Union Workplaces/Non-Union
Workplaces
By
Scott Parker
Purpose:


Labor Categories, History
and Definitions
Labor Management Relations
Kansas is a “Right to Work”
State
Missouri is a “Forced
Unionism” State
What Are Public Employees
Allowed To DO?

Kansas


By Law, collective bargaining is
permitted by all public employees,
but subject to some limitations in
the process. Strikes by public
employees are prohibited.
Missouri

By Law, some public employees are
granted a right to bargain
collectively. Statute does not grant a
right to strike.
“Forced Unionism”
Employees are not obligated to join the
bargaining unit in effect but are still
required to pay union dues (“Union
Shop”).
A Brief History of Labor
Relations

Unions Began Forming in the Mid20th Century




Social and Economic Impact of the
Industrial Revolution
Post-Civil War
AFL (American Federation of Labor)
Founded by Samuel Gompers in 1886
CIO (Congress of Industrial
Organizations) Proposed by John L.
Lewis in 1938
The Purpose of Labor Unions

To Bargain for Their Members
Regarding:






Wages
Benefits
Working Conditions
Job Security
Representing Members in
Negotiations with Management
Over Violations of Contract
Provisions, or
Personnel or Disciplinary Actions
Labor-Management Relations
•
•
•
Who currently has a union?
Who has a collective
bargaining group?
Who does not have
organized labor?
What Are Some of the Public
Employee Unions



AFGE (American Federation
of Government Employees)
AFSCME (American
Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees)
(KOSE) Kansas Organization
of State Employees
What Are Some of the Public
Employee Unions

Other Unions:



Teamsters
IUOE (International Union of Operating
Engineers)
Others?
What Are the Advantages of
Being in a Union?


On average, union
employees make 27 percent
more than nonunion
workers
Ninety-two percent of union
workers have job-related
health coverage versus 68
percent for nonunion
workers
“Right to Work”


Employees have the right to decide for
themselves whether to join a union or
pay membership dues (“Open Shop”)
Exemptions (important!)
Employees who work in the railway or airline
industries are not protected by a Right to
Work law, and employees who work on a
federal enclave may not be.
Taft Hartley Act of 1947



Prevented “closed shops” and
“secondary boycotts” among other
provisions.
Prevented unions from negotiating
contracts or legally binding documents
requiring companies to fire workers
who refuse to join the union
Required Union Leaders to Swear they
Were Not Communists!
Right To Work States
Labor-Management Relations
Labor-Management Relations
Assumptions:
• Most folks want to do a good
job
• Employees want to be treated
fairly and be respected
• Remember: It’s the players,
not the game.
Labor-Management Relations
•
•
Let your Human Resources folks
do their job
Keep HR informed, early and
often, when you believe a
personnel issue is developing
Labor-Management Relations
•
HR says document, document
Labor-Management Relations
Larry Says:
•
•
•
•
Communicate
Communicate
Communicate….
Build relationships, build trust
Labor-Management Relations

Scott adds:
Be aware
 Remember the golden rule
 People quit their supervisor, not
their job
 Be consistent, but be fair

Remember…
•
•
•
•
Be up-front
Be candid and truthful
Follow your HR rules &
regulations
Do the right thing and do it
right