percent, its lowest point in 98 years. So, what are labor unions? And are they still

來到這98年以來的最低點，所以，究竟工會是什麼呢？

useful?

還有，工會仍有存在之必要嗎？

Well, American labor unions took off during the Industrial Revolution. The Civil War decimated

美國工會於工業革命開始起飛，當時的內戰使得南部農村經濟大幅下降

rural Southern economy, driving many young people to urban industrial jobs. Labor Unions

讓許多年輕人不得不到城市中尋找工業工作

formed to unite workers, so that they had some bargaining power about wages and work

也因此，幾位勞工們集結後，便成立了工會，也賦予了他們對於薪資及工作的議價能力

conditions. Historically, manual laborers were paid low wages, and then cast aside when

在過去，體力勞動的薪水極低，一旦勞工無力再繼續工作

they could no longer do the work. However, when union membership exploded in the late 1930s, laborers

公司就會將他們開除，然而，工會於1930年成立之後

were able to demand better treatment. Since then, many companies have been forced to strike

勞工便有了權力向公司要求更好的工作待遇，從那時候開始，許多的公司

a delicate balance between their relentless pursuit of profits and appeasing the unions.

開始逼迫於在對於收益不懈地追求中與平息工會怒氣之間取得微妙的平衡點

Today, with so few American workers belonging to a union, many argue that they should be

現今，僅有少數的美國人都加入了工會，也開始有了許多

done away with altogether. A 2008 report by the Heritage Foundation think tank argues

廢除工會的聲浪出現，2008年一份出自美國傳統基金會的報導指出

that unions are obsessed with equal treatment of workers - to a point where individual merit

工會常倡導勞工平等待遇，並指出

is nullified, and promotions are only based on seniority. The report also points out that

個人績效毫無效益、升遷需靠資歷順序，該報告也指出

many of the repetitive manufacturing jobs of yesteryear are now performed by machines.

在不久之前許多重複性較高的製造業，現在都已靠機器進行生產

Modern jobs aren’t as suitable for unions.

現代的工作已不適合組成工會

On the other hand, the Economic Policy Institute reports in 2012, that the decline of union

另一方面，經濟政策協會於2012年一份報導中指出，工會數量的下降

membership is allowing employers to undercut low- and middle-wage workers. Their increasingly

使得讓雇主裁去中低收入的工人，如此一來

limited access to good jobs and economic security contributes to the growing gap between the

這將會限制得到好工作的機會，同時也會使得

rich and poor in America.

美國貧富差距增大

So how much power do existing labor unions have? Well, corporations have all but eliminated

目前存在的工會究竟還擁有多少權利？許多公司

private sector unions (6.6% rate). However, public sector jobs still have a 35% membership

都已將私部門工會費廢除（比率：6.6%） 無論如何，公部門工會平均會員仍有35%

on average - especially workers in education, training and library services. A 2013 Bureau

特別是教育界、培訓機構以及圖書館服務等工作，2013年一份美國勞工統計局的報告指出

of Labor Statistics report identifies a pay-gap of nearly 4 dollars per hour between union

在屬工會及不屬工會的工人之間，薪資每個小時收入差距為4美元

and nonunion workers - which is over 7,000 dollars more per year. Unions also have more

也就是一年將近有7000美元之差距，工會能為會員帶來

access to employer healthcare and insurance benefits.

健保及保險的福利

For the workplaces that do have unions, members continue to benefit from higher wages and

對於加入工會的工人來說，與沒有參加工會的人相比

job security than their nonunion counterparts - so they are still very useful in America.

他們能持續獲得較高的薪水及工作安全保障，也因此，工會在美國來說還是非常具效益的

However, Labor Unions’ constant decline in popularity calls into question the future

然而，勞工工會組成率的下降

of organized labor. The debate on the ultimate merits and necessity of American labor unions

已為未來工會組成畫上一個問號，也為工會最終價值與美國勞工工會的存在與否

rages on.

展開爭論

Learn more about American economy by checking out this video here!

想要暸解更多關於美國的經濟狀況請觀閱以下影片

This graph shows that the number of jobs added year over year.

這個圖表顯示出了每年的工作數量

The deep in jobs added from 2008 to 2010 represents the busting of housing bubble,

2008年至2010年的工作數量顯現出了房地產的泡沫化

the subprime mortgage disaster, and the great recession.

次級房貸災難以及經濟大蕭條等問題

And click to subscribe to TestTube Daily!

請訂閱TestTube Daily!