Labor Unions and Public Law

Synonyms

Trade Union or Organized Labor

Definition

Labor unions are workers’ organizations in specific trade and industry whose aim is to improve members’ working conditions and compensation packages.

Introduction

The United States has had a long association with labor unions. Among the pioneers was the National Association of Letter Carriers, which lobbied Congress to pass an 8-h workday in 1888. Unions were also responsible for passing important legislation such as the Lloyd-La Follette Act (1912), the Retirement Act (1920), and the Classification Act (1923), which supported employee rights. These and other laws demonstrate the importance of labor unions in personnel management. Overall, unions are tasked with negotiating for better wages and benefits. In addition, unions work toward the elimination of arbitrariness in employer actions.

Although organizing has benefits to employees, there are also consequences for unionization. Primarily, unions tend to drive up organizational costs...