Summary Of Union Myths By Thomas Sowell
Cody Ziebko
Professor Lenz
English Composition 1
November 11, 2014 Speaking out mostly against unions Thomas Sowell’s article “Union Myths” attempts to give many reasons to dislike unions and claims in the end machinery will take our jobs. Begging the question he asks, “Why do we have secret ballots in the first place, whether in elections for unions or elections for government officials? To prevent intimidation and allow people to vote the way they want to — without fear of retaliation.” Giving his thoughts on what he believes to be the answer, this shows just one example in which the author uses fallacies to strengthen the article and throughout the entirety of the writing there is numerous accounts of misconceptions and fallacies.
In the
…show more content…
This seems to be an unjustified conclusion as the Employee Free Choice Act would cause three pro-labor changes to the National Labor Relations Act (White). Workers previously had free choice in the secret-ballot elections to decide whether a company would become unionized. The more recent Employee Free Choice Act took the power away from the employer and gave full control to the majority rule of the workers (White). Taking away the secret ballot is not taking away the worker’s right to free choice, it is giving the unions and their members more power over the employer’s executive decision to hold a secret-ballot election. In the article the author states “union representatives could simply collect signatures from the workers until they had a majority” (Sowell). This is untrue because in order for a representative to collect enough of a majority there would have to be a majority inside the company and therefore a unionized outcome would still arise as the outcome. Sowell in his writing said, “Workers in the private sector have voted to reject having a union represent them, the unions’ answer has been to take away secret-ballot elections.” From the evidence provided above it can be concluded that this statement is opinionated and
How Did The Homestead Act In The Late 1800s
874 Words | 4 PagesThe Homestead Strike During the late 1800’s, the United States went through an immense amount of growth that marked a waypoint in the country’s history, named The Industrial Revolution. This period marked a milestone in development and industry U.S., causing the nation to become the leading country in industrial production. In many ways the United States created its own “American dream”, with more individuals becoming wealthier because of this economic explosion; however, not everyone received the long end of things. Life for factory workers deemed particularly difficult, with workdays lasting up to 16 hours for 6 days a week.
Voter Takeover Case Study
702 Words | 3 PagesPolitical endorsements and get-out-the-vote campaigns are valuable to candidates. Union members vote more often in general elections than do nonmembers (or their own family members), and they vote for endorsed candidates about 15 to 20 percent more often than nonmembers do. But union members do not vote
Labour Goes To War Summary
1334 Words | 6 PagesLabour and war dominated 1940s Canada as the national conversation and is explored in Wendy Cuthbertson’s book Labour Goes to War: The CIO and the Construction of a New Social Order 1939-45. As North American society entered into a second World War, less than thirty years after the end of the first; and a decade of depression caused by a fluctuating economy Canada was now ready to explore the evolving relationship between labour and politics. Cuthbertsons work captures the growth of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) from 1939-45 by exploring the social, political and economic aspects of labour. Labour Goes to War presents readers with a comprehensive look at the interwar years, touching upon aspects of gender, ethnicity, and equality.
Summary Of Quote 2 By Morton Bahr
947 Words | 4 PagesIn Quote 2, Morton Bahr speaks of the role that unions have played in shaping the America that we know today. He references government programs and regulations that have helped America’s entire working class. I believe that the benefit that the labor movement has provided for workers is that it has brought us closer to being able to realize our potential as full human beings, rather than solely suppliers of labor for capitalists. I agree with Bahr that union members need to return in our thinking to that of previous eras when many of the gains now taken for granted were made. I would go further to say that specifically we need to fight with the goal of ensuring that all workers can fully experience our humanity.
Gilded Age DBQ
615 Words | 3 Pages(Document A) These rich businessmen also hated the idea of unions, and even insulted them because they wanted to extend hours with less pay, the opposite of what the unions wanted. An example of one of these businessmen insulting the unions was Henry Clay Frick, president of Carnegie Steel in 1892 who said “...I will never recognize the union, never, never” (Document D) These problems still aren’t fully solved today, there are still wealthy business owners that blame the poor for being poor, and dislike labor
Pullman Strike Research Paper
1399 Words | 6 Pages*Pullman Strike * The Pullman Strike was widespread by the United States railroad workers, approximately a quarter-million worker were on strike at the peak and it impacted the expedition the railroad system across the states. The strike between the American Railway Union and George Pullman changed the course of future strikes when President Grover Cleveland ordered federal troops to break up the strikers; its influenced how the federal government and the court system would handle labor issues. The labor issues during the Pullman Strike were not limited that of rights of the workers, the role of management in the workers private life, and the roles of government resolving labor conflicts. Pullman planned communities for his workers how he determined
Labor Movement Dbq
1784 Words | 8 PagesAn in depth analysis of the factors that led to the rise of labor unions in the United States only reveals that the basic need and the primary objective of the workering people was to secure economic and legal protection from their exploiting employers. The origins of the
Organized Labor Dbq
408 Words | 2 PagesThe feeling, shown in Nast's illustration after the railroad strike of 1877, that amalgamations simply lead to more " communistic values" and general uniformity made it very arduous to genuinely get anything done. Samuel Gompers, progenitor of the American Federation of Labor, argued that the right to strike was absolutely obligatory if any reforms were going to be made and not even this right had been officially granted to the people by regime (Document I). Gompers made it very pellucid that not even the very substratum of organized labor had been established and so up until this point the advances that had been made, were virtually frivolous. In conclusion, from 1875-1900 very few advances were made through organized labor in achieving better working conditions for workers.
Knights Of Labor: The Knights Of Labor Union
351 Words | 2 PagesThe Knight of Labor came into existence around the 1880s and consisted of numerous local assemblies. Membership was opened to any and everyone, including employers, African Americans and women. To achieve efficiency, its goal was to replace capitalism by offering the employees, also known as producers, the opportunity to control and own businesses. The system was known as producer cooperative. Producer cooperative incorporates capital and workers to work as one and cut down on conflict, which made for a harmonious environment.
Labor Unions Essay
1464 Words | 6 PagesOne of the main reasons people do not agree with the usage of labor unions are because they view it as a system of abuse. When they were first established in the eighteenth century they served a very valuable purpose on fixing the horrible working conditions and extremely low pay. Since this time nonunion members think that people abuse the power the union offers such as members knowing what the company can and cannot fire them for and that all the “loop holes” have been exposed to the union members. Not only do people think that the system is abused but they also believe that unions devaluate hard workers. When a contract states that there will be fair wages that means that everyone will receive the same amount of pay which means that there is no strive to do better and those who are dedicated workers lose the lack of value and motivation that they put into their work.
The National Labor Relations Act: Pros And Cons
282 Words | 2 PagesThe National Labor Relations Act allows employees to form a union or join a preexisting union. The same act prevents employers from standing in the way of workers attempting to unionize. Many organizations frown on unionization, but regardless of their opinion, they cannot interfere with employment rights. Employers are violating the law if they threaten employee 's jobs, question union activities, or eliminate benefits for employees by unionization. They also cannot offer benefits or perks to employees for refusing to unionize, as this could be seen as illegal persuasion (Employer/Union Rights, n.d.).
Summary Of There Is Power In A Union By Philip Dray
508 Words | 3 PagesPhilip Dray and his book “ There Is Power in a Union: The Epic Story of Labor in America” provide many information about the vital accomplishments of organized labor evangelists to draw upon. He show us the illuminate its central role in social, economic and political. Throughout his book, the security and dignity locate this struggle in all its various setting from union halls to the halls of Congress and the White House. He demonstrates the urgency of the contest between labor and capital still remains and influences today. Philip Dray offers us with an historic account of the labor-management relations in the United State.
Progressives During The Early 1900's
683 Words | 3 Pages“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.” This is a quote from the famous J.P Morgan who dominated corporate finance and industrial consolidation during his the industrial revolution. During the 1800 's through early 1900’s there were many people like JP Morgan out there trying help better United Stated, and they we’re called Progressives!
Card Checking Vs Card Checking Case Study
123 Words | 1 PagesCompany managers would prefer a secret ballot to card checking, card checking limits employers freedom of speech. During the collective bargaining process employers are at a disadvantage to inform their employees of the positive or negative impact the company may face by signing their authorization card. Secret ballots limits pressure to make certain choices. From a union perspective, card checking is preferred over secret ballot elections. Card checking eliminated the election making the collective bargaining a faster process and allows unions to speck individually with each member to persuade them to sign; it is easier to persuade someone when they are only informed of one side of the story.
More about Summary Of Union Myths By Thomas Sowell
Rhetorical Analysis Of Road Warrior By Dave Barry
669 Words | 3 PagesHow Did The Homestead Act In The Late 1800s
874 Words | 4 PagesVoter Takeover Case Study
702 Words | 3 PagesLabour Goes To War Summary
1334 Words | 6 PagesSummary Of Quote 2 By Morton Bahr
947 Words | 4 PagesGilded Age DBQ
615 Words | 3 PagesPullman Strike Research Paper
1399 Words | 6 PagesLabor Movement Dbq
1784 Words | 8 PagesOrganized Labor Dbq
408 Words | 2 PagesKnights Of Labor: The Knights Of Labor Union
351 Words | 2 PagesLabor Unions Essay
1464 Words | 6 PagesThe National Labor Relations Act: Pros And Cons
282 Words | 2 PagesSummary Of There Is Power In A Union By Philip Dray
508 Words | 3 PagesProgressives During The Early 1900's
683 Words | 3 PagesCard Checking Vs Card Checking Case Study
123 Words | 1 Pages