Relevance of Unions in America: Unions Are Essay

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 700 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 2

Page 1 of 2

Relevance of Unions in America:

Unions are organizations whose primary role is to negotiate with corporations, businesses and other organizations on behalf of union members. Trade unions usually represent workers who work at a particular type of job such as the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). In contrast, industrial unions represent workers employed in a particular industry like the United Auto Workers (UAW). At the prime of the industrial revolution era, unions played a key role in securing better working conditions and wages for employees. Consequently, many unions formed in various fields like manufacturing and resource companies, textile factories, mines and steel mills. While they have spread into various industries, a large percentage of union membership can be found in utilities, transportation and government ("Unions: Do They Help?," 2009)

There are several concerns that have prompted the questioning of the role and relevance of unions in present day America. First, with the advent of the information age, a knowledge economy has risen that is served by knowledge workers rather than labor numbers.

Stuck Writing Your "Relevance of Unions in America: Unions Are" Essay?

View All Our Example Relevance of Unions in America: Unions Are Essay

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

Automated machines perform the majority of repetitive manufacturing tasks from yesteryears. Employers now seek employees who work smarter, not harder; proven by the fact that the fastest-growing occupations have been technical, professional, and managerial in nature. The present day high demand jobs include web designers, mobile application developers, interior decorators, and public-relations specialists (Sherk, 2008). Such labor that is valued and paid based on individual skills and is unlikely to form unions to standardize pay or working conditions. This is in stark contrast to the boisterous manufacturing economy of the 1930s where manual labor was in great demand and unions served employees whose unique talents and skills made little difference on an assembly line.

Secondly industry deregulation, increased international competition and labor mobility have made it harder for unions to operate. This because several major industries, in the pursuit of maintaining profitability in a highly competitive global market, have partially or wholly moved manufacturing plants offshore to countries with cheaper labor forces. This means that locally there is more labor chasing and less work.....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Relevance Of Unions In America Unions Are" (2012, February 06) Retrieved May 20, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/relevance-unions-america-unions-77834

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Relevance Of Unions In America Unions Are" 06 February 2012. Web.20 May. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/relevance-unions-america-unions-77834>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Relevance Of Unions In America Unions Are", 06 February 2012, Accessed.20 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/relevance-unions-america-unions-77834
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example