Role of modern-day labor unions: Perceptions of U.S. airline employees

Labor unions began as organizations that were formed to ensure fair wages, better benefits, and improved working conditions for workers. Over the past century, unions have evolved into political powerhouses which can be viewed as unethical due to the tactics they use. Some of these unions have been accused by some of their respective members of not fully representing them against corporate policies. Organized labor within the United States aviation industry is no exception. The demands of the unions can cause a cycle of (1) demanding higher wages and more benefits from the airline’s management team, lowering profits for the airline, (2) resulting higher price for consumers, (3) leading to lower ticket sales and lowering financial stability, (4) reducing the airline’s ability to pay the union’s newly granted premiums, (5) causing bankruptcy and/or layoffs, (6) renegotiating the unions’ contracts, (7) the company starting to make profits again, (8) unions seeing those profits and making demands for higher wages and better benefits for union members. The result, in terms of perception, is that even though unions are a necessary evil to help ward off greedy management teams, unions have become just as greedy. This study shows that opinions can differ greatly within the unionized aviation industry regarding the unions. Results of this project’s survey are examined within the scope of four research questions, guiding the researcher’s conclusions and recommendations concerning the perceptions of U.S. airline employees on unions. These conclusions focus on whether unions are ethical in nature and provide the representation that union members expect.