Sunday Reading - Collective Bargaining

 

Collective Bargaining    Although they're best known for bringing us the weekend, labor unions help workers organize their efforts so they can negotiate as a single entity rather than as individuals (see video overview). Workers in a particular industry, trade, or company form labor unions to improve aspects of their working conditions, such as pay or benefits. > Learn about the history of Labor Day in the United States. (More, w/video) > See the US industries with the highest union membership rates. (More, w/visual) The first US union was created in 1794, when cobblers in Philadelphia formed the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers. Anti-union actions from the US government continued for decades until the Great Depression, when the National Labor Relations Act granted workers the right to form unions and strike. > The first recorded worker strike in the United States predates the American Revolution. (More) > With the help of a photographer, child labor in the US was eventually restricted by law in the mid-1900s. (More, w/video) > See where the US ranked in annual working hours per worker among major countries over time. (More, w/chart) Roughly 10% of US wage and salary workers were union members in 2023, down from around 20% in 1983. Critics of labor unions argue that unions not only make it more difficult to discipline low performers but also drive up labor costs. Union advocates, however, believe unions are an important tool for increasing workers' pay and benefits. > In 2024, US union membership by percentage of the workforce was the lowest in nearly 40 years. (More) > Explore the pros and cons of forming a union. (More) Discover more:  > Supervisors are legally prohibited from joining unions. (More) > Explore the most common jobs for Americans, broken down by age and gender. (More) > See the percentage of employed workers who are union members in your state. (More) ===================================================================== Remember, you're not alone with NCOFCU.org Join/Upgrade Check out some of NCOFCU's additional features: Advocacy  Annual Conference First Responder Credit Union Academy Financial Literacy Podcasts YouTube Mini's Retirement Calculator