What Do Unions Do?

by Richard B. Freeman

Argues that unions play a beneficial role in improving the workplace, increasing productivity, reducing economic inequality, and stabilizing the work force

Genres: Economics, Nonfiction

239 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[RJTK · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book about the empirical research on unions. Though it is somewhat dated. One of the key things to understand from this book is that unions, aside from benefiting workers with higher safety standards, more time off, and higher wages, they also give workers a *voice*. To have a voice means to have a say in how a workplace operates, to have your concerns heard, etc.

One of the main conclusions I drew from this book is that, in broad strokes, unions are an overall force for good in society from nearly every angle. Their only problem is that they reduce a businesses profitability (but not its productivity!) and are thusly demonized by corporate press and in the popular imagination.

A good paper to read along with this book is: Brimeyer, Ted, Eric O. Silva, and R. Jolene Byrne. "What do unions do? Media framing of the two-faces of labor." WorkingUSA 19.4 (2016): 517-532.

[MARC L'ESPERANCE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a new book, but I believe it is so relevant. Unions were important part in providing a countervailing power against capital during the 20th century. But with the onset of neoliberalism beginning in the 1970s, the labor movement has seen significant diminishment of their power. This is a significant factor to explain the grossly deepening inequality that we have been witnessing in the world during this same time period. Union power need to re-emerge, which will be very difficult with political obstacles confronting them, without their reemergence I find it very difficult to understand how we will be able to stop this increasingly unequal unhealthy society.

[JP · Rating 3 out of 5]

What Do Unions Do? Is a great book for anyone who is actually interested in finding an answer to that question. Freeman is not a left-wing nut job, and in his conclusion states that he doesn't think the entire economy should be unionized (though he actually gives no reason for this, and after looking at the costs/benefits outlined in the body of his book that conclusion doesn't seem to make any sense).

The book shows how unions are the backbone of the middle class. It talks about how unions push up wages, how they reduce wage inequality and bring laborers closer to management, how unionization also benefits non-union workers, how unionization makes workers happier, more productive, and increases their stake in their professions. The question of unions' political power is addressed, and the myth that they have enough political sway to distort economic decisions is dispelled with bold facts and empirical evidence.

Basically the only vaguely negative aspect of unions is that they have a marginally negative effect on employment.

There is no rhetoric or vitriol here: Freeman and Medoff conclusively and empirically show that unions are beneficial for the economy and we should all support them. Writing in the 1980s, he worries about the trend of killing unions in the US, and cautions that while he doesn't think 100% of the workforce should be unionized, we should have far higher unionization rates than we presently do.

I'll have to reread this sucker. I'm not sure why I had given it 3 stars... I think because it was so empirically focused and dense. But that's really what critics of unions need to see!

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tough read, but great information. Some things that surprised me are: union members like their unions, but not necessarily their work, If two unions fight to unionize a workplace the chances of success are greatly enhanced, and corruption of corporations compared to unions.

[LOL_BOOKS]

NOTHING GOOD - A SCOTT WALKER'S OPINION