Question

Why are first-line managers considered the initial line of defense in efforts to keep an organization union-free?

Why might some first-line managers be of the opinion that working under a union contract is easier than working without a union’s presence?

Answer 1

First-line managers are considered as the initial lines of defense in efforts to keep an organization union-free to protect their employees from the negative aspects of Union. They try to convince their employees that union leaders are violent, and self-serving. They only want their access to union dues. The first line managers perform the role of promoting the benefits of working with the organizations. All of these are done so that employees cannot ask for their rights of hiking salaries and appropriate vacancies. They try to avoid Union as handling Union, and their claims indicate several legal procedures. Also, first-line managers want to distract the employees from getting their legal benefits like working hours, job security, grievance policies, participation in decision making, etc.

However, some first-line managers want the involvement of the Union in the decision making procedures as they have a better knowledge of legal procedures regarding any process implementation. Nonetheless, union involvement also reduces the conflicts between managers and union leaders and unity can be established within the office culture. Supporting Union by the managers indicates that managers do not want to pay efforts to find problems for each of their employees. Union can make this task easier for them. The Union always fights for equal opportunities. Hence, irrelevant demands from the employees can be resolved by engaging the Union in this regard.