Labor Unions, Essay Example

In 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory burned to the ground (History). 145 people died; some burned to death while others plummeted out of the building to escape, only to find themselves engaged in a more painful death. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory had notoriously poor working conditions, so no one was surprised to hear about the fire. Workers were regularly required to work for 12 hours a day, barely making enough money to survive. Women were expected to follow a strict dress code, which made the heat and already cramped rooms even worse. Workers were not permitted to take breaks, and were asked to continue working even if they hurt themselves or got their hair caught in the machinery. In these cases, the management would provide them with the care they need, but in the quickest way possible. The unfortunate woman who caught her hair in a sewing machine would have it cut off.

To make matters worse, there was no ventilation in these dark and dingy factory rooms. Many people working in close proximity breathing in dirty air often contributed to contamination and sickness. If a worker complained about his or her working conditions, they would simply be fired and be replaced by a more willing individual. Since there were many immigrant workers in 1911 that these factory owners were able to take advantage of, there was little concern about a potential worker shortage. Thus, these employees would be treated as if they had no value. When the factory set on fire in 1911, there was no running water or sprinklers that could put it out. Employees were trapped on the upper floors of the building, and the poor working conditions that they had been subjected to for years finally contributed to their early deaths.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire is one of the primary examples of a need for change in not just New York City, but workplaces in areas across the country and world. An influx of immigrant workers during the early 1900s meant that more workers were available and therefore employers were more able to provide them with any kind of treatment they believed to be reasonable. It appeared to be more profitable for employers to compromise the safety of their workers, so conditions were poor. After all, installing sprinklers to prevent fires and allowing employees to take breaks would detract from profit. Thus, they were prohibited.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory created the question as to how workers rights could be protected. Until this point in history, workers had no rights. They were merely subjected to the wishes of their employers. While labor unions had started to form just 30 years earlier, a majority of workers were not protected by these alliances. Once the terrible conditions of workers in New York City and other large cities was revealed, the concept of forming labor unions became more prevalent. There was a notion that employers should be responsible for protecting the rights of their employees. As a consequence, labor unions and forms of beneficial legislation were established in a widespread manner for the first time in history.

Labor unions can be considered a right that is not inherent. Workers across the country needed to fight for their ability to simply feel safe at work.  Prior to the implementation of labor unions, for example, there was no state or federal minimum wage. Because labor unions were able to pressure members of the public to become interested in fighting for the rights of workers, the government was forced to determine what wages are necessary for people to earn to be able to survive. Furthermore, regulations were implemented to review the minimum wage and ensure that it would be adjusted for factors like inflation, the cost of living, and other general expenses. Being able to earn a reasonable wage allows people across the country to pay their rent and not fear that they could become homeless for having a missed payment. Labor unions fight for the most basic rights of people, and these voices would not be heard if groups did not form specifically to promote worker rights.

Labor unions have enacted many more changes that have contributed to the ability of people to make a living and feel that they are being treated fairly. In particular, labor unions stated that it is unfair to work a day that is longer than 8 hours or a week that is 40 hours. Labor unions work to ensure that their employees are paid time and a half, or another form of additional compensation, for hours worked outside of the normal workday. It is important to consider that many employees who worked prior to the implementation of labor unions were required to work 12 hours or more each day. This is an unreasonable expectation because these employees have little time to care for themselves outside of the workday. Now, employees are only expected to work 8 hours each day, although they can elect to work additional hours for additional compensation.

An additional benefit of labor unions is the safety regulations that they have put in place. Now, there are many workers regulatory agencies that operate to ensure that workers are provided with a safe working environment. One such organization is OSHA. This government agency checks to determine whether employees are provided with proper protective equipment, are provided with breaks from strenuous labor, and more. Before labor unions, employees were not allowed to have breaks and safety was deemed as too expensive to consider in labor practice. Now that the government and labor unions claim that safety is a necessity, employers need to determine how they can make the working conditions present safe. According to most union contracts and OSHA regulations, employees are to be given at least one 30-minute break and one 15-minute break for every 6 hours worked. Furthermore, the organization requires that breaks be provided for every 2 hours of work for individuals that work seated jobs to provide them with an opportunity to walk around. This increases their blood flow and ability to maintain a good posture while working at a desk. One of the biggest problems among workers today is that they suffer from back pains due to poor posture at work. Thus, it is important for workers to exercise their rights given to them by unions so they are able to maintain their health.

Another major issue that unions fight for is the ability to provide workers with employment benefits. Employment benefits range from health insurance to retirement plans to vacation and sick days. Overall, we expect for full-time employers to provide these opportunities to their workers, but these expectations weren’t always in place. Factory workers who got sick from their work environment were not entitled to any compensation from their employer. Those with pre-existing conditions aggravated by their poor work environment were often bed-ridden and many individuals even died. It Is important to consider that in this case, workers rights are equivalent to human rights. It is inhumane to cause sickness in someone and then to avoid claims that would provide them with care. As a consequence, labor unions have fought to hold employers liable for this care, which is why workers compensation programs exist today.

Overall, it is important to consider that many changes have put in place because labor unions have fought for the rights of workers (Holley 85). However, the most important change is likely the change in fire codes that resulted from the tragedy at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. It is now required for each work organization to have access to fire extinguishers, have installed sprinklers, and to have a fire evacuation plan. Furthermore, exits cannot be blocked and buildings cannot be filled past a certain capacity. It is financially reasonable for employers to comply with these codes because they will be subject to large fines if these standards are not maintained. Thus, it is apparent that labor unions continue to be beneficial for workers today. We no longer have to worry about our safety. We are simply able to do our job, knowing that we will be protected.

Individuals that do not support labor unions often believe that having unions in place will cost businesses too much money. However, these added expenses contribute to the bettering of society in the long run. Our economy and standard of living has increased significantly since 1911. Our buildings are safer, our people are happier, and our productivity has increased significantly. If we were to return to the conditions that were in place prior to 1911, we would find that our nation’s wealth would diminish, the sick would be everywhere, and many people would regularly die in work related incidents.

In today’s world labor unions and the government work together to make change happen. It is important to consider that there is a need to fight for rights; if we do not fight, change will not be possible. Thus, forming strong labor unions is the key to the future. By protecting one another and ensuring that we are able to excel in our jobs through protections that exist in our personal life, we can work together to push society forward.

Fortunately, unions are in place to protect our basic rights. We need representation because these individuals understand our individual work situations and fight for us on this basis. Whether you are a teacher, construction worker, police officer, or a screen director, you are likely a part of a union. A union is a group of individuals who align common goals to fight together to reach equality (Hiltzik). No one can argue that a goal of equality is not fair. Thus, it is important for each individual to recognize the value of labor unions. Labor unions protect people. Since there are more people than businesses, it is important to ensure that labor unions are in place for a long time.

Works Cited

Hiltzik M. MF agrees: Decline of union power has increased income inequality. 2015. Web. September 30 2015.

History. Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. N.D. Web. 30 September 2015.

Holley WH. The Labor Relations Process, 10th ed. Cengage Learning, 2011.