Labor Relations

1
Labor Relations

• OS352 HRM
• Fisher
• Nov. 18, 2003

2
Agenda

• Hand out final essay questions
• History of unions
• Basic union concepts and laws
• Organizing process
• Next class
• Bargaining and contract administration processes
• Current issues with unions

3
Final essay questions

• Due December 8 at 500
• Submit electronically via Turnitin.com
• Class ID 1076184
• Password HRsec2
• Choose 2 of 4 questions
• Use at least three external sources in each
  answer
• Individual assignment

4
History of Unions

• Started in late 1700s in US (printers,
  carpenters, etc.)
• Purpose was to protect worker rights (pay,
  working hours)
• Less effective in depressions
• Decrease in union membership attributed to
  increase in service sector, high tech jobs

5
Current Status

• Declining membership
• In 1945, 35.5 of workforce was unionized (high
  point)
• Currently 13.5 of the workforce (Bureau of Labor
  Statistics, January 2002)
• Largest union in US is AFL-CIO
• Formed in 1955
• Over 13 million members
• Goal is to increase membership by 3 a year

6
Benefits of Unions

• For employees
• Higher wages
• Better benefits
• Increased job security
• More job training and skill development
• For employers (!)
• Potential for wage concessions
• Cooperation in joint workplace efforts

7
Laws Governing Labor-Management Relations

• Railway Labor Act 1926
• National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act) 1935
• Labor Management Relations Act (Taft-Hartley) -
  1947
• Landrum-Griffin Act - 1959

8
NLRB

• National Labor Relations Board
• Established in 1935 by NLRA
• Guarantees the right of employees to organize and
  bargain collectively with employer
• Major functions
• Provide certification election oversight
• Prevent and remedy unfair labor practices
• Does not act on its own

9
The Certification Process
Determination of bargaining unit by NLRB
Union campaign for authorization cards
Union contactwith employees
Request for election
Certification of union and start of collective
bargaining
Pre-election campaign
Elections
Bargaining Unit a group of employees certified
by the NLRB to be able to be included in the
union.
Source William D. Todor, Professor of Human
Resource Management, The Ohio State University
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Voting process

• Monitored by NLRB
• Employers are not allowed to intimidate workers
• Delta flight attendants case
• 5,520 Yes votes, 89 No votes
• 19,003 eligible voters
• Non-votes count as No
• Delta accused of interfering with election

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What can management do?

• Discuss the history of unions and make factual
  statements about strikes, violence, or the loss
  of jobs at plants that have unionized.
• Discuss their own experience with unions.
• Advise workers about the costs of joining and
  belonging to unions.
• Remind employees of the company benefits and
  wages they receive without having to pay union
  dues.
• Explain that union representation will not
  protect workers against discharge for cause.
• Advise employees that unions often resort to work
  stoppage to press their demands and that such
  tactics can cost them money.

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Unfair Labor Practices (Section 8 of NLRA)

• Interference, restraint, or coercion to prevent
  employees from organizing or bargaining
  collectively
• Domination or interference with union or
  providing financial support for it.
• Discrimination against employees in order to
  discourage union membership.
• Discharging or retaliating against an employee
  who has filed charges or given testimony under
  the NLRA.
• Refusal to bargain collectively with a
  representative of employees (good faith
  bargaining).

13
Right-to-Work Laws

• State laws prohibiting
• Union shops Employees are required to join the
  union within a certain amount of time (30 days)
  after beginning employment.
• Agency shops Employees are required to pay union
  dues but do not have to join the union.
• Maintenance of membership Employees who do join
  the union are required to remain members for a
  certain period of time.
• New York does not have right-to-work laws

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For next class

• Topic More on labor relations
• For next time, explore the AFL-CIO website
• Identify one unionized facility in the North
  Country (company and union)