People may tell you that the union movement is dead, or dying, that unions have little relevance in today's society. The numbers of Australian union members has definitely decreased in the past few decades, but does this mean that the end is near?

Because of the declining trends in union density and people thinking unions are outdated it has come up for debate "Are unions in the 21st century dead?"

It is my role today to debate whether the statement is true or false. In my opinion I think the statement is false.

Unions are frequently in the news: most people will have heard of unions and have some notions about what they are (even if these are not always accurate). And the reporting of unions usually emphasises conflict. For the same reason conflict sells newspapers, it can arouse interest among people.

Unions have shaped the way most people in Australia (and in many other countries) live; they have played an important role in Australian history. Lets look at the real issue of how unions really benefit our economy. If it were not for unions we would be living like the communists did in the Soviet Union some 10 years ago. We would basically be a fascist country.

Wages, working hours, holidays and changes to working practices are the sorts of things that are negotiated. People who work in places where there is union membership are paid better and are less likely to be sacked than people who have no union representation.

If an employee is having trouble at work, their union representative can step in and negotiate on their behalf. If the problem is still not resolved, then it can go to an industrial tribunal, where people from outside the workplace listen to both sides of the story and then make a decision. You can get your union to represent you at the industrial tribunal.

Unions are vital in maintaining a fair and balanced society. They are essential in helping with wage rates and conditions of members in the workforce. Without the influence of unions, workers would have no voice or power in our society. Unions, such as the MUA, did not come about by accident. They were formed by concerned workers who wanted to defend themselves being exploited and improve their workplace.

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Approximate Word count = 1253
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)