Term
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Definition
- unions began in the 1800s during the industrial revolution
- established to protect workers from unsafe work conditions, poor wages, and long hours
- have had a major impact on working conditions in Europe and N america |
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Term
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Definition
- theory x: assumes all workers are inherently lazy and will avoid work if they can
- theory y: assumes that all workers are inherently ambitious and want to do well at work
- labor unions preceded these theories, but helped give truth to them |
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Term
| how large is the membership? |
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Definition
- in the 1940s union membership peaked at about 36% of the US workforce
- percentage started declining in 1983, then an increase was posted in 2007
- 2011 membership was about 11.8% of workers |
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Term
| in what kind of work did membership to unions start? |
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Definition
- started in industries like manufacturing, construction, and transportation; working conditions were the primary issue.
- expanded into service sector like police, firefighters, healthcare, and education; stronger emphases on wages and benefits
- also in retail operations like grocery stores |
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Term
| major contributions of unions |
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Definition
- min wage
- 40hr/wk
- overtime pay
- worker's compensation
- workplace safety (OSHA and Cal OSHA)
- discrimination |
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Term
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Definition
- pensions came about because aging railroad personal were having too many accidents (1910s)
- other benefits, like health and life insurance, were added to entice workers during labor shortage (1940s) |
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Term
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Definition
- national labor relations act, administered by the national labor relations board (1935). monitors elections to establish unions in workplaces, prevents and remedies unfair labor practices.
- the NLRB has jurisdiction over private sector and post office employees
- agricultural workers are covered by the migrant and seasonal workers agricultural protection act (MPSA), administered by the US department of labor
- the adamson railway labor act covers railroad, airline workers and some other government employees
- us equal employment opportunity commission (EEOC)
- occupational health and safety act (OSHA)
- american's with disabilities act (ADA) |
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Term
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Definition
- negotiate wages and benefits
- establish work hours
- determine conditions of employment
- establish working conditions
- define "union" work
- represent employees in the grievance process |
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Term
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Definition
- negotiated between management and the union
- specific time period
- union representatives involved in process
- contracts ratified by union member votes
- legally binding |
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Term
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Definition
- union members, through dues
- closed shop: all employees are union members
- open shop: employees may choose not to join the union, then they are assessed a lesser amount |
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Term
| tools used by unions to achieve their goals |
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Definition
- work slowdowns
- strikes
- grievances (often used to set precedent, may be settled by mediation or arbitration) |
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Term
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Definition
- mediation: negotiation between 2 parties, using a neutral thrid party to assist in settling a dispute
- arbitration: a hearing or proceeding before a person is empowered to resolve a dispute. |
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Term
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Definition
- step 1: steward meets with low level supervisor
- step 2: if there is no solution. steward meets with higher management
- step 3: in no solution, there may be another meeting as in step 2, or perhaps a grievance "panel," or else the whole thing may go to:
- arbitration: where nobody wantes to be, but the problem will get settled here by a neutral third party |
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Term
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Definition
- complex work rules
- lack of flexibility for cross training
- inability to promote from within
- difficult to motivate employees
- cumbersome disciplinary process
- issues of seniority, related to overtime and layoffs (RIFs)
- antagonistic relationship with staff
- "unreasonable" demands
- costs are sometimes overwhelming and impact a company's solvency
- sabotage
- long term effect of strikes on work relationships |
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Term
| multiple unions in the healthcare environment |
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Definition
- various work rules make managing much more difficult
- may or may not honor each others' strikes
- issues with payroll, insurance, and time off |
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Term
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Definition
- not in a perfect world, but since it is not that, there are situations were unions are essential
- if and when you take a management position, you should treat all employees with fairness and respect, so that your world is close to "perfect" |
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