Labor Unions
Organized Labor
Labor Unions –
How many American workers belong to a union?
Why has the number of Union members been falling since the 1980’s?
The First Unions
Why did the 1st Labor Unions develop?
Who were the Knights of Labor?
Organized all laborers __________________________________
1886 peak of membership at 700,000
Ended in 1900
American Federation of Labor (AFL)
Who was not allowed into the AFL?
Samuel Gompers – head of AFL
What did the AFL fight for?
By 1900 membership reached 500,000
There are 2 types of unions
Trade Unions –
Industrial Unions Organized labor has a 3 level hierarchy
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Local Unions –
Usually identified with numbers
Negotiates a contract with a company and monitors the contract terms.
Represents the _______________ unions agenda, while at the same time representing the ___________ of their
constituents.
National Unions
At the Federation level is the ________________________
Represents 13 million workers nationwide
From 195-2005, represented virtually all unionized workers in the U.S.
Union Membership Policies
Closed Shop –
Union Shop –
Modified Union Shop Agency Shop –
Open Shop –
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Organized labor
In the past, some labor unions supported closed shops, when a worker would have to first belong to a union to be
hired by the company.
What stopped the practice of closed shops?
Which type of union membership is common today?
What are right-to-work laws?
A majority of workers must vote in favor of a union before one can be formed.
What does the National Labor Relations Board do?
Collective Bargaining
What is collective bargaining?
Who is responsible for carrying out collective bargaining?
Union and company representatives meet to discuss conditions of employment, such as –
3 steps
Negotiation
Mediation
Arbitration
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When Collective Bargaining Fails
What can workers/Unions do?
Strikes –
Picketing –
Boycott –
Scab What can Business/management do?
Lockout –
Blacklist Why would businesses have a lockout?
What other option do businesses have?
What is an injunction?
In severe or extreme labor – management disputes, government many get involved
The government can Ex. 1946 U.S. seized the coal industry because of the countries need for this energy source. Operation of the
mines continues, until labor and management came to an amicable agreement
Unions Today
Right to work states Movement of Human Capital
Rust Belt –
Sun Belt Why did factories and businesses move from the rust belt to the sun belt?
White collar vs. Blue collar jobs
White collar jobs Blue collar jobs –
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