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      A new approach to resolving the right-to-work ethical dilemma

      Lam, Helen; Harcourt, Mark
      DOI
       10.1007/s10551-006-9203-5
      Link
       www.springerlink.com
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      Citation
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      Lam, H. & Harcourt, M. (2007). A new approach to resolving the right-to-work ethical dilemma. Journal of Business Ethics, 73(3), 231-243.
      Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/1902
      Abstract
      Union security has long been an industrial relations controversy. While compulsory unionism supporters say it benefits the working class, right-to-work advocates denounce it as an unethical infringement of individual rights and freedom. Unfortunately, neither side has adequately addressed the shortcomings of their viewpoint, nor the broader worker concerns about effective representation beyond just “unionism”. In this paper, we examine the ethical and practical problems of compulsory (union security) and voluntary (right-to-work) unionism and propose a new resolution, compulsory proportional representation, that has the advantages of: (a) ensuring workers’ freedom to associate or not associate, (b) promoting freedom to contract, (c) allowing free competition in representation in line with anti-trust principles, (d) improving industrial peace and efficiency, (e) enhancing fairness and social justice, and (f) addressing the employer–employee power imbalance. It is superior to either voluntary unionism, which often lead to management unilateralism, or compulsory unionism, where workers are compelled to join unions against their will.
      Date
      2007
      Type
      Journal Article
      Publisher
      Springer Netherlands
      Collections
      • Management Papers [1135]
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