Non-Economic Bargaining Issue – Restrictive Work Practices

Non-Economic Bargaining Issue – Restrictive Work Practices

Why would a union promote inefficient work practices?

Over the past decade, employees have been embracing trade unions, and most organizations are allowing their employees to join trade unions to better manage the collective bargaining process. However, some employers against trade unions mainly oppose it due to some trade union practices such as promoting inefficient or practices aimed at only benefitting the employee and the trade union while placing the organization or employer in a disadvantaged position. According to Griffith & Leiter (1965), featherbedding, which includes promoting inefficient work practices, is necessary for the profitable running of an organization and job security desired by every employee, and the hope of any trade union with an interest in maintaining the role of its members.

One of the main reasons a union would promote inefficient work practices is to receive a larger share of the profits redistributed by an organization through the membership contributions made by the employees (Kotowitz & Mathewson, 1975). Another reason is to gain access to various rights influenced by membership strength, such as the right to access an organization’s information. This is mainly because access to an organization’s internal information is only granted to unions with majority representation. Trade unions with reasonable representation based on section 21(2) C of the Labor Relations Act, access to the organization’s premises is also given to trade unions. A union may also promote inefficient work practices to push organizations to pay their employees more so that, in turn, the employees are able to pay the required union fees (Backman, 1959). An increase in an employee’s pay creates more funds for the unions because the employees can meet their membership payments. Unions may also promote inefficient work practices to push for timely wage and salary payments for the employees so that they can make their membership payments on time.

 References

Backman, J. (1959). Featherbedding–the economics of waste. Challenge, 8(2), 71-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/05775132.1959.11468997

Griffith, E. C., & Leiter, R. D. (1965). Featherbedding and job security. Southern Economic Journal, 32(1), 91. https://doi.org/10.2307/1054993

Kotowitz, Y., & Mathewson, G. F. (1975). An economic analysis of featherbedding. Institute for the Quantitative Analysis of Social and Economic Policy.

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Non-Economic Bargaining Issue – Restrictive Work Practices

Often called “featherbedding,” unions traditionally insist on inefficient work practices that require the employment of more workers than necessary. They encourage their members to not work too hard nor too fast, to perform only within their strict craft jurisdiction, to keep their improvement ideas to themselves, and otherwise resist labor-saving or productivity improvements.
Why would a union promote inefficient work practices? Support your position.
In your peer response, candidly share your personal or professional opinions of union-supported restrictive work practices.