How Unions Can Be Beneficial for NC Economy
Throughout the state’s history, North Carolina has shown itself to be a state that does not invest in its workers. North Carolina does not mandate equal gender pay and worker compensation for agricultural workers. North Carolina passed its right-to-work laws on March 18, 1947, which greatly limits the powers of labor unions. The law makes it illegal for the closed shop, by which union membership is a condition of being hired as well as continued employment. The union shop, whereby union membership is made a condition of employment but in which the employer may hire nonunion workers provided they become members within a stated period, is also illegal. Finally, the law prohibits the mandatory collection of union dues by employers through deduction from workers' wages. All of this can be changed with the continued progress of the labor movement.
Since 1979, only 11 percent of U.S workers belong to Unions, which is way down from 35 percent in time before the era. But in recent years we have seen a swing in favor of unions, as 71 percent of young people approve in being members and active participants in Unions. 75 percent of new Union membership belongs to members who are under the age of 35. By continuing to spread the truth and how beneficial Unions have been to Unions, we have a moment where we can inspire widespread change for the betterment of the people.
Unions are democratic bodies, and an inclusive economy is a genuine democratic one where the market is neither free nor controlled by the state, but by the people it actively affects, organized democratically by those people. Structural Characteristics of contemporary political and economic system can be blamed for hindering inclusiveness in the global economy. Economic logic assumes growth and the accumulation of profit key aspects to global prosperity and the wellbeing of all, especially for those who can produce resources. Manipulating this logic of capital continuously recreates barriers preventing inclusion to promote steeper growth curves.
Union membership in North Carolina is at 3.9 percent, which is still lower than the national average which is 10.8 percent. Union members make an average of 1095.00 compared to 892.00 for nonunion members. Unions help provide workers with Better Benefits, being able to provide workers with employer-provided pensions, and Health insurance. Unions have historically been able to help provide workers with Safer working conditions, which help prevent death, illness, and injury. Unions have also been a Voice for workers on the job and use the power of collective bargaining and negotiate to provide these better conditions for Workers. Unions do not protect workers who are low-performers, harm employers, nor work without you.
Millennials and Generation Z have shown itself to be more civic minded and a lot of the issues we face with Labor have shown to be age specific. Unions can help advocate for student loan repayments, which will help cut the growing debt in this country. Unions, through the acquiring of healthcare for its workers, can also help fight the opioid crisis in this country. No longer will young people have to self-diagnosis out of fear of not being able afford a trip to doctors. Unions can also help stop the growing level of homelessness in this State and in this Country. Affordable housing can once again become a possibility when the Ultra-Rich are not exploiting the lower class, preventing them from taking meaningful action for themselves.
All in all, this isn’t about the Unions taking power in North Carolina. This is about each and every worker being allowed and able to stand up for themselves. This is about Every Worker being able to Use their Voice for what is right without being persecuted by those who we give power too. Liz Shuler stated “that a generation of corporate-driven policy choices have decimated the rights and economic security of working people.”
North Carolina remains one of the least Unionized States in the Nation. Unions are not the only factor, probably not the most effective factor in bringing and maintaining inclusive economic transformation in this state, but they are very crucial to the process of achieving this. The discourse on Economic transformation needs to incorporate this. Unions are a great example of grassroot democratic organizing that can help transform workplaces and communities for the better.