1. Unions

2. History Early 19th Century: Improve working conditions
1820’s: 10 Hour work day
Industrial Revolution: Protect workers
American Unions arose post civil war with the “modernized” economy. As artisans worked together to help establish working conditions that were safer and would get their group to strike if conditions were not met.
Later, they gained the 10 hour day from the 12 hour day, now they have worked to a 40 hour week.
The industrial revolution made production based much more on machinery than individual’s ability. Unions were created to protect the workers so they could make a decent wage and protect them, even though they were more disposable. Events such as the Triangle shirt tale factory fire only re-enforced the need for better working conditions and cause workers to create unions.
It is also important to remember that this is a time when there is no unemployment benefits or supplementary income benefits. The rising of unemployment in the 20s then later the great depression cause for a need to assist the unemployed.

3. Today Smaller in last 40 years Very Industry concentrated
auto industry
public education
print journalism
politics
Over the last 40 years unions in the large scheme of things have shrunk to about 1 of 8 Americans. However, there are industries such as the auto industry, public education, print journalism, politics where they are still very prominent. Recently GM was on the verge of bankruptcy and its negotiated contracts to pay for health care and healthy pensions for retired employees wasn’t helping. Unions have fought to gain many benefits that create a better life for their constituents however at the cost of what is almost reasonable. GM fails and them everyone is out. Also in recent events the state of Wisconsin tried to pass a budget which limited union’s bargaining rights. Enraged teacher’s unions went on strike for a week feeling zeroed out. Governor Walker claims that it is simply a way to tighten the budget. But for all these teachers to strike, it shows that there is still a strong presence of unions.

4. Why Does It Matter? Businesses are designed to make money
Operations Managers connect people to the business.
Operations Managers need to manage what is reasonable.
Whether or not you completely agree on what the true purpose of business is, making money is key. That does not mean turning a profit to grow, but to continue operations it must at least break even at the end of the day. As operations managers the job is to connect the people to the roles of business and have all these parts and the people in them working together to direct the vessel that is the company. What is important is that not every one is going to have the foresight to make the best decisions and within that there needs to be trust. This then comes in the ethic dilemma with unions.

5. Ethical Issue Concentration of power “Me first” mindset
Like in the cases of GM union workers fight to get conditions that do better themselves, however push the reasonability of the company’s ability to fulfill. It is completely fair for workers to desire a reasonable wage and fight for conditions that help them, but at what point is it too much? The federal government has established Medicare, minimum wage, and unemployment. Now, I will not argue that these are sufficient for families to live off of, but these benefits extent far beyond them. Along with that, the director of unions are asking for more each year in raises. At what point are some unskilled labor jobs going to cut off on pay? NIU building service make on average 18 per hour plus vacation, sick, personal time and retirement to do a job that requires less than a week of training. And aside from right or wrong, the directors that aim the union on action don’t always have the foresight of what the company can offer. Companies have to function properly and if costs are too great for employee benefits then that can weaken them. At times for the to refuse union offers causeing strikes and bad press can be just as costly. And to avoid either negotiations are long difficult and also incur losses.

6. Unions aren’t bad Good for all workers
Improve benefits
Improve wages
Better working conditions
Union workers are more productive
This presentation isn’t trying to say that Union’s are a bad thing, but they system just needs some tweaking. Currently the system has some flaws. In most Union’s it isn’t uncommon to get a raise every 3-4 months. Let’s just say you have two workers, Worker A and Worker B. Worker A shows up to work early every single day and works his tail off all day long. He is one of the first to work and one of the last to leave. Then you have Worker B, who shows up on time, but just does the very minimum to get by. Worker A and Worker B get the same increase in salary from the Union though. Why is it that someone can not work very hard and still gets the same amount of reward as someone who is working very hard? Hard work should be rewarded more than just showing up everyday.
They say that union workers are more productive which is why the system is good. It just needs to be revamped.

7. Bibliography http://www.shmoop.com/history-labor-unions/
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