Human Resource Management Chapter 12 LABOR UNIONS & COLLECTIVE BARGAINING © 2008 by Prentice Hall

HRM in Action: Change to Win Coalition New union federation consisting of seven unions that broke from AFL-CIO and formally launched rival labor federation representing about 6 million workers in 2005 Led by Service Employees International Union Also included are Teamsters, United Food and Commercial Workers, Unite Here, Carpenters’ Union, Laborers’ International Union of North America, and United Farm Workers © 2008 by Prentice Hall

Union Objectives To secure and, if possible, improve living standards and economic status of members. To enhance and, if possible, guarantee individual security against threats and contingencies that might result from market fluctuations, technological change, or management decisions. To influence power relations in social system in ways that favors and does not threaten union gains and goals. © 2008 by Prentice Hall

Union Objectives (Cont.) To advance welfare of all who work for a living, whether union members or not. To create mechanisms to guard against use of arbitrary and capricious policies and practices in workplace. © 2008 by Prentice Hall

Union Growth Strategies Strategically Located Union Members Organizing Several Big Companies at Once Pulling Union Through Political Involvement Union Salting Flooding Community Public Awareness Campaigns Building Organizing Funds Befriending Laid-off Workers Organizing through Card Check © 2008 by Prentice Hall

Strategically Located Union Members Importance of jobs held by union members significantly affects union power Few strategically located union members may exert disproportionate amount of power Truckers or dock workers can affect entire country © 2008 by Prentice Hall

Organizing Several Big Companies at Once Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in Houston organized janitors at several big companies at once Negotiated big industry-wide contract Eliminates each company’s fear of being undercut by competitors if it allows higher wages Companies stay neutral © 2008 by Prentice Hall

Pulling the Union Through Put pressure on end user of company’s product Strike against four Johnson Controls factories that make interior parts for some of country’s best-selling vehicles GM and Chrysler played active behind-the-scenes role by pressuring JCI to settle dispute © 2008 by Prentice Hall

Political Involvement Political arm of AFL-CIO is Committee on Political Education (COPE) Union recommends and assists candidates who will best serve its interests With friends in government, union in stronger position Give money to candidates who pledge to help pass pro-labor legislation © 2008 by Prentice Hall

Union Salting Process of training union organizers to apply for jobs at company and, once hired, work to unionize Supreme Court has ruled employers cannot discriminate against union salts © 2008 by Prentice Hall

Flooding the Community Process of union inundating communities with organizers to target particular business Unions typically choose companies in which nonunionized employees have asked for help in organizing Target weak managers’ departments as way to appeal to dissatisfied employees © 2008 by Prentice Hall

Public Awareness Campaigns Labor maneuvers that do not coincide with strike or organizing campaign to pressure employer for better wages, benefits, and the like Alternative to strikes because more employers are willing to replace striking workers Employers have less recourse against labor campaigns involving joint political and community groups that support union goals © 2008 by Prentice Hall

Building Organizing Funds AFL-CIO asks its affiliates to increase organizing funds Increase funding to organizing institute, which trains organizers, and launches advertising campaign to create wider public support for unions © 2008 by Prentice Hall

Befriending Laid-Off Workers AFL-CIO hopes castoffs from Enron, WorldCom, and others will become advocates for organizing Fear and stress break down relationships between management and workers © 2008 by Prentice Hall

Organizing through Card Check Organizing approach where employees sign card of support if they want unionization If 50% of work force plus one worker sign card, it is considered a union victory Expedited ways of polling workers on union representation but no secret-ballot election takes place © 2008 by Prentice Hall