Union shop is a type of labor agreement in which employees are required to join a union in order to maintain their employment. It is a form of union security that is allowed in the United States under the National Labor Relations Act. Union shops are beneficial for workers because they protect them from employer discrimination and ensure that their union is strong and effective.
The National Labor Relations Act, passed in 1935, established the right of workers to form unions and bargain collectively. Section 8(a)(3) of the Act allows employers to enter into union shop agreements with their employees. Under these agreements, employers can require their employees to become union members in order to obtain or keep their employment. This type of union security agreement is designed to ensure that employees are represented by a union that is strong and effective.
Union shops have been criticized by opponents who argue that they infringe on the right of employees to decide whether or not they wish to be represented by a union. However, the Supreme Court has ruled that union shops do not violate the National Labor Relations Act, as long as they are entered into voluntarily by the employer and the union.
In addition to providing union security, union shops also reduce the incentive for employers to discriminate against union members. This is because employers know that if they were to terminate or demote a union member, they would be required to replace them with a union member. As a result, employers are less likely to discriminate against union members, which benefits all workers.
Union shops are an important tool for ensuring strong and effective unions. They provide union security and reduce the incentive for employers to discriminate against union members. Although union shops have been criticized as infringing on the right of employees to decide whether or not they wish to become members of a union, the Supreme Court has ruled that they do not violate the National Labor Relations Act.
References
National Labor Relations Board. (n.d.). Union Shop. Retrieved from https://www.nlrb.gov/rights-we-protect/union-shop
National Labor Relations Act of 1935. (n.d.). In LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved from https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/29/chapter-7/subchapter-II
National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. (n.d.). Union Shop. Retrieved from https://www.nrtw.org/union-shop/