All of the employees on an airplane, for example, could form themselves into a vertical bargaining unit if they chose, the unit including stewards and stewardesses, as well as pilots. Similarly, in a school, teachers, janitors, and office staff could all form a vertical unit. In contrast a horizontal bargaining unit unites all those who perform similar work. The fact that the pilots at Spirit Airlines belong to a pilots union that includes pilots from other airlines means that they constitute a horizontal bargaining unit. As well, teachers in the Chico school could form a horizontal bargaining unit if they joined with other teachers at different schools, and even in different districts. Members of a bargaining unit agree to work together because they share common interests and goals. Bargaining units appear either as elements of unions or as workers uniting for a common purpose. An entire union is also frequently a bargaining unit, as are the various locals that represent specific subgroups. Members of a unit will elect persons to speak for them, and in the case of unions, specific officers to plead their cause, and watch over their interests. Slate's recent article on the federal proposal to eliminate the secret ballot for workers forming unions, discusses the pros and cons of removing anonymity from the process of creating potential bargaining units (Beam, 10 March 2009). According to the Slate article, from the point-of-view of business, much of the argument hinges on the larger issue of whether the elimination of secret ballots for union formation affects the idea of secret ballots in general. Secret ballots are considered a centerpiece of American democracy, as they permit individuals to exercise their right of choice free of coercion. Unions prefer a process called card check, in which employees simply check a card showing their preference for unionization. Labor organizers say this method prevents excessive employer intimidation and permits more rapid organization of bargaining units . The faster these units are organized, the quicker bargaining units can get down to the business of settling grievances (Beam, 10 March 2009). From a business perspective, it can also be argued that by accepting the fait accompli of unions, the companies will be better able to enlist the support of unions in their own economic ends, including the pursuing of legislative agendas designed to maximize profits (Gely and Chandler).
5. List three examples of unfair labor practices. Include and discuss [showing relevance or applicability] two current web-based news item/magazine articles, each pertaining to at least one of the three examples of unfair labor practices you've cited. Write a succinct and complete summary on the contents of each of the articles you've provided along with your critical comments about each article. Support your findings with referenced research.
Unfair labor practices can include almost any breach of law or contractual agreement that relates to work and the workplace. Statute requires the payment of a specific minimum wage that is mandatory for all workers in the United States. Payments beneath this amount -- or certain other specifically stipulated amounts -- are one notable example of unfair labor practice. Another would include the employment of underage workers in various classifications of employment. Still another form of unfair labor practice encompasses not permitting workers to take family leave in accordance with applicable laws. The minimum wage laws are among the most frequently flouted of labor regulations. An article on the site Progressive States Network, discusses the signing by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson of a law that permits underpaid workers to collect their back wages plus twice that amount as a penalty. The idea is to force employers to comply with minimum wage laws ("New Mexico Enacts Wage Law Enforcement, Progressive States Network, 9 April 2009). The piece continues with examples that reveal the New Mexico law to be the latest example in a series of enactments by various states to enforce fair labor standards. The State of California created a Public Work Fund and appropriated monies to that fund specifically for the purpose of guaranteeing the minimum wage in such state projects ("New Mexico Enacts Wage Law Enforcement, Progressive States Network, 9 April 2009). Maryland and North Carolina passed similar measures enforcing the prevailing wage, while Rhode Island banned the misclassification of employees as private contractors -- another attempt to avoid payment of appropriate wages and benefits ("New Mexico Enacts Wage Law Enforcement, Progressive States Network, 9 April 2009). Iowa focused its wage measures specifically on the problem of child labor, dramatically increasing penalties ("New Mexico...
Labor unions are communities of workers who have come together with the purpose of fighting for their rights as a unit. These respective workers typically want fair conditions, to work with persons of integrity, and want to have a peaceful relationship with their employers, as the latter have to act in agreement with a set of requirements in order for this relationship to be possible. With the National Labor Relations
Labor and Union Studies in Washington and Oregon States The United States labor movement has its roots in the complex trappings of the industrial revolution. Laborers were just starting to come to the United States from foreign countries because they had learned that there were many jobs available for even the most unskilled worker. People were also moving from rural areas in America to the cities in an attempt ti have
In this sense the percentage of unionization in the workforce can be a more important factor than simply membership alone. The Ashenfelter and Johnson (1969) model spells out three crucial parties to the strike negotiations: firms, workers, and union representatives. It is assumed that the major considerations for union leaders are "(1) the survival and growth of the union as an institution, and (2) the personal political survival of the
From this perspective, right-to-work laws are passed in states in which public opinion is anti- union and the labor movement is politically ineffective; in such states, employees are less attracted to unions, and it is this public opinion climate, rather than the legislation itself, that harms union growth (Abraham & Voost 2000). The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation; Bureau of National Affairs (2002), reports that New Jersey does
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was the nations' first major rail strike and witnessed the first general strikes in the country's history. The strikes and the violence it brought about temporarily paralyzed the country's commerce and led governors in ten states to mobilize sixty thousand militia members to reopen rail traffic. The strike would be broken within a few weeks, but it also helped set the stage for later
Role of Labor Unions in Industrial Relations In their definition, labor unions have always been known as organizations that have always aimed at getting their members both financial and non-financial benefits. The role of labor unions is however bigger than that and they have been known to aid in helping employers improve the productivity and discipline of their workers. Labor unions respond to issues differently. This is explained by the differences
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