Organized Labor
Key Terms and Main Ideas LABOR UNION is an organization of workers that tries to improve working conditions, wages, and benefits for its members. The union negotiates for all members the WAGE rate, OVERTIME rate, raises and benefits. They strive for safe and comfortable work environments for all members. Most importantly, the outline the instances in which a union employee can be fired from the job. Copyright © 2011 Texas Education Agency. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Texas Education Agency. All rights reserved. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING is the process in which union and company representatives meet to negotiate a new labor contract. BLUE COLLAR WORKER is someone who works in an industrial job, often in manufacturing, and who receives wages. WHITE COLLAR WORKER is someone in a professional or clerical job who typically earns a salary. Copyright © 2011 Texas Education Agency. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Texas Education Agency. All rights reserved. MEDIATION A settlement technique in which a neutral mediator meets with each side to try and find a solution that both sides will accept. STRIKE If an agreement isn’t met between the union and company, the union can ask for a member vote on a strike: an organized work stoppage intended to force an employer to address union demands. Arbitration: A settlement technique in which a third party reviews the case and imposes a decision that is legally binding for both sides. Arbitration Copyright © 2011 Texas Education Agency. All rights reserved.
Organized Labor Timeline 1935 Wagner Act 1938 John Lewis heads Congress of Industrial Organizations 1970s increase in anti-union measures by employers 1990s Public Sector unions increase, such as a union for teaching assistants 1935, the Wagner Act gave workers the right to organize and required companies to bargain with unions. 1938 AFL splinter group goes independent as CIO Congress of Industrial Organizations, led by John Lewis. 1970s Employers begin a push back against unions 1990s see unions stretch to the public sector Copyright © 2011 Texas Education Agency. All rights reserved.
A Decline in Union Members Right-to-Work law Taft-Hartley Act 1947 Blue collar jobs have declined over the years Foreign competition sends jobs overseas Relocation of businesses to areas of low union influence Right-to-Work Law: Measure that bans mandatory union membership. Taft-Hartley Act 1947. Unions are not mandatory. Less blue collar jobs. Jobs moving overseas. More women in workforce. Moving a business to an area where unions are unpopular or there doesn’t exist a strong union influence. Copyright © 2011 Texas Education Agency. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Texas Education Agency. All rights reserved. Unions Assignment Research each of the unions listed below and give me a brief overall description of the union including items such as why and how they were formed, how you can join, etc. AFL-CIO United Auto Workers American Federation of Teachers National Association of Letter Carriers The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Copyright © 2011 Texas Education Agency. All rights reserved.