Union members engage in collective bargaining with their employees for acceptable wages.
A unionized store is a situation where everyone hired by a unionized company must join that union. This happens when a company enters into a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by a union in a state where unions are legal. While a company may hire non-unionized individuals for work, it is understood that these individuals will join the union as a condition of their employment. In places where union membership is optional, it is called the right to work. In other words, everyone has the right to work there, regardless of their union membership.
The union clause that requires all workers to eventually join the union is also known as the union security clause. Those who work in unions must join the union, whether or not they agree with the principles of that union, within 30 days of being hired. The other option for employees is not to join the union, but still pay the union an amount equal to dues. Although they do not have to participate in union activities, they do have to pay money and abide by labor agreements, as well as participate in any strikes. Many in this situation decide to join, simply because then they at least have the right to vote.
The main objective of a union is to strengthen the collective bargaining position, if not simply by increasing numbers and raising money through dues. It is based on the theory that the more numbers the syndicate has, the more influence it has. This should give the union a greater bargaining advantage during the collective bargaining process.
The union store concept has been in use since the mid-20th century. That’s when the Taft-Hartley Act prohibited the store from closing. Under the closed shop rules, an individual must be a member of a union before being hired for union work. In some cases, this made locating employees difficult, as most union members were already working. When it was banned, the union store concept was formed as a compromise between changing laws and the needs of unions.
By the end of 2009, the divide between unionized states and states operating under right-to-work policy was somewhat even. Union shop policies were in 28 states and 22 states had right to work. The states of the union claim to have better conditions for workers and to be able to offer better benefits. States with right-to-work policies dispute this argument, saying they are better able to attract new jobs and businesses quickly and adapt to changing needs more easily.