A labor union is defined as "a group of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals in the key areas of wages, hours, and working conditions" (Boone and Kurtz, 1999, p. 414). Originally, labor unions were primarily made up of male, blue-collar workers; but as the economy of the United States evolved from production industries to service industries, union membership has seen a dramatic increase in white-collar and female workers. In addition, one-fifth of all professionals in the United States are union members (Boone and Kurtz, 1999).

History and Evolution

Labor unions began to evolve in the United States in the 1700s and 1800s due to the need for safety and security for workers. Workers formed labor unions in response to intolerable working conditions, low wages, and long hours. In the wake of the Industrial Revolution, men, women, and even children worked in unsafe factories from dawn...