District 1199NM
District 1199NM
National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees
 

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About Unions
Sep 20, 2023

Unions: The folks that brought you the weekend

Since the rise of industrial society, labor unions have been at the forefront of the fight for better wages and working conditions in the workplace.  As more workers moved from agricultural work into factories and mines, many faced horrible working conditions including long hours, low pay, child labor, and serious health risks. Many children and women worked in factories, earning lower pay than men. The government was not helpful - actually doing little to protect workers and limit these injustices.
Labor unions fought and won battles against child labor, long hours of work, unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, fighting for overtime pay, and the lack of breaks and lunchtimes. The labor movement has led to reforms in the minimum wage, paid holidays, equity with regard to wages, the right to Union representation, and the achievement of the eight-hour workday and the two-day weekend. Labor Unions in the United States represent solidarity among the working class, bringing people together to fight for better rights, wages, and benefits. Unions are a powerful influence in the United States. Unions not only continue to ensure that workers continually receive the respect and treatment they deserve; they also work to achieve goals that benefit the broader society.
Collective Bargaining Agreement: One United Voice
The largest difference between Union and non-union workplaces is the collective agreement, which is your contract. Non-union workplaces usually operate under the At-Will doctrine. This means that an employer can manage any way that they want, including firing employees without just cause and giving employees no rights, benefits, privileges, considerations, and much more. Without a collective bargaining agreement, employees have little to no employee input in regard to their working conditions. The employees serve at the mercy of managers who may play favorites, treat people unfairly, and change the terms and conditions of your employment at a whim.
A Union environment provides workers with a written and legally binding contract that has been collectively written and agreed upon by the workers themselves! Collective agreements cover areas such as wages, benefits, and the conditions that govern their workplace. When a contract is negotiated, member vote to approve the contract; there are enforcement procedures that allow employees to assure that the agreement is honored. Collective agreements give Union workers rights and protections that are not available to at-will workers.

New Mexico Hospital Workers Union
6201 Uptown Blvd. NE, Suite 201
Albuquerque, NM 87110
  505.884.7713

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