Question

Identify any union(s) for medical assistants . Discuss the pros and cons of unions. Are unions a good thing for workers? Why or why not? Is it ethical to require someone to be part of a union? Why or why not?

Answer 1

1) A union is joining together with co-workers so as to build a employee organization, that gives a real say over your job,puts the workers on equal footing with employers and ensures a better economic future for you and your co-workers.Office and Professional Employees International Union(OPEIU) is one of the union which enrolls medical assistants.

2) Pros of unoin:

• Union provides the employees the legal right to have a say on their jobs.
• The wages can be easily negotiated, so fair pay is received by each employees.
• Based on their contract, they can have certain benefits.
• The promotions and hiring practices depends on what is agreed in the contract by the union.
• Employees get support and guidance to protest or question any illegal or unfair acts of the employers.
• All the matters related to work like incentives, vacations,work standards, workload, layoff procedures, hours of work are agreed between the workers and employers and is protected by the contract.
• Only the employees who is member of a union has a legal written agreement for protection and guarantee for the all terms of employment.
• It provides a safe working emvironment for the employees.

Cons of Union:

• Do not follow the line of hierarchy while speaking or contacting the seniors or superiors.
• Work gets effected when the go for strike to claim their issues.
• Often meetings do not have peaceful endings.
• A union can be directed towards destructive purposes also which may result in riot.
• Some employees show disrespect towards their sub ordinate and also towards superiors.
• The union is often non flexible and do not compromise or cooperate easily with the management.

3)Unions are good things for the workers as they have power and safe working environment which will promote the productivity of the organization. Like before, the employees will not be ill treated by the employers and they will also have their rights and a voice to present their concerns. Adequate support and guidance is provided by the tea,m of union members which will help employees to take appropriate decision in appropriate time.

4) It is not ethical to require someone to be a part of the union because every individual have their rights to join any group according to their own interest. If the individual employees feels that he does not want to join union, he should be free to do so but rather if he wishes to join the union then he should be permitted to do so. Joing a union should be self consented, should not be forced effort.