A union is a group of workers banded together to form a block which can then demand better working conditions, such as fair wages or reasonable hours of work.
We often forget it was the union movement which saw work shift to a five-day, 8-hour-per-day work week. It is unions which ensure workers have safe employment with health benefits. And it is unions striving for equity in the workplace.
There is much to be said in favour of a unionized workplace.
There is also much said about the disadvantages. Especially by employers and business owners. After all, if wages are paid according to a union contract, then an employer can’t favour one employer over another. And the power of the union lies in withholding labour to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all its members.
This is the point of a unionized workplace - to ensure everyone is treated fairly and paid appropriately. For some employers, this is a difficult concept.
Not all employers and I would dare to say not even the majority of employers. Small business owners, for example, tend to go out of their way to treat their employees well. Do a good job and you will be rewarded. After all, with only a few employees, everyone is valuable and has necessary expertise.
Some large companies are model employers. But sometimes even a good working environment can break down. Especially when inflation leaves wages behind as it has for the past few decades.
Despite making many thousands of dollars more per year, most workers are worse off now than they were 30 or 50 years ago. As a simplified example, I started work when the minimum wage was $1.50. At the time, that would buy you five three-quart jugs of milk or about 14 litres. Today, buying those same 14 litres would cost you $24.75, much more than minimum wage.
So, workers strike. They ask for better pay. They ask for a reasonable living.
There has been a lot of commentary over the past few weeks, particularly by right-wing politicians such as Christy Clark, saying the government should bring in back-to-work legislation. Port workers are hurting the economy, they say.
Absolutely. And the value of their work should be recognized.
Todd Whitcombe is a chemistry professor at the University of Northern B.C.
