Chapter 22Labor Unions

Some workers choose to organize and join together to formlabor unions (Workers band together to have a better chance at higher pay

& better working conditions)

Unions became necessary since workers were exploited during the rise of industrialization

Original purpose of unions1) Fair wages

2) Safe working conditions

Because of successes, union membership has decreased

Today- only about 14% of workers belong to unions

Types of unions

1) Craft or trade union (workers perform the same skill) Ex.- plumbers, printers, etc.

2) Industrial Unions (Different types of workers in same industry)

How unions are organized

1) Local Union- Members from a union in a factory, company, or geographic area

2) National Unions- Individual craft or trade unions that represent local unions nationwide

***Those with members in Mexico & Canada are called International unions

3) Federation- AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor / Congress of Industrial Organizations)

Formed by merger in 1955 Represents over 13 million workers

Some people criticize unions for trying to control the supply of labor

In past- Unions supported Closed Shops (Worker must belong to the union to be hired)

1947- Taft-Hartley Act outlawed closed shops (Exempt if only intrastate)

Today- there are Union Shops (Must join the union if hired)

22 States have Right-to-work laws (Don’t have to join union) ***NC is a right-to-work state

Modified Union Shop- workers don’t have to join the union but can If they join: must remain a union member as long as employed **union isn’t brought into the workplace unless a majority of workers approve NLRB makes sure unions elections are fair and honest

Union represents workers in negotiations for a work contract

Collective Bargaining (between Unions reps & company officials)

Agreement lasts several years and must be renegotiated

Sometimes an agreement can’t be reached

Options: 1) Mediation (Non-binding) Mediator suggests solutions

2) Arbitration (Binding) Both sides agree to follow Arbitrator’s ruling beforehand

Tools used to pressure the other side to accept agreement

Union Management

1) Strike 1) Lockout (greatest power)

2) Hire replacements (Scabs)2) Work slowdown

3) Boycott (Cesar Chavez- led grape boycott) formed United Farm Workers Union