• stoy@lemmy.zip
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    1 year ago

    A workers union is an organization made up of workers who have decided to work together to try and force a company/employer to give in to the demands of the workers.

    The reason why it works is that the union have several actions they can take if the demands are not met.

    First of all, all union members pay a membership fee, most of that money goes into a fund to enable the workers to actually take the actions required.

    So what actions can a union take against the employer?

    1. Striking, all workers down tools and stop working, this harms the employer as no money is being made from their workers, the buildings still costs money for upkeep and power, naturally an epmloyer wont pay their employees on strike, this is when the union themselves pay ther members from the fund set up.

    2. Lockout, a union can prevent other workers from entering a place of work when they are striking, this stops the employer from hiring strike breakers.

    3. Legal action can also be taken.

    • Wrench Wizard@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Oh wow, so during a strike the union pays employees? Never realized this happened but it makes so much sense now, so the employees can strike without having to worry about going broke. Would be cool if that funding were extended so that if an employer decides to give strikers the middle finger, those people can ride that funding until another job is found. Reducing the hold companies have on employees.