Unions: Negotiating From Strength for Employee Benefits - Essay Sample

Introduction

Unions get to represent the respective members both at an individual level and collectively as well. A good number of employees get to join unions, mostly those that their respective employers identify with, making it a highly pursued path by most employees today. Unions come along with numerous advantages, for instance, allowing the union together as one the edge of negotiating from the point of strength. In any given workplace setting, it is expected of certain factors affecting the working conditions that, in most cases, bring forth the need for industrial action or instead strike.

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Going on strike takes an initial step whereby, for example, in this case, union members get to vote either or not in favor of the intended strike. Once the union members get to vote in favor of a proposed strike, the union ought to give the respective employer notice of at least ten days mainly of when the expected strike will commence. The notice should as well be served not only to the employer but also to the conciliation service and the federal mediation. One of the reasons behind notice provision is to enable preparations in advance from the employer, for instance, on administering their respective services. Notice extension is, however, allowed only in cases where there is a written agreement between the union and the employer. Notice violation, for example, by the delay of a purported strike or rather employees engaging in a strike in contravention to the respective notice requirements brings forth consequences such as the employees getting to lose their status as employees under the National Labour Relations Act.

What Is Arbitration, and Why Is It Necessary?

Arbitration is a term that refers to the form of an alternative way to resolve disputes merely being a method through which differences remain solved outside of court. Warring parties, in this case, get to refer their respective claims to an arbitrator, often chosen by these parties. An Arbitrator mainly plays the role of listening to the parties and finally giving a well-thought decision. Arbitration is mostly necessary due to shortcomings of lawsuits that when it comes to resolving any given disputes that arise among given parties, these parties often opt to undertake a collective agreement procedure that aids in bringing forth a peaceful dispute resolution through arbitration.

Picketing and Strikes

Picketing takes a protesting form whereby individuals get to assemble outside a given location or workplace often with the sole aim to dissuade others from participating in an event or instead going in to work when it comes to areas of work. Strike, on the other hand, remains distinct from picketing in that strikes primarily relate to work cessation. A strike, therefore, is a form of protest that entails the refusal to go to work, usually in an attempt to attain concessions from employers. The right to strike is often not guaranteed in the constitution, however, remains a protected activity in this case under the National Labour Relations Act (NLRA). Picketing on the other hand, usually known to accompany strikes stands subject to controls under the National Labour Relations Act (NLRA)

Picketing and strikes are known to be pressure tactics through which Unions and employees get to raise their concerns to employers. It is when collective bargaining fails to achieve or instead reach an agreement point that both parties, in this case, that is the union and the employer, resorts to pressure tactics. Pressure tactics include; picketing, patrolling, lockouts, strikes, and boycotts. Picketing and strikes often stand out when it comes to using pressure tactics, and as well from the employers and management end, the management might often use lockouts as a form of pressure tactic that aims at the concession.