Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Ways Of Getting Out

Solutions are easy to list off but are harder to accomplish. And this is why it’s harder to form a union in a workplace setting, depending on the environment. A union can work with employees or work against employees depending on the situation of the company. Solutions can be easily thought of but is harder to put in control to keep things tight and clean a company will have to take care of each issue at a time to benefit with no loses while staying away from the label “sweatshop”.  Some organizations that help workers in dealing with abuse and unsafe working environments in factory settings  are Free The Children, Child Labor organizations, Amnesty, UNICEF and Canadian Labor Congress. And these are just a few of many that work together to benefit workers around the world.

Some Pros to having a union:


·         Provide support against big companies
·         Helps workers solve problems between the employer and themselves or between two employees
·         Allow employees to band together to negotiate for better wages and benefits, and to make sure that everyone is being treated fairly by the employer.
·         Protects minorities, and other subordinated groups, from being wrongfully fired.
·         Good for political use
·         Provides better and safer work environments.
·         Encourages teamwork and cooperation.
·         Created jobs for hundreds of people and immigrants.
·         Increased the number of jobs available and helped rural areas develop
·         Encourage education for employees to father their work experience

Ways of forming a union; http://www.wikihow.com/Form-a-Union

Cons to having a union:

·         Negative affect for employers: workers can ban together until the employer meets their needs.
·         employers can become aggressive, and very unfair to try and stop unionization
·         employers can be charged with unfair labor practice
·         striking can make union members look “greedy”
·         Children had to work alongside their parents
·         Conditions can be terrible or worse in the factories because of unions
·         Employers might threaten the union members to befit them (in some cases workers are badly injured)

Other Options:

·         Set Labor Laws in the country
·         Repair machinery immediately if hazardous
·         Scheduled maintenance on the machines
·         Outside agencies to help improve working conditions
·         Educating employees and employers
·         Establish polices that are regularly checked
·         Establish minimum wage and raises on an hourly wage
·         Working only 8 hour shifts and some over-time
·         Part-time and full-time rule to be put in place
·         Encourage education for young workers and children
·         Enforce labor laws
·         Abolish child trafficking
·         Promote fair trade
·         Replace child workers and senior workers
·         Creating medical and dental coverage
·         Monitoring companies on their products and purchases



“Everything is produced by the workers, and the minute they try to get something by their unions they meet all the opposition that can be mustered by those who now get what they produce.
Harry Bridges


"Late George Meaney said, strong Labor unions are essential to a democracy."

5 comments:

  1. Hi Shariya,

    You provided us with some detailed information! I'm wondering, however, how does a company find a happy medium between the advantages and disadvantages of forming a union? Also, what happens if a company doesn't have or want to invest financially in bettering the working conditions for its employees? Do workers have the right to pursue legal action against their employee?

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    1. sorry about the late reply, a company can find a happy medium by comparing themselves to other top companies that are doing well and that have a good name through the government list. if companies does not have or want to invest,we would have to turn the tables and show them how it could befit them later on financially. sometimes you have to play through their games. workers do have the right to take legal action it just might be alot harder depending on where they are located. (ex. india would be a lot harder because their systems are so corrupt where as Toronto it would be alot easier since everyone has right.)

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  2. Hi Shariya,
    after reading this blog post, I'm curious as to whether you feel empowered to make a difference for these workers? After researching this topic for the past few months, do you think you will continue to study this issue after this project is over?

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    1. i do feel like i can make a difference is just finding how i can do that and where i can find the right people since it is our last year in high school. i believe in learning something everyday so will i come back to this topic later on yes i can see my self actually being involved later on.

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  3. Hey Shariya,

    Do you think that every country are able to utilize these solutions? If so, in what way can they make it fair to satisfy both the needs of the workers and companies? Also, do you think governments should get involved with this issue?

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