Gompers’s strategy was simple: use strikes to force concessions from business owners. The AFL sought tangible economic gains, such as higher wages, shorter hours, and better working conditions. They also made sure that they avoided politics.

The tactics available to the union include striking, picketing, and boycotting. When they go on strike, workers walk away from their jobs and refuse to return until the issue at hand has been resolved.

For those in the industrial sector, organized labor unions fought for better wages, reasonable hours and safer working conditions. The labor movement led efforts to stop child labor, give health benefits and provide aid to workers who were injured or retired.

They improve wages, benefits, and working conditions, and helped create the middle class.

1. Unions raise wages for all workers. Unions paved the way to the middle class for millions of workers and pioneered benefits along the way, including paid health care and pensions.
2. Without unions, fewer workers get ahead.

The main purpose of labor unions is to give workers the power to negotiate for more favorable working conditions and other benefits through collective bargaining. Collective bargaining is the heart and soul of the labor union.

Why Managers Often Resist Unionization Efforts Not surprisingly, then, business managers resist unions because they generally add to the cost of doing business. Another reason managers sometimes resist unionization is that unions often attempt to negotiate work rules that are to the benefit of their members.

UNISON

Unison has just forged a fantastic new pension and pay deal with my company and as part of this have also agreed with them to stop further outsourcing of work. They are generally a good employer but I do not want to find out what they would do if they didn’t have the unions to keep them in check and negotiate for us.

Trade union reps are not paid but they do get paid time off to do their work as a rep.