Positives+of+Unions

What are the good points about unions? How have they helped employees and contributed to the current state of IR laws?

Unions have a substantial impact on the compensation and work lives of both unionized and non-unionized workers. This report presents current data on unions' effect on wages, fringe benefits, total compensation, pay inequality, and workplace protections.

**Most people know Unions mean better wages and benefits. Unions help ensure that workers are treated fairly and equally. Unions also give workers a voice in workplace decisions that affect their lives. Unions give working people a real sense of their own power.** [|**http://slac.rso.wisc.edu/old/what_do_they_do.html**]

Unions have a substantial impact on the compensation and work lives of both unionized and non-unionized workers.nions have a substantial impact on the compensation and work lives of both unionized and non-unionized workers. Some of the conclusions are:

• Unions raise wages of unionized workers by roughly 20% and raise compensation, including both wages and benefits, by about 28%. • Unions reduce wage inequality because they raise wages more for low- and middle-wage workers than for higher-wage workers, more for blue-collar than for white-collar workers, and more for workers who do not have a college degree. • Strong unions set a pay standard that nonunion employers follow. For example, a high school graduate whose workplace is not unionized but whose industry is 25% unionized is paid 5% more than similar workers in less unionized industries. • The impact of unions on total nonunion wages is almost as large as the impact on total union wages. • The most sweeping advantage for unionized workers is in fringe benefits. Unionized workers are more likely than their nonunionized counterparts to receive paid leave, are approximately 18% to 28% more likely to have employer-provided health insurance, and are 23% to 54% more likely to be in employer-provided pension plans. • Unionized workers receive more generous health benefits than nonunionized workers. They also pay 18% lower health care deductibles and a smaller share of the costs for family coverage. In retirement, unionized workers are 24% more likely to be covered by health insurance paid for by their employer. • Unionized workers receive better pension plans. Not only are they more likely to have a guaranteed benefit in retirement, their employers contribute 28% more toward pensions. • Unionized workers receive 26% more vacation time and 14% more total paid leave (vacations and holidays). Unions play a pivotal role both in securing legislated labor protections and rights such as safety and health, overtime, and family/medical leave and in enforcing those rights on the job. Because unionized workers are more informed, they are more likely to benefit from social insurance programs such as unemployment insurance and workers compensation. Unions are thus an intermediary institution that provides a necessary complement to legislated benefits and protections. Did you know: • Unions raise wages of unionized workers by roughly 20% and raise compensation, including both wages and benefits, by about 28%. • Unions reduce wage inequality because they raise wages more for low- and middle-wage workers than for higher-wage workers, more for blue-collar than for white-collar workers, and more for workers who do not have a college degree. • Strong unions set a pay standard that nonunion employers follow. For example, a high school graduate whose workplace is not unionized but whose industry is 25% unionized is paid 5% more than similar workers in less unionized industries. • The impact of unions on total nonunion wages is almost as large as the impact on total union wages. • The most sweeping advantage for unionized workers is in fringe benefits. Unionized workers are more likely than their non unionized counterparts to receive paid leave, are approximately 18% to 28% more likely to have employer-provided health insurance, and are 23% to 54% more likely to be in employer-provided pension plans. • Unionized workers receive more generous health benefits than non unionized workers. They also pay 18% lower health care deductibles and a smaller share of the costs for family coverage. In retirement, unionized workers are 24% more likely to be covered by health insurance paid for by their employer. • Unionized workers receive better pension plans. Not only are they more likely to have a guaranteed benefit in retirement, their employers contribute 28% more toward pensions. • Unionized workers receive 26% more vacation time and 14% more total paid leave (vacations and holidays). http://www.topofmyhead.info/2006/10/unions-some-of-positives.html
 * Membership benefits

Industrial representation: ** if you're having a problem at work that isn't resolved, a union will represent you in the Australian [|Industrial Relations] [|Tribunal] (AIRC), where people from outside the workplace listen to both sides of the story and then make a decision.


 * Provide facts and advice:** unions are a huge resource of information and will provide correct facts on a range of topics as well as give you advice.


 * Take action:** if you are unhappy with your working conditions, unions can help you organise a legal [|strike].

[|**Occupation**]**al health & safety:** unions provides advice and support to elected Health and Safety Representatives to make sure your workplace is safe.


 * Rights:** unions will make sure your rights at work are protected, including on issues such as [|harassment], [|discrimination], [|equal opportunity] and [|equal pay].


 * Proper pay and** [|**entitlements**]**:** unions will make sure you are getting paid the right [|salary] as well as ensuring you get your [|overtime] pay, backpay, [|holiday pay] etc.


 * Advice and assistance in** [|**workplace**] **bargaining:** unions can work with you and your [|employer] to form an [|enterprise] agreement or [|contract].

[|**Workers compensation**]**:** unions provide expert guidance and legal assistance on all workers' compensation matters under State and Federal [|Legislation].


 * Talk to your employer:** unions can help by dealing directly with your employer.

[|**Training**]**:** unions provide you with the best training possible. Unions are keen to help people get a good start in the workplace. They have helped make training easier and more available through new [|apprenticeship]s and other workplace training.


 * Welfare:** various welfare services are provided by some unions to assist members who may find themselves in difficult circumstances. These include:
 * drug and alcohol counselling
 * financial advisory service
 * [|tax]ation advice service
 * legal advisory service
 * WorkCover advisory service
 * [|Conciliation] service and representation
 * Mortality benefits and service
 * But that’s not all!

** Many unions also offer extra services to their members such as advice about your finances, access to a dentist you can afford, scholarships to help you pay for your books and **__discount movie tickets__**. http://www.worksite.actu.asn.au/showall.php3?secid=3&page=article&artid=146&workst_Session=aef84dda5a391ef0b7011bca21484ff4

__#########################################__**POSITIVES OF UNIONS**  __#####################################################__

Since being created in 1927, the Australian Council of Trade Unions has solved some of the most important and prevailant struggles in Australia's workplace history. **The industrial gains are:**
 * * Decades of wage increases through the award system
 * * Campaigns in fthe field
 * * Safer workplaces
 * * Greater equality for women
 * * Improvements in working hours
 * * Entitlements to paid holidays
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">* General better employment options and conditions
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">* The establishment of a universal superannuation system.

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">**The ACTU supports:** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 * [|equal opportunity] <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> in the workplace.
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">an Australian republic.
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">competency based [|training] for workers, where workers don't end up in 'dead end' jobs and people are paid according to skill, not age.
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">indigenous Australians in their struggle for a just outcome on land rights, re [|conciliation] and recognition of their culture.
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">economically sustainable development.
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">the call for the abolition of [|child labour]
 * [|**//Maternity Leave//**] <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">. The ACTU is campaigning for the introduction of paid maternity leave for all Australian women.
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">**//Reasonable Hours//**. The ACTU's Reasonable Hours campaign aims to raise awareness about the effects of long working hours.
 * [|**//Minimum Wage//**] <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">**//s//**. The ACTU's Minimum Wages campaign aims to deliver a wage increase to [|award] workers consistent with outcomes for others in the community and provide a real wage increase for the lowest paid.
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">**//worker2worker.//** worker2worker is an ACTU/union initiative, which informs young people of their rights and responsibilities at work and provides advice on how to resolve workplace issues.
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">**//Call Central.//** A campaign for decent minimum standards in the Call Centre [|Industry].

Unions represent their members in a number of ways. The positives of this are having professionals to help and inform you of any workplace disputes, incidents etc. that you may be unaware of. Unions will protect you, and help to find a solution to your problem.

The following examples are some instances of issues where unions can help out their members when conflict arises: - - - - - - -
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Negotiating the terms & conditions of awards and enterprise agreements or individiual agreements with employers
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Investigating suspected breaches of an employee's award or the underpayment of wages
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Compensation issues with health and safety matters
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Unfair dismissals
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Redundancies
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">All forms of sexual harassment and discrimination claims in the workplace
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Superannuation
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Industrial disputes

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Plus many more..... - - - - - - -   <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
 * Unions do not discriminate.** Federal law makes it illegal to coere or deter anybody from joining a union. The choice should be made without duress and at free will by a person. It is also illegal to discriminate against a person for choosing to join or not join, leave or enter a particular union, or to dismiss them for union membership or non-membership.

Unions don't leave their members to win battles against discrimination, rights abuse etc. by their own. As an individual, a worker may not be able to do much but with the help of a union, they are likely to suceed in their endeavour to work in a fair and just environment. Unions have the strength of thousands to protect them, and this pressure waves in the favour of the employee who has been taken advantage of as an individual.

Other positives of unions are that they support **everyone.** There are many different types of unions out there for people to join. The trade unions of Australia aim to support:

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">//**<span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"> By accepting the diverse needs of individual workers in Australia, ATCU emphasizes its goal in creating equality in the workplace. **// <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">What are the good points about unions? How have they helped employees and contributed to the current state of IR laws? <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Positives of unions: <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">If you are with the union you usually have good health benefits etc. You are protected for job security and more. You also can join their credit union which have great offers, like low interest for car and home loans., and much more. Everyone gets a raise and benefits at the same rate as everyone else. There is no favoritism. The union will negiotiate a contract for all the employees so that employees don't have to negiotiate individually with the company. If you are having problems with management, you have a representative to go meetings with you so that you have a witness as to what has been said and how you were treated. You have representation under all circumstances. You cannot be wrongfully terminated without repercussions from the union. Employees work together as a unit rather than individuals. The best part is just that you cannot be treated unfairly by the company or an individual because they will be held accountable to all the workers and the union. As a group you have clout against companies that would keep wages unnaturally low and not offer benefits.
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">from government to the private sector.
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">from blue collar to white collar workers.
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">from manufacturing to service industry employment.
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">from full time to part time/casual.
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">from male to female employment.
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">from large workplaces to smaller workplaces.

<span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Mallory