLabor Unions University of Phoenix MGT434: Employment Law Scott Dunlap February 7, 2008 Labor organizations or unions are formed by employees who want better wages, benefits, and healthy working conditions. Over the years, participation in unions has declined regardless of the benefits it offers. There are less strikes and better wages in the United States which in turn does not warrant the high need for these types of organizations in the work place. Labor unions today compared to in theRead MoreUnions Labor Unions And The Future Of The Union5772 Words   |  24 PagesTitle: Unions have played a significant role in workforce history, have they outlived their purpose. Abstract: Labor unions are lawfully recognized as envoys of employees in many companies in the United States. Activities of labor unions are centered on collective bargaining over workers’ benefits, working conditions, and salaries. They also stand in for their members in disagreements with management over the contract provisions violation. There are also larger unions thatRead MoreThe Union Unions : The Future Of Labor Unions Essay2786 Words   |  12 PagesOF LABOR UNIONS 2 12 Running Head: Future of Labor Unions 1 Research: The Future of Labor Unions Kedra Archie Keller Graduate School of Management HRM- 586 Labor Relations Professor: Danielle Camacho December 4, 2016 Abstract The history of unions in theRead MoreGlobalizations Effect on Labor Unions1670 Words   |  7 PagesLabor unions once represented a significant portion of the entire United States labor force, peaking at around 35 percent in the 1950’s (Vachon). However, this percentage has steadily declined over the decade and nowadays only 12% of the labor force is unionized (Vachon). In many obvious ways, globalization has complicated the labor movement by stratifying it into domestic and international spheres. Globalization, the rapid increases in the pace and accessibility of world markets, is a relativelyRead MoreLabor Unions Are Useless1743 Words   |  7 PagesI have been involved with labor unions on three occasions throughout my lifetime. The first occasion occurred, when I was a high school teenager and began working as a box-boy at a grocery store. A condition of employment was that I was required to join the stores labor union, which was a state law in California. According to Bernard D. Meltzer, a leading scholar of Labor Law at University of Chicago Law School, â€Å"Union security provisions in labor contracts have required membership in, or financialRead More Labor Unions Essay1299 Words   |  6 PagesLabor Unions Throughout American history, labor unions have served to facilitate mediation between workers and employers. Workers seek to negotiate with employers for more control over their labor and its fruits. â€Å"A labor union can best be defined as an organization that exists for the purpose of representing its members to their employers regarding wages and terms and conditions of employment† (Hunter). Labor unions’ principal objectives are to increase wages, shorten work days, achieve