Norma rae
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The idea of a labor union was first about power in America, and the idea of a union showed others that when working people get together and stick together there is little they can not do. Another factor of the idea of a labor union was how people treat each other: it was about human dignity. The labor union gave employees opportunities to protest their pay and strike when employers did not comply with what they wanted. In our present United States though the labor union still benefits some people who are in need of jobs and would like to take advantage of the benefits in being in the union. Although labor unions do benefit some people there can be downsides for instance when unions have a demand for higher wages, shorter hours, or more valuable fringe benefits this typically raises the firm's costs of production. These higher costs could persuade the firm to cut back on its employment, maybe by laying off some workers or by contracting out with cheaper labor markets in other countries or states.
When considering whether to join a union, one must consider the tradeoff between better employment conditions and a higher likelihood of layoffs. From this perspective, a union has the greatest likelihood of success in an economic environment where the firm is least likely to respond to increases in labor costs. Companies that sell goods and services, for which there are few replacements, can typically pass on cost increases to consumers and earn higher earnings. These firms, which have some degree of monopoly power, usually can best afford to pay the increased costs of the union demands...