In these times of financial uncertainty, it’s more important than ever for workers to feel secure in their employment. But as shifts within the workforce show, employees also expect decent conditions and pay as standard.
And yet attitudes to labor unions are slow to catch up with these trends, despite being the perfect way to get positive change in the workplace. If you’re unsure if unionizing is the right option for you, consider the following benefits and how they can improve your work life.
Better Pay And Benefits
When negotiating pay deals, union members invariably end up with a better deal because the union can negotiate on their behalf. Not everybody has the knowledge or time to fight for what they deserve, meaning companies will offer those without the resources of a union backing them less. Some workplaces have found the benefits they’ve historically had are fast eroding, meaning poorer access to health care, PTO, and much more. Employees in unions do not have this happen due to the representation and collective power they have at the table when contracts are redrawn.
Representation
Trade and labor unions typically offer members access to legal advice and representation in various situations. Employees are entitled to have their union representative present during disciplinary actions in the workplace. Their presence ensures that nothing is said or done that the employee doesn’t understand, nor can conversations be fabricated.
Similarly, should a staff member feel they have been the victim of discrimination, they can go to their union for help addressing the issue. Where there is a case to be made, union reps will help you through the process to ensure things go in your favor. There may also be an employment lawyer connected to the union, giving access to vital legal services low-paid employees usually can’t afford.
Staff Retention
Because unionized workplaces have staff with better pay and conditions than their peers in non-unionized establishments, employers see a benefit also. Staff with higher wages and better benefits and conditions look at similar workplaces with lower wages and worse conditions and appreciate they have the better deal. Staff morale is higher, and retention numbers are more robust, meaning more productivity and less income lost to increased training costs. Additionally, when positions do open, they’ll be easier to fill as people will look to leave lower-paying competitors.
Wider Change
Many unions are politically active, meaning they lobby the government for change while continuing to act directly for members. The upside of this is that more people benefit when reforms to labor laws are passed in favor of workers’ rights. But without the ground floor support from members, these unions would not have the resources to lobby for the greater population.
Unions are not looking to disrupt workplaces but rather make them a safer and fairer environment for staff. They provide collective bargaining power for better pay and benefits while providing additional representation to the wider society and at an individual level.
