Response to Celita:
My name is Celita Richardson. I am currently a senior at CSU and Collective Bargaining is my last class! I’m excited to graduate and plan to walk in October at the Fall Commencement ceremony. I am an HR Business Partner at the Starbucks plant in Augusta, GA. I live in Aiken, SC with my husband and youngest two children, Samaya (17) and Kaidyn (15). Getting my degree has been a goal of mine for years. I’m excited to end this journey and I’m looking forward to whatever comes next!
Part II
Labor unions have played a major role in shaping our current workforce by advocating for workers’ rights, better pay, and safer working conditions. Even with their contributions over many years, unions remain a controversial topic. Some workers are supportive of unions because they believe they are necessary to protect employee’s interests. Others argue that unions hinder productivity and flexibility.
Pros
One advantage of unions is their ability to negotiate better wages and benefits for their members. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023) reported that union workers earned around 17% more than their non-union counterparts. Unions provide job security by enforcing collective bargaining agreements that protect employees from arbitrary dismissal and unfair treatment. Unions also contribute to workplace safety. Many OSHA standards that we have today were created because of union advocacy. Having a strong union presence has been directly linked to reduced workplace injuries because they push for stricter safety regulations and worker training (Mishel et al., 2021). Another pro is that a union can provide workers with a collective voice, allowing them to speak out against discrimination, harassment, and unfair labor practices without fear of retaliation.
Cons
One of the cons of having a union are the expensive union dues. Not all employees believe the benefits outweigh the costs. Union rules can also make it difficult for employers to reward high-performing workers or adapt to changes in the needs of the business. This could potentially stifle innovation and flexibility. Another con is that during union negotiations, strikes can occur which disrupt the operations of the business. This affects customers and employers. Nearly 350 strikes occurred in 2023 which was the most in two decades (Klawans, 2025).
My Perspective
I believe that unions serve a purpose in certain workforces where workers are treated unfairly, work in unsafe environments, or paid unfair wages. I currently work for one of the Starbucks manufacturing plants where we offer competitive salaries and great benefits to include stock in the company at no cost to the employee. Our facility is very clean and climate controlled. In our case, I don’t believe a union would be beneficial. Our employees are happy overall, and we empower them to have a voice any time they have concerns.
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