DECA Human Resources Management Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of a union in the workplace?

1. To manage employee performance

2. To provide a collective voice for workers

3. To enforce company policies strictly

4. To recruit new employees

The correct answer is: To provide a collective voice for workers

The primary purpose of a union in the workplace is to provide a collective voice for workers. Unions represent the interests of their members and advocate for better working conditions, wages, benefits, and job security. By banding together, employees can leverage their collective power to negotiate with management and influence decisions that affect their work environment. This unified approach allows workers to articulate their needs and concerns more effectively than they could as individuals. In contrast, the other choices focus on aspects that do not capture the core function of a union. Managing employee performance typically falls under the roles of management and human resources, not the union. Enforcing company policies is also not a function of labor unions, which often seek to negotiate or adjust those policies rather than strictly enforce them. Lastly, while recruitment might be a concern for a company's HR department, it is not a union's primary objective; rather, unions aim to support their current members rather than focus on hiring new workers. Thus, the collective voice aspect is central to the mission of unions.