Companies have an incentive to pay as little as they can while retaining the best workers possible. They count on manipulative tactics and the obfuscation of the truth to make it possible to pay some workers far less than others even if they perform the same work. Two employers in similar positions could receive vastly different wages and even different benefit packages due to factors outside of their control, such as their sex or race. Unions often help employees by providing better transparency. Companies know that unions may track such discrepancies and may try to prevent workers from organ ..read more

The safety of workers in New York must be taken seriously. Throughout the years, new regulations and laws have gone into effect that help to protect these workers. Unions have played a primary role in these changes, many of which also benefit non-unionized workers. Through collective bargaining, legislative advocacy and safety training programs, unions contribute significantly to creating safer work environments across various industries. This involvement benefits union members and sets safety benchmarks that can positively impact the broader workforce. Collective bargaining for safer conditio ..read more

Restaurant and hospitality unions help to protect workers in one of the most abusive New York industries. Hospitality employees and those working at restaurants or bars often face untenable work circumstances. Employers may violate employee protection laws or try to deny workers the wages and gratuities they deserve. Unions protect workers from employment law violations and wage infractions. Workers not receiving appropriate compensation for the services that they provide may seek support from their local union representative to address their concerns. The union can negotiate with the employer ..read more

Having the right insurance coverage can protect people from a variety of challenging scenarios, including situations in which they can no longer work to support themselves and their families. Someone who is temporarily unable to work from due to health issues may apply for short-term disability benefits, for example. Those facing longer-term medical challenges may require long-term disability benefits until they reach retirement age. The benefits available through Social Security are often not enough for people to live comfortably, so workers may supplement that minimal protection with private ..read more

The concept of unions often conjure mixed feelings in the public discourse. For workers, they serve as powerful advocates, fighting for improved wages, safer working conditions and better benefits. But for business owners and executives, unions might raise concerns about increased costs, more stringent regulations and operational constraints. The role of unions extends beyond collective bargaining and touches various aspects of workers' lives and business operations. As a result, good relationship with labor organizations can substantially impact affected companies themselves. Unions offer mor ..read more

Employees working at a business have certain rights protected by state and federal statutes. Some of the most important basic rights of workers include the right to organize with one another. Otherwise, employees might have no choice but to accept misconduct from an employer or leave a job. Allowing workers to organize helps to ensure that employers comply with the law and treat their employees with dignity. Of course, unionizing isn't a process that occurs overnight, and federal protections apply to not just joining a union but also attempts to start one. Workers are usually legally permitted ..read more

For a while, it seemed like “union” was becoming a dirty word. People seemed to believe that unions were somehow responsible for the fact that numerous large U.S. manufacturing companies were outsourcing their work (or just moving) overseas, where labor was cheap and unions are non-existent. However, there’s been renewed interest in organized labor unions in recent years, as workers start to realize that they can’t rely on an employer’s so-called generosity when it comes to fair pay, decent schedules, reasonable workload demands and important benefits. Starbucks employees have been at the fore ..read more

A recent landmark ruling by the United States Supreme Court holds that labor unions may be liable for intentionally causing economic harm to employers. This decision establishes that the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) does not necessarily shield unions from liability for foreseeable actions resulting in property damage or financial losses during strike activity. The case at the center of this landmark ruling is Glacier Northwest, Inc. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters. In this case, a union representing truck drivers went on strike as cement trucks were getting loaded with ready-m ..read more

A collective bargaining agreement (CBA) helps union workers negotiate with their employers. For instance, players in the NFL have a union, so they use a CBA. This helps to regulate the way that the NFL can interact with the players and establishes their rights. These documents are also in use far outside of professional sports, as well. What types of consequential issues are often addressed in a CBA? Earnings and compensation A CBA may help to determine the compensation workers are going to receive. In some cases, it could establish a minimum salary, for instance, or set up a wage scale. It ma ..read more

Organized employees have more leverage in the workplace than those who interact with an employer independently. Collectively, workers can influence the culture at a company and demand better work conditions and compensation. Sometimes, the advocacy that unionized workers require isn't support during contract negotiations but rather protection when employers take inappropriate steps against them. Unions often serve a key role in protecting those who face wrongful discharge from their position at a company. Companies sometimes fire people with little warning, which can sometimes lead to claims r ..read more