Union Definition for Elementary Students

A union may use other methods if it believes the employer is unreasonable. She may wish to demonstrate the strength of her complaints against the employer and bring her case to the attention of the public. One of these methods is to call their workers to strike, which means they refuse to work. A strike is usually a final action by workers who believe they cannot achieve their goals by other means. Strikers and their families may find themselves in distress because they lose their wages during their strike period. Employers are also suffering from reduced production. Employers have their own methods of pressuring union members to accept their terms. A common tactic is lockout, where an employer prevents its employees from working. This is often achieved by excluding employees from the workplace, but it can also be achieved by laying off or hiring non-unionized replacements. My first introduction to unions was both stressful and confusing. When I was 10 years old, my father-in-law, who worked as a machinist, was invited by his union to strike for several weeks.

He was forced to strike at his workplace and did not receive a paycheque during that time. However, he did not agree with the union`s dispute with management and would have preferred to continue working. At the time, the government did nothing to help these workers. Workers decided to unite, form unions to revolt against unfair working conditions and low wages, and strike against their employers. Some of these strikes became dangerous, so the government eventually intervened and created a better working atmosphere for the workers. Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin union-, unio oneness, union, from Latin unus one â more at one Unions also offer a variety of services to their members. A union usually provides legal advice to all its members who have a dispute with their employer. For example, a member may feel that they have been unfairly dismissed from their job. Another person may have been injured on the job and want to claim money from their employer as compensation for lost wages while away from work.

Union funds are used to pay the high legal fees normally required to bring these lawsuits against employers. In order to pay for these services, unions collect dues from their members. We take for granted many workplace standards that are the result of union activities. The eight-hour workday, weekends, child labor laws, workplace safety and workers` compensation are all due to organized work. In particular, introducing your child to the story of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in 1911, including the desire to reform working conditions after this tragedy, can help them understand the influence of unions on modern America. The bargaining process between unions and employers is known as collective bargaining. Representatives of both parties shall meet as necessary to determine the conditions of employment. For example, the union may go to the employer and demand higher wages or a shorter work week. At the same time, the employer may want some employees to learn how to use a new machine.

The two groups then meet to find ways to accommodate their different wishes. For example, workers may agree to operate the new machine if the employer pays them more or allows them to work fewer hours per week. Trade unions have been formed to protect workers` rights. Union members have the right to strike and rebel against their employers for a safer working environment, fair working hours and fair wages. Three of the largest unions in the United States today are the NEA, SEIU and the Teamsters. Unions began in the late 1800s during a period known as the Industrial Revolution. Meanwhile, factory workers, factory workers and miners worked long hours with low wages in often dangerous environments. Would you want to do your household chores every day in conditions like these workers? Subscribe to America`s largest dictionary and get thousands of other definitions and an advanced search – ad-free! The European Union (EU) was founded to bring together the countries of Europe.

The EU supports its Member States on issues such as trade, security and citizens` rights. In 2013, the group had 28 member countries. However, in 2016, one member – the UK – voted to leave the EU. The country officially left the Union on 31 January 2020. Part of my confusion about my father-in-law`s situation stemmed from the fact that I didn`t really understand what a union was. I knew his union representative wasn`t his boss, but I didn`t understand how he could ask my father-in-law to strike at his workplace instead of going to work. If children simply absorb information about unions from the news, they may not understand exactly how unions work. A PBS lesson plan for Labor Day suggests starting with the following definition: “an organized association of workers formed to protect and promote their rights and interests.” Another method used by unions is called work-to-rule.

In this type of protest, workers do the minimum required of them according to the rules of their agreement with the employer. For example, they may refuse to work outside of their normal working hours or to perform tasks that are not specifically specified in their job descriptions. This usually results in reduced productivity, which puts pressure on the employer to respond to workers` demands. Zeal is also known as withdrawal of goodwill. Once your children understand some of the professional benefits that unions bring, ask them to think about how unions could continue to impact the workplace and look at the positive and negative aspects of union power. Ask your children what they think would happen if a union wielded a lot of power but didn`t work well with management. Ask them to consider the consequences of union protection for members, but not necessarily the interests of the company as a whole. This can be a great lesson both about human nature and about problems with unintended consequences, and it can make more sense than simply pointing out certain instances of union excesses or advantages.