Why are Unions set up?

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Unions

Why Unions?

     "Unions are groups of working people who join to talk to employers

about wages and conditions of work instead of workers talking to employers

on an individual basis."1  Because they speak for everybody, unions can get

a better deal for each worker than one employee could by negotiating with

the employer.

     As seen in the short movie "WHY UNIONS?", non-unionized workers talks

about the unfair treatment they experience in the work place.  Through

collective action, workers formed unions so they could have a voice in

deciding wages, hours, working conditions and dealing with the many

problems arises in the workplace.

     Unions are not just organizations trying to get more dollars and cents

or better working conditions for people who hold union cards.  People who

don't enjoy the benefits of union protection get benefits too.  "The labour

movement was in the forefront of the struggles for public health care, for

public education, for minimum wages, holidays and employment conditions."2

     1  D. Martin, Form War To Peace, Canadian Labour Congress, Quebec,

1991, P.17

     2  Notes On Unions, Canadian Labour Congress, Quebec, 1992, P.1

Union Nowadays

     "Unions are like businesses: their success depends upon attracting and

retaining buyers (new members).  Recently, one of the major problems faced

by the union movement is that few Canadians understand what services unions

come into public."3 The public also don't know the union is also helping

Canada in other parts of areas such as economy, etc.  The public think that

the only time unions come into the public's eye is as a result of strike or

withdrawal of services.  This is because of the impressed strikes held by

the union workers.  The memorable one would be the strike held by the

Toronto Transit Commission workers back in September 1991.  The lack of

transportation resulted in inconveniences among the public.  The Canadian

public becomes upset over conflict.  The strikes make the public forget

about the contributions of unions in other areas.  "From a marketing

perspective, the union movement has positioned itself like the nuclear

industry -- it receives attention only when it is about to blow up, melt or

leak."4  Five important needs for union movements are:

     3  Alistair Davidson and Ian Mckinnon, "Unions need to study

marketing," The Globe and Mail, May 8 1984, Business section, P.8

     4  D. D. Carter, Canadian Industrial Relations In The Year 2000,

Industrial Relations Centre, Kingston, 1992, P.50

     1)  job preservation

     2)  health preservation in the workplace

     3)  day-care

     4)  retraining

     5)  financial negotiations on behalf of members

     "Union leaders and members must become as sophisticated as management

to support the attempt by Canadian business to survive fierce international

competition."5  There are about four million members of Canadian unions and

10.5 million members of co-operatives.  There are two choices:

traditionally, unions have only tried to increase their members' standard

of living by negotiating a higher wage, more benefits or fewer hours.

     "The union movement has played an important role in the past in the

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formation of new institutions such as credit unions. Today, new demands on

the union movement will force it to examine its strategic choices."6  Above

all, the union movement must structure itself to aid the survival of

Canadian industry and Canadian jobs in a fiercely competitive world market.

     5  Bryan D. Palmer, Solidarity:  The Rise And Fall Of An Opposition In

B.C., New Star Books, 1987, P.63

     6  Peter Sinclair, Unemployment:  Economic Theory And Evidence, Oxford

Press, 1987, P.215

Canadian Labour Congress

     At the national level, the "organization of unions" is ...

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