Union/Management Relations

Attract Acquire Retain Develop - DeployUnion/Management RelationsModule 6http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjU8psjeHIQ

Jack Welch (Winning)When I was at GE it was well known that I was not a fan of unions. I thought they created conditions that made the company less competitive, and they drove an unnecessary wedge between management and employees. I use the word unnecessary because in my experience, unions arise only when a plant or office is being managed by someone who is abusive, remote or indifferent and whose actions have taken away the voice and dignity of employees. Without a doubt, that boss needs to be reformed or removed because the unionization is as excessive response with negative long term consequencesreally for everyone. Nature of UnionsUnionA formal association of workers that promotes the interests of its members through collective action.Why Employees UnionizeThey are dissatisfied with how they are treated by their employers.Arbitrary managerial decisionsNoncompetitive PayPoor working conditionsThey believe that unions can improve their work situations.

Factors Leading to Employee Unionization

Global Labor Union IssuesUnion membership is falling in advanced countries.Change in jobsChange in worker SESHigh unemployment is creating pressure for change.Child labor is an issue in some countries.Co-determinationA practice whereby union or worker representatives are given positions on a companys board of directors.The Impact of NAFTA and the corresponding reduction of unionizationUnion LogisticsTypes of UnionsCraft unionTrade unionIndustrial unionProfessional Organization

Positions associated with the UnionUnion StewardsUnion EmployeesContract Administrators

Union Participation: Rules and ExceptionsClosed ShopIllegal at a Federal LevelExceptions for Construction IndustryUnion ShopMust join a union after employmentMust pay union duesRight-to-Work Laws (about states)Agency ShopRepresented by the unionChoose to joinMust pay dues amount to either union or charity

Union Membership as a Percentage of the Workforce for Selected Countries

Unions in the U.S.Union Movement Emphases:Focused on bread-and-butter economic issueswages, benefits, job security, and working conditions.Do unionized employees make more money?Organized by kind of job and employer.Seek multi-year collective agreements on economic issues as contracts.Maintain competitive relations with management.

Union Membership as a Percentage of the U.S. Workforce

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2004.