Workers who are protected by labor unions have the freedom to speak out about workplace safety dangers without fear of retaliation. Furthermore, because unions can put pressure on employers to address safety issues, businesses are incentivized to address and prevent hazards or suffer significant productivity losses.
Unions and Workplace Safety
A labor union is a group that acts as a go-between for its members and their employers. The basic goal of labor unions is to enable workers to bargain together for better working conditions and other benefits. The following are some significant criteria for how unions might improve workplace safety.
Unions look after their members.
In Canada, labor unions like Teamsters public service union file complaints with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, which is in charge of monitoring and enforcing workplace safety regulations and investigating and fining corporations that violate them. Inspections are more common in unionized workplaces, and the prospect of unionization may drive employers to improve workplace safety.
Unions help workers get the safest working environment
One of the most important advantages that unions have is the capacity to bargain collectively. Workers may commonly assume that they do not have a voice or that they would not have much influence to effect positive change in their workplace if they speak up.
Workers who join a union agree to bargain for their rights as a group in order to protect their interests. This gives them significantly greater bargaining leverage when asking for improved safety conditions and more equitable work hours. Their capacity to cover an entire group forces employers to reach a negotiated settlement.
As many people believe, the activity of a labor organization does not end with the signature of a collective bargaining agreement. After an agreement is achieved, union officials work with employees and management to ensure that the terms of the agreement are respected on both sides of the bargaining table.
Unionized workers get better health benefits.
In March 2019, 95 percent of civilian unionized workers and 68 percent of non-unionized workers had access to employer-provided healthcare benefits. Employees have access to the benefit regardless of whether they want to join. An employer-sponsored health plan was used by 84 percent of unionized workers and 54 percent of non-unionized workers. Union workers enrolled at an 88 percent rate, while non-union workers enrolled at a 79 percent rate.
Medical, dental, and vision services are all covered, as are outpatient prescription medicines. Medical care and outpatient prescription drug coverage were the most widely accessible healthcare benefits to both union and non-union employees.
More than three-quarters of unionized employees had access to dental care, and more than half had access to vision coverage. Non-union workers had access to dental benefits in 40% of cases, while eye coverage was available in 23% of cases. Istrested already? Go now to this page to learn more.
Conclusion
Labor unions and businesses share mutual goals. Companies strive to give their customers a great product or service. Unions seek to provide workers with the best possible working circumstances so that they can thrive in their employment. Unions can ensure employee safety and productivity on an equal footing by collaborating.