Discussion 1
The Decline of Unions
The decline of union membership in the United States raises questions about whether unions will continue to exist in their present configurations. What do you think are the major problems with unions that are costing them membership? Do you think that unions will survive, or do you think they will have to change? What do you imagine unions will look like in the future? Why?
Present your views in approximately 250 words in your initial discussion post. Respond to at least two of your peers’ posts. Utilize the course text, weekly lecture, and at least one other scholarly source. Remember to properly cite your sources.
#1 Shannon Lane
WednesdaySep 13 at 7:37am
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There are many areas that unions need to work on if they want to improve their efficiency in the workplace. I believe two of the biggest problems they face are costs and methodology. According to Collins (2015), unions have created a bad image for themselves with corruption, and methods like strikes hurt other industries and make operation difficult in the market. Unions have changed the workforce too much, and collective bargaining isn’t doing its job. I feel like most people today don’t work as hard for what they want, and just expect it at the drop of a hat. Collective bargaining and compromise are very important to the success of unionization, and members need to remember that.
Seaquist (2015) states that there are multiple reasons why employers resist unionization, including the cost and benefits, paperwork, and legal issues involved (p. 9.2). Employers don’t want to deal with the hassle of higher expenses and legal issues, so unions are not as successful as they once were. Unions have done wonders for the workforce in the past, so it would be a shame to see them completely disappear, but if they keep up the way they are functioning now, that’s exactly what will happen. As Collins mentions, “The uncomfortable fact is that when unions are stronger the economy as a whole does better. Unions restore demand to an economy by raising wages for their members and putting more purchasing power to work. On the flip side, when labor is weak, and capital is unconstrained, corporations hoard, hiring slows, demand goes down, and inequality deepens”.
If unions can remain civil, and receive their demands without exerting too much strain on an industry, I think they can once again be successful and help the economy. There are some big changes that need to be made, though, and it will take an adjustment period to see results.
References
Collins, M. (2015, March 19). The decline of unions is a middle class problem. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikecollins/2015/03/19/the-decline-of-unions-is-a-middle-class-problem/#2f9f16127f2dLinks to an external site..
Seaquist, G. (2015). Employee and labor relations: A practical guide. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education.
#2 Stephanie Robinson
WednesdaySep 13 at 10:37am
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The Decline of Unions
The decline of union membership in the United States raises the question about the union will continue to exist in their present configuration. There are some major problems that have been faced by the union and its costing memberships elements. The union power has become the victim of decline in recent decades. The union membership consists of the almost 35% of non agriculture workers. And not in this modern day the workers of the union members need to acquire the equation. It is necessary for the civilian workers, those are the member of the union. The rapid decline of the union membership has been argued by the company hostility which may become the major cause to determine the supportive legislation as per the Taft Hartley Act.
The major problem of union to wage a systematic campaign to eliminate the union contracts that greatly influence on the unions undercut. Normally the aggressive unions need to deal with the blame for their loss of influence. It distracts the demanding forms of employers to take easy and reliable jobs. It has been established by the smaller part of the economy and has been created in the service sector which is resistant to the union organization. union membership required for the workers with the congressional mandates to address the workplace discrimination and condition. It is essential to establish the protection for family and concern with the union membership.
References:
Seaquist, G. (2015). Employee and labor relations: A practical guideLinks to an external site.. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education.
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Discussion 2
Globalization
Globalization impacts all business, foreign and domestic. How does globalization impact a union in the United States? Is the impact positive or negative? What aspects of globalization do you think will have the greatest impact on unions? Why?
Present your views in approximately 250 words in your initial discussion post. Respond to at least two of your peers’ posts. Utilize the course text, weekly lecture, and at least one other scholarly source. Remember to properly cite your sources.
#3 Amanda Stringfield
ThursdaySep 14 at 5:59pm
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Globalization impacts all business, foreign and domestic. How does globalization impact a union in the United States? Is the impact positive or negative? What aspects of globalization do you think will have the greatest impact on unions? Why?
In the United States, globalization has impacted unions negatively. Because you are taking what was once a national company and union and have spread it across the boarders and across the world. By doing this, you are not able to get all of your union members together and there are many barriers that are a problem, such as language and local customs. When you are not able to successfully organize your union or communicate with them, you are only going to worsen the situation that you are currently in. I think outsourcing jobs is going to have the biggest impact on unions because you are now taking away peoples jobs and sending them to another country where the labor will be cheaper. You are taking away that source of income for that family but now you are getting a cheaper product and now you have to think about import taxes and if the country has any export restrictions or regulations.
References
Seaquist, G. (2015). Employee and labor relations: A practical guide. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education.
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#4terraia chase
ThursdaySep 14 at 7:15pm
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Globalization impacts businesses in the United States in a major way because as the economy grows and changes so will employers. If a company is not growing and becoming a transnational corporation, it will be hard for it to keep up with the other companies. A larger organization is able to organize and structure their corporation in a better more effective way because they have a bigger income over a smaller domestic company. As stated in our text book the pro to having a union in such a larger company, if a strike happens or something that could deeply impact the company, it would be hard for that union to reach everyone who is affiliated with that company if they are a transnational company. Globalization is a negative and a positive thing to me when it comes to a union. I believe its a negative things because sometime it is hard to get all members of the union on one accord. However if the union is staging something to impact the company its a positive for the company because they would not feel a huge financial hit. Globalizing a company that has a union is also more of a financial strain because of the legal obligations needed to protect the people in the union.
