subject: Are Unions Really The Right Direction? [print this page] Ever since the 1940s, labor unions have been seen as a way for workers to bargain with their employers, improving their work conditions and receiving fringe benefits from them. Pete Seeger, with his group the Almanac Singers, composed a song called Talking Union, in which he expressed the view that only by forming such a union and sticking together could one get shorter hours, better working conditions, vacations with pay, and to take your kids to the seashore. And indeed, at first it was possible to see good results coming out of union action, including the ones mentioned above, also protection against accidents. In the sweatshops of the early 20th century, no compensation was provided if a worker was injured on the job, and he or his family had to pay the costs of the accident, or, in many cases, the funeral by themselves.
In more recent times however, it has become clear that unions are becoming far too powerful. Even some of the benefits have incurred costs. The increase in wages for instance, has resulted in business owners being less willing to hire large numbers of people who have to be paid more; else they must increase the prices of their goods and services, resulting in a decrease in business activity. Often labor unions have staged strikes that result in economic disruption or in redistribution of wealth. Unions have also tended to monopolize the businesses that they take hold of, by allowing only union members to hold employment there.
The distribution of wealth, as mentioned above, is also adversely affected by employee unionizing in craft unions, where workers are organized according to their skill. Employers often respond to strikes by firing the striking employees and replacing them, and less skilled workers are easier to replace than more skilled ones.
Throughout the United States, state labor law posters hang on the walls of workplaces outlining federal, state, and local labor laws. Each state, the larger cities, and the federal government have their own posters, and they are constantly changing as the laws change. Just this year, for instance, Tennessee was required to include workers compensation on its poster, California discrimination, and Colorado, Florida, Ohio, and San Francisco, minimum wage. Combination posters are also available, which give both the federal labor laws and those of one of the states. The labor law posters of all states may be printed in both English and Spanish. And there are posters for businesses that are exempt from the requirements of the National Labor Relations Board.
In addition to the general federal, state, municipal, and combo posters described above, specialty posters are also made. These include safety and policy posters, as well as federal and industry- and state- specific postings. Those in the safety category include posters outlining fire extinguisher use, eye protection, forklift safety, lifting, sexual harassment, blood- borne pathogens, and emergency first aid guidelines. Some have only a single message, such as Caution: Hard Hat Area. Industry- specific packages are those for the agricultural, construction, health care, manufacturing, restaurant, retail, and miscellaneous industries. Some of these packages also include federal/ state combo posters. Among the state specialty postings are those relating to the Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act, the Ohio Public Employment Risk Reduction Program, and the Albuquerque Minimum Wage Ordinance.
All these packages may be purchased at the Labor Law Compliance Center website, which also markets them in electronic form.
