Pro Labor Union

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer first looks at the history of the union movement. The writer then examines the effect of the unions. The writer points out that the union movement today faces difficult challenges due to automation, restructuring, outsourcing, and off-shoring, all of which have decimated the traditional base of unions in North America, leaving only one in eight U.S. workers represented by a union, and less than one in ten in the private sector. The writer concludes that historically, unions have recognized the risks long before management, and many risks first identified by unions had often been ignored by management, or in some cases, management hid early warnings.

From the Paper:

"Unions have a long history in the United States, in fact, even before the Declaration of Independence, skilled artisans in handicraft and domestic industry joined together in benevolent societies, primarily to provide members and their families with financial assistance in the event of serious illness, debt, or death of a wage earner. Although these early associations had few of the characteristics of present-day labor unions, they did bring workers together to consider problems of mutual concern and to devise ways and means for their solution. Many characteristic union techniques were first developed during the late 1700's when crafts such as carpenters, shoemakers, and printers formed separate organizations in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, seeking higher wages, minimum rates, shorter hours, and enforcement of apprenticeship regulations. The first authenticated labor strike was called in 1768 by the New York tailors to protest a reduction in wages, and in 1805, the shoemakers of New York created a permanent strike benefit fund."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Allen, Joel L. (1992 December 22). Improving labor relations in an era of declining union power. Review of Business. Retrieved April 03 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.
• Labor Unions. Retrieved April 03 2006 from: http://www.kclabor.org/unions.htm
• UK: Report confirms unions are good for you. (2004 September 08). Union Network International. Retrieved April 03 2006 from:http://www.union-network.org/uniindep.nsf/0/6513b0b640a369b9c1256eeb001d7824?OpenDocument
• Union, labor. (2006). The Columbia Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 03 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.
• Usery, W. J., Jr.; Shiskin, Julius. (1990). Brief History of the American Labor Movement: Chapter I Early Organization. U.S. History. Retrieved April 03 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.

More papers on Pro Labor Union:

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