Labor unions. Workers, Industrialization and Happiness - Essay Example

I. Labor unions The American labor sector of today contrasts greatly with the labor sector of the early industrial days. The labor unions and movements are one such area that has changed greatly. These movements of today portray the views that they have garnered a lot of wealth from the benefits they fought for, which has made them neglect the impoverished laborers (Canby). The movements have also developed into large and complex organizations with interests that have great affinity to those of the “enemy” that is the industries. In the early industrial development days, the movements that founded and strengthened the labor unions we see today, adopted different methods that resulted in their structures and execution being quite different. The movements drew clear lines between the management of the industries and the labor aspects that based on the issues between the two. This was aimed to advocate for the improvement of their working conditions. It is sentiments like these that the screenwriters and the director of the movie “Norma Rae” shared and sought to evoke among the audience. The movie highlights the processes and trials experienced in the starting of a workers union (Canby). It shows that although the start of worker unions is marred by challenges, their successful formations eventually result in improved labor conditions. Challenges to labor union formations Victimization The employers victimize the founding figures of trade unions when they start advocating for the rights of the workers. The movie gives a clear illustration of this aspect that is replicated in nearly all scenarios involving the establishment of labor unions. After hearing a speech from Rueben Warshowsky, Norma decides to unionize her workmates. This does not augur well with the managers of the cotton mill, who confront her (Canby). She in turn writes “UNION” on a piece of cardboard and stands on a table to display it to her workmates. This makes them shut down their machines. The management views this as a threat to their authority and responds by sacking her and sending her to jail (Canby). Although Reuben eventually frees her, the acts bring out the factor of victimization against unionists advocating for workers' rights. Reaction from family The movie brings out the aspect of the different family members' reaction to one’s involvement in union activities. After hearing Reuben’s speech Norma starts participating in union formation activities. This invokes negative reactions in her husband who feels Norma is not spending enough time with her family (Canby). In a way, this shows that he has some resistance to the idea of her involvement in the movement. However, his opinion changes with time with Sonny, Norma’s husband, telling her that he loves her and supports all decisions. Her father is also opposed to the idea of the movement seeking to form a union among the workers of the mill. This is because of he is a stockholder which makes him wary of the union. Her mother who works in the mill is also apathetic which is not expected of her (Canby). This shows the lack of support from family members and relatives when advocating for the formation of unions and improvement of working conditions, which discourages the formation of the movements. Winning the battle The aspect of finally winning the struggle in the form of union formation and better working conditions is also brought out. The struggle for labor rights is usually an uphill task that is not for the faint hearted (Canby). A large number of challenges pose the threat of derailing the process. However, with deep emotional strengths that inspire courage and a complex network of feelings for the workers being ill-treated the activists almost always succeed in their endeavors to see improved rights in the labor sector of industries maintained by unions. This is the case in the movie where Norma ends up with a post in the cotton mill union. II. Workers, Industrialization and Happiness Researchers have made a distinction on the definition of happiness as a short-term state of lighting up of the mind depending on the temperament of a person and the external factors associated with the person (Bernanke 2). The prolonged maintenance of this state results in the life satisfaction of the person. Among the external factors, affecting the state of the mind of the person is the working condition of the person. A good working environment creates feelings of happiness among the employees that has been shown to improve their productivity. In the industrialization boom of the united states, some companies located their industries in the south where the organization of labors into unions was not heard of, meaning they had the upper hand in dictating the conditions of working. This resulted in the infringement of their rights that developed states of the mind negating from happiness. This is what resulted in the revolts against the management authority of the industries as the laborers sought happiness. Theories on the causes of happiness argue that we are social beings who need the company of family to stay happy. As such, the long working hours associated with the policies of the industries limited family interactions, which hindered the happiness of the workers. This resulted in their demand for less working hours as it would improve their happiness and generally the feeling of satisfaction in life (Bernanke 8). The feeling of being in control of one’s life also contributes to the feeling of happiness (Bernanke 9). The controlling of every aspect of the lives of the laborers negated from developing feelings of happiness as they felt they lacked control in their lives. This sparked them to take back control of their lives, which would be possible through the formation of a body to advocate for their rights, which is in the form of a workers union. This shows the formation of labor unions is in the pursuit of happiness of the workers. According to Bernanke (Bernanke 9), the feeling of happiness is also associated with other tendencies that have been found to characterize it. One of these tendencies is the development of resistance towards the natural human behavior of being entirely accustomed to the circumstances we find ourselves in which results in our adaptation to the situation. This suggests we need to change the conditions in our environments to develop and maintain the feeling of happiness. This therefore explains the need for happiness as one of the reasons behind the organization of unions among workers industries as they seek to form a body with a mandate to bargain for changes in the workplace environment to develop a feeling of well being and happiness. The workers may sacrifice a lot in order to form the unions and generally develop feelings of happiness. This is due to the mentality that the sacrifices are in good cause which will create better conditions that will develop happiness. Bernanke strengthens this argument using the Abraham Lincoln story where he waded through mud and rescued a pig that was stuck. Although he ends up making himself dirty, Lincoln claims to be happy because if he did not sacrifice to rescue the pig he would not feel satisfied (Bernanke 12). Conclusion Worker unions are an important aspect of the labor sector that maintains the conditions at a state that is favorable to both employer and employee. The start of the unions is marred by challenges but through the strong conviction of the workers, they are successful in their establishment. The formations are driven by the pursuit of happiness among workers that may spark them to sacrifice greatly to attain the goals. As such, the employers in the form of industries need to ensure that their employees have a feeling of happiness, which will prevent the emergence of revolts and protests. Work cited Bernanke, Ben S.. The Economics of Happiness. columbia: 2013. PDF. Canby, Vincent. "Movie Review - Norma Rae - Film: 'Norma Rae,' Mill-Town Story:Unionism in the South – New York Times, 2013. Web. 5 Dec 2013. . Read More