What Do Unions Do?
Author : Richard B. Freeman
Publisher : Basic Books
Release : 1985-10-01
ISBN-13 : 9780465091324
Page : 304 pages
Rating : 4.5/5 from 324 voters
This comprehensive economic assessment of unions by two Harvard economists challenges the prevailing view of trade unions as monopolies whose main function is to raise their members' wages at the expense of the general public. Using data from individuals and business establishments, they demonstrate that in addition to raising wages, unions have significant non-wage effects on industrial life. Unionization, they argue, often leads to higher productivity, more stable work force and provides protection for vulnerable employees. They describe the role of unions as the collective voice of workers, which creates a vehicle of direct communication between workers and management.