Organization of Unions: The Same Wages and Benefits

Organization of Unions
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Organization of Unions
“Unions are groups of working people who join to talk to employers about wages and other working conditions instead of workers talking to employers on an individual basis.” They represent all workers giving them the ability to get better deals for all workers than an individual employee could by directly negotiating with the employer. However, the success of the unions depends on its own management. How its management organizes the workers to come together and voice the grievances as a group. Without better management, the employees will move out of the unions and others may not join them.
Mobilizing workers to join the unions is faced with many challenges especially from the workers. They have many objections and reasons as to why they do not want to join the unions. According to the Labor Relations in Action, there are some objections that all union organizers get from the employees who they want to join there union. Without proper responses to these objections, the union organizers may lose the members. The following are some of the objections and possible responses that the organizers can use to mobilize the workers (Holley, Jennings, & Wolters, 2011).
Objection:
“Why should I join the union when I get exactly the same wages and benefits without joining?”
Possible Responses:
* “You are right, we all get the same, but don’t you think we could be getting much more if all nonmembers join? Don’t you want more gains? We can win those gains only if we more of us desire them and are willing to work together.”
* “If all of us could have been having the same perceptions of yours, there could have been no union to bargain for us or represent our grievances to our employers. If you remain a nonmember for long, it will be difficult for the union to fight for your rights.”
* “Remaining to be a nonmember indicates that you are on the side of the employer in the bargaining table. You agree with the employer that the demands the union tables are irrelevant and you do not deserve any improvements in working conditions or wages. Based on this you may want to join the union and help us champion our grievances than being seen us a traitor who is against better improvements.”
Objection:
“I can’t afford to join. I’ve got a family to support, and my check just isn’t big enough (to cover union dues).”
Possible Responses:
* “You can’t afford to join but you can’t also afford not to belong. Being a member doesn’t cost but it pays in terms of improved working conditions, job security and other benefits.”
* “Since you have a family to support, you owe it and being a union member you will be assured of improved wages and other benefits. Your family will also benefit from this.”
Objection: