PART I
Labor Relations Overview

Chapter 1
Introduction to
Labor Relations

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Chapter Outline
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Welcome!
What is labor?
Relations and why study it?
Labor unions today: pros and cons
Why join a union?
Union membership

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Chapter Outline
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Opportunities for growth
Labor–management cooperation
GM/NUMMI
Types of unions
Unions in professional sports
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

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What Is Labor Relations and Why Study
It?
• Labor relations: Any activity between management and unions or employees concerning the negotiation or implementation of a collective bargaining agreement
• Collective bargaining agreement: A written and signed document between an employer entity and a labor organization specifying the terms and conditions of employment for a specified period of time
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Figure 1.1 - Collective Bargaining
Agreement

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What Is Labor Relations and Why Study It?
(cont.)
• Labor organization: Defined in Sec. 2. [§ 152] of the NLRA and means any employee, committee or other organization of any kind in which employees deal with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, hours, or working conditions

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Table 1.1 - Major U.S. Employee Rights
Laws

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Table 1.1 - Major U.S. Employee Rights Laws
(cont.)

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Table 1.2 - The General Pros and Cons of Union
Membership

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Why Join a Union?
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Job security
Wages and benefits
Working conditions
Fair and just supervision
Need to belong
Collective voice

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Hard and Soft Issues
• The four most important factors affecting the health of the American labor movement were the following:
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Collective bargaining rights
Leadership in the labor movement
Union member solidarity
Action of the NLRB

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Hard and Soft Issues
• Soft issues leading employees to unionize:
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Recognition
Protection from humiliation
Hopelessness
Double standards
Lack of control
Job insecurity
Broken promises
Representation
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Capitalism and Collective Bargaining
• The freedom to enter into contracts and to decide the use of one’s economic resources such as capital and labor are essential concepts in capitalism
• Employers are free to seek employees and offer them economic resources in exchange for their labor
• Employees are free to enter into contracts, or not, for their labor
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Figure 1.2 - Trends in U.S. Union Membership

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Workplace Changes
• Oppressive places of employment – workers chose to unionize

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Figure 1.3 - Union Membership Rates by State, 2007 Annual Average

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2008). Available at www.bls. gov/news.release. Accessed February 16, 2008.

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Employee Free Choice Act
• It requires the National Labor Relations Board to certify a union to represent workers if a majority signs cards that authorize the union

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