Unionization: Workers form the first union for Apple Inc United States

Workers at the Towson Town Center Apple who have decided to join the International Association of Machinists Union (Source: BARBARA HADDOCK TAYLOR)

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What is unionization?: Unionization is the process of organizing a company's employees into a labor union that will serve as an intermediary between the employees and the company management.

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• In most cases, a majority vote of the employees is required to authorize a union. This means Apple employees can complain to the union when they/others get fired for unjust reasoning.

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Why does it exist?: Why Were Unions Formed? Labor unions were formed to protect employee rights and to put an end to exploitation.

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• Members fight together for better pay and working conditions, and collectively, they have enough clout to effect change.

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An observation: Unions are less common in the United States than in many European countries, but they are still legally protected. To form one, either the company voluntarily recognizes a union or workers gather signatures from at least 30% of employees so that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) can hold a formal election.

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Why is it important?: Unions are important because it helps employees have a form of protection on their own without help from higher authorities in the company.

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President’s response: “I’m proud of them,” Biden told reporters. “Workers have a right to determine under what conditions they’re going to work or not. I think the thing that everybody misunderstands about unions — they tend to be, especially in the trades, the best workers in the world.”

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