The Emergence of Unions in Retail Trends and Opportunities

Contributor

David Kopsch

GRP, Retail and Consumer Goods Leader
Contributor

Heather Frank

Principal in Mercer’s Employee Transformation practice

The Transforming for the future podcast series features Mercer’s consultants who are helping organisations stay ahead of the curve by embracing transformation, exploring new ways of working and reinventing their employee experience. We’ll discuss the most pressing issues facing leaders today and how to shape the future of work so that your business and people thrive.

In this episode, join David Kopsch, GRP, Retail and Consumer Goods Leader, and Heather Frank, a Principal in Mercer’s Workforce Transformation Practice, as they explore the dynamic world of employee relations in the retail industry. They highlight the drivers behind the rise of union support, working with an unionised workforce, and strategies for fostering strong employee relations.

Tune in to discover effective labour relations strategies for shaping the future of work in the retail industry.

Interesting moments from the interview:

Three key issues driving union support are: Notable increases in public and political support for labour unions, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the absence of labour power and exposing inequalities, re-evaluation of work-life balance and the need for unions to negotiate aspects like time off, workloads, and burnout measures.
Potential benefits of having a unionised workforce include predictable labour costs and the potential for improved morale, safety, and productivity through a partnership with union representatives.
Drawbacks of a unionised workforce include potential stifling of individual performance and behaviour, difficulty addressing poor performance due to contractual constraints, and higher operating costs compared to non-unionised organisations.