Chapter 8, Who Protects the Worker? Summary and Analysis

In the past two hundred years, working conditions have improved for laborers in the United States and other countries. Many people use the term labor to mean both workers and labor unions. The vast majority of U.S. workers do not belong to labor unions. The effect labor unions and labor union type organizations have on workers depends on the kind of union it is. Some unions, such as the American Medical Association, function to restrict the supply of labor, which results in higher wages for the worker. The restriction comes through the licensing requirements and standards that the worker must meet.

Do unions result in higher wages for their workers? "The situation is, however, much more complex. Unions of highly skilled workers have unquestionably been able to raise the wages of their...