Consumers Unions
The Consumer’s Union is an organization dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers and advocating for improved policies that help to ensure their safety and security. Founded in 1936, the Consumer’s Union lobbies for improved conservations and regulations on products, industries, businesses, and services that directly impact the lives of American consumers.
The organization’s mission statement establishes an important goal—“to improve the quality of people’s lives by protecting consumers from abusive or fraudulent practices and equipping them with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions.” To accomplish this goal, the union produces education materials and provides services such as researching companies, services and industries with the intent to increase public knowledge in those areas.
The Consumer’s Union has several arms to further its mission. Among them is the Consumer Reports magazine, which provides in-depth, unbiased reviews of products, services, and businesses on the market today. Consumers can use the information the magazine provides to make educated decisions on where to spend their money.
Other major divisions of the Consumer’s Union include the Consumer Reports Online, a webpage devoted to maximizing consumer’s online experience, and Consumer World, a website that provides a wide range of consumer resources, from cost-saving tips to financial advice. The union also includes an investigation team that publishes reports on critical issues concerning consumers and seeks to influence policy makers.
The Consumer’s Union also provides consumer advocacy. They contact lawmakers and organizations to advocate for new policies and regulations to protect consumers. They also lobby before Congress and appear on news programs to offer the public insight on the current news and events that affect the consumer’s dollar.
The Consumer’s Union is an important part of today’s society. It works diligently to protect consumers from unfair and potentially dangerous practices, equipping them with the knowledge they need to make wise purchasing decisions.