Natalie Clyne
03-30-15
Eng 1101-D362
Essay 2-Revised
Workers Rights
Workers rights has been an ongoing issue for many years. Workers should
take into consideration that jobs need to improve more than they have been. It
is important that workers should know their rights and responsibilities
when applying for a job. There are many workers issues that are crucial such as
unionizing, minimum wage, and health insurance.
One struggle workers face is not having been unionized. Some jobs do not have
a union, which is unfair for the workers. Non-union workers are typically hired
“at will,” meaning they can be fired for no reason. There are exceptions.
Employers can terminate a worker for discriminatory reasons such as race,
religion and, age, or false allegations, but workers with union jobs can only be
terminated for “just cause,” and the misconduct must be serious enough
to merit such action. Before an employee can actually be fired, he or
she must go through a grievance procedure and, if necessary, arbitration. Unionized
workers have more power. By being in a unionized job, you have more access
to benefits, job security, and better wages. A worker should not, have to
wonder if he or she will get fired if he or she stand up for his or her
rights or voices his or her opinions. No one should have to lived in
fear.
Another struggle some workers face is minimum wage. Everyday for a low wage
workers are filled with struggle and anxiety. Some people have to work two jobs
just to pay bills and put food on the table, and sometimes that’s just not enough.
In the last five years minimum wage has not increased, which is unfair because
everything else is increasing like rent, transportation, food, and utilities and yet
low-wage workers must rely on public assistance just to keep their heads above
water. Raising the minimum wage would allow people to come off of food
stamps, and have the dignity and satisfaction of buying food with their own
paychecks. The good news about it is that many states and local leaders are
taking matters into their own hands, even though there are some against it who say
that it will mean less hiring and more layoffs, but I believe there will be a change.
Another workers, right is health insurance. I believe all jobs should offer their
employees health insurance. Some are against it because they say providing health
insurance for small companies more expensive than for large ones in terms of
higher prices because of lesser buying power and relatively high costs of
administration, which I strongly disagree with because it should not matter if the
company is too small or big. A worker should not have to still work if he or she
is sick. He or She should be able to take the day off and make a doctors,
appointment. He or She should not have to be afraid because of bill that he or
she will receive in their mail. Offering health insurance to employees can be
advantageous to a business owner who may be able to get personal benefits for
less money than if he or she purchased insurance privately. No his and her should
have to pay for is or her health. It should be given for free because we can not
control our health.
In conclusion, workers should have rights have which include union,
minimum wage, and health insurance. I believe that workers, rights should be
implemented, and workers should stand up for their rights regardless of the
situation. Every worker should come together and voice his or her opinions and all
should have each others, backs to fight for their rights.
