Answer to Question #241744 in Management for Graylin Lapi

Question

Discuss on how unions should manage and mitigate the declining trend in membership in the pacific island countries.

Answer 1

A union is a group of employees that come together to advocate for better working conditions and pay for their coworkers. When two or more things come together and become one, they form a union. Unions in South Africa can employ a range of strategies to halt and reverse the downward trend. There is an established collective bargaining system. Collective bargaining is at the heart of a union's existence and character. Collective bargaining agreements happens when a group of workers come together to strengthen their bargaining power. If the whole staff is aware of importance of the new law and joins hands to force the organizations to execute it, the likelihood of the corporation complying is significantly increased. Unions gather their employees together by allowing their workers' ideas to be given opportunity to be heard and incorporated into the union's overarching aim. In most cases, unionized workers pick representatives to bring their concerns to the attention of the union (Freeman & Medoff, 2011).

Additionally, there is the issue of worker safety to consider. Employers invest more in training and equipment as prices increase, which boosts workplace morale and productivity. When employees are treated well, everyone benefits. Organized union battle with business is unavoidable. When employees, on the other hand, are considered as disposable, organizations sometime can be less concerned with the safety of employees (Freeman & Medoff, 2011). If there is no any union representation, workers may be without somebody to advocate for them with management on safety matters. The necessity for collaboration becomes increasingly apparent as organizations become more organized. Businesses acknowledge that by increasing training, upgrading equipment, and maximizing the effectiveness of their expertise, they can increase the safety, productivity, and success of a stable staff.

There are opportunities for higher-paying occupations available. One of the most significant perks of union membership is that you will earn more money than non-union workers. When compared to non-unionized workers in comparable jobs, union members earn around 20% more (not including benefits). Additionally, unionized workers are more likely to receive frequent pay hikes (Freeman & Medoff, 2011). This is the effect of collective bargaining agreements between the union and the employer, which culminates in a contract with established salary and wage specifications. Without a formal negotiation mechanism or employee input, the employer can decide compensation in a non-union employment.

Reference

Freeman, R. B., & Medoff, J. L. (2011). What do union’s do.Indus. & Lab. Rel. Rev., 38, 244.