On the day after Labor Day, it is important to look at the tumultuous state of the labor movement.
Back in the day, labor unions helped organize workers in order to get employers to create safer workplaces. Unions helped push wages up to a fair level and solidify work rules that keep workers healthy and safe.
But lately, unions have been losing the great favor they held in the past. There is enough backlash against unions from conservative activists that they feel like they are ""under attack.""
It is a common belief among conservatives that unions have had their place in history, but have outlived their usefulness. This past year, unions around the United States have proved this belief has some grain of truth.
Last year, when the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery opened, there were disruptive union protests during the grand opening events. The reason? The WID decided to staff their cafes and restaurants with non-union workers. The protesters, many of them members of the Student Labor Action Coalition, a pro-union student organization, interrupted speeches, because they were disgusted with ""union busting"" and ""outsourced wages."" However, I see these protests simply as an attempt to deny employees their right to work and to deny employers their right to hire workers they feel will benefit their business the most.
A similar protest against private workers occurred in South Carolina when Chicago-based Boeing decided to build their 787 plant in South Carolina, instead of Washington. This plan would result in no job losses to Washington's union laborers. Nevertheless, the unions and the National Labor Relations Board feel that Boeing's decision to move the plant for their newest plane to a right-to-work state to avoid strikes constitutes retaliation. Once again, unions have shown they are opposed to any jobs that are not theirs.
Republican, and even some Democratic, politicians have put restrictions on labor unions at the state level. In Wisconsin, this occurred after the Republican-run state Legislature passed restrictions on collective bargaining. In response to this, organizers of Wausau's Labor Day parade tried to ban GOP members from taking part in the parade. Fortunately, the threat of losing public funding made the organizers rethink their position.
I am not completely against labor unions. They were instrumental in making many workplaces safer and earning fair wages. Moreover, many unions ensure their members are skilled and will provide great service.
However, when unions start to flex their muscle and the government goes along with them, I start to question their importance. While many unions just try to ensure their members have fair wages and are not subjected to overly dangerous workplaces, many unions take on much more. Now, they push for higher and higher wages, restrictive work rules and spend millions to get politicians elected.
There is a 9.1 percent unemployment rate and despite the economic recovery, it still feels like a recession. Unions should not be adding to the difficulty of job creation. When jobs are not be taken away, but given to other people, like in Boeing's case, unions should at least wait before jumping on the company for providing an income to willing workers.
But this is not to say that all labor unions are bad. Many take appropriate steps to enact reforms and work with government and companies to come up with plans that benefit everyone.
So as I reflect on the day after Labor Day, I hope that the state of labor relations changes from combatant to collaborative. I also hope unions don't keep others from getting a job, especially in this sluggish economic climate. Furthermore, government officials should begin truly negotiating with unions, instead of giving in to every and any union request or strong-handing anti-union laws through the legislature.
This past year has been a tumultuous one for labor unions. For the sake of the government, businesses and workers alike, we can only hope that relations improve in the coming years.
Matt Beaty is a junior majoring in math. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
