Chapter 15 Labor Law Copyright  2015 McGraw-Hill Education.  All rights reserved.  No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Learning Objectives Discuss history of unions in the United States Cover Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932, National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (Wagner Act), Taft-Hartley Act of 1948, Landrum Griffin Act of 1959 List and explain several common collective bargaining agreement (CBA) clauses Explain unfair labor practices and give examples Discuss collective bargaining in the public sector and how it differs from the private sector

Coming Together on Issues Labor law – different and discrete from employment law Collective bargaining: Negotiations and agreements between management and labor about wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment Replaces employment “at-will” for those workers Defines ‘other terms and conditions,’ by contract

Historical Accounting (1) Shift of the American economy from agrarian to industrial Criminal conspiracy laws – Early union activity considered to be common law criminal conspiracies Case: Commonwealth v. Hunt, 1842 Injunctions: Court order requiring individuals or groups of persons to refrain from performing certain acts (like striking) that the court has determined will do irreparable harm Yellow dog contract: Agreements with provision that employee does not belong to a union and will not join one; now illegal

Historical Accounting (2) Antitrust attacks Sherman Antitrust Act -- 1890 Unions as “Conspiracies in restraint of trade” Clayton Act Exempted labor union activity from Antitrust coverage Constitutional challenges to early congressional labor laws – no federal “interstate commerce” power to regulate, as it was then defined

Out of Necessity, Change (1) National War Labor Board – WW1 Peaceful resolution of labor disputes -> model National Industrial Recovery Act – New Deal Put business in charge of regulating prices and production Established a minimum wage Gave workers collective bargaining and other rights Declared unconstitutional in 1935

Out of Necessity, Change (2) FDR frustration, ‘Court-packing scheme’ Supreme Court gets message, broadens definition of Interstate Commerce New Deal legislation upheld (including FLSA) National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act) Guaranteed rights to organize and bargain Established NLRB to oversee unionization elections and bargaining Management Unfair Labor Practices (none for Labor, yet)

Out of Necessity, Change (3) Unions flourished (pendulum) --> expensive strikes Taft-Hartley Act 1948 Union Unfair Labor Practices (symmetry) Right-to-work states Cooling-off period Union Corruption/organized crime linkage Landrum Griffin Act 1959 to guarantee internal democracy MPPAA amendments to ERISA 1980, re pensions

Out of Necessity, Change (4) 1970s+ Decrease in private sector unionization Heavily unionized industries decline (manufacturing) Aggressive anti-unionizing campaigns by employers Union concessions during downturns in the economy North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) International competition, ‘Globalization’ Lack of success in new private sector campaigns Labor unions remain an important part of the workplace, esp. public sector

The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (Wagner Act) – concepts (1) Unions Meaning Community of interests Factors employees have in common for bargaining purposes Bargaining unit The group of employees in a workplace that have the legal right to bargain with the employer Shop steward Union member chosen as intermediary between union members and employer

Collective bargaining agreement The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (Wagner Act) – more concepts (2) Unions Meaning Collective bargaining agreement Negotiated contract between labor and management Industrial union Union organized across an industry, regardless of members’ job type Craft unions Unions organized by the employee’s craft or trade Business agent The representative of a union, usually craft

The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (Wagner Act) (3) Good faith bargaining Mandatory subjects of bargaining: Wages, hours, and other conditions of employment, which, by law, must be negotiated between labor and management Scenario 2 Permissive subjects of bargaining: Non-mandatory subjects that can be negotiated between labor and management Closed shop: Employer hires only union members Bad-faith bargaining

The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (Wagner Act) (4) Organizing Campaigns: NLRB oversight ‘Laboratory conditions’, majority vote Scenario 1 Economic strikes vs. ULP strikes and the re-hire obligation Duty of fair representation Requires the union to represent all employees fairly and non-discriminatorily Emphasis on latter – does not ensure a good deal for members

Collective Bargaining Agreements Management security clause: Parties agree that management has the right to run the business and make appropriate business decisions as long as applicable laws and agreements are complied-with Midterm negotiations: Collective bargaining negotiations during the term of the contract

Employer Unfair Labor Practices Unfair labor practices may include Refusal to bargain in good faith Case: Gimrock Construction v. IUOE, Local 487 Engaging in activities that would tend to attempt to control or influence the union Interfering with union’s affairs Case: Electromation v. NLRB, Scenario 3 Discriminating against employees who join or assist unions Strikes and Lockouts – both legal if “primary” Economic vs. ULP strikes re: rehire obligation Case: Columbia Portland Cement v. NLRB,

The Taft-Hartley Act (1) Amendment to the NLRA Enacted to curb excesses by unions, rebalance process Section 7, unfair labor practice for unions Restrain employees in the exercise of their rights or employers in the selection of their representatives for collective bargaining Cause an employer to discriminate against an employee

The Taft-Hartley Act (2) Section 7, unfair labor practice for unions to (continued) Refuse to bargain with an employer Engage in jurisdictional or secondary boycotts. Charge excess or discriminatory initiation fees or dues. Cause an employee to pay for goods or services that are not provided (“featherbedding”)

The Taft-Hartley Act (3) Key Terms Meaning Right-to-work laws Permits employees to choose not to become a part of the union Union shop Union and management agree that employees must join union within some period after hire (vs. closed shop) Union shop clause Provision in a collective bargaining agreement allowing a union shop Agency shop clause Requires non-union members to pay union dues without having to be subject to the union rules Free riders Bargaining unit employees who do not pay dues but whom the union is still obligated to represent 14-18

The Landrum-Griffin Act Also known as the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act Enacted in response to congressional investigations into union corruption Bill of rights for union members Procedures for holding union elections Safeguarding funds: see also Multi-Employer Pension Plan Amendments Act (part of ERISA)

Union Members’ Bill of Rights Right to attend union meetings, vote on union business, and nominate candidates for union Right to bring an agency or court action against the union after exhausting union procedures Certain procedures must be followed before any dues or initiation fee increases Full and fair hearing when being disciplined by the union; exception – failure to pay dues

Labor Relations in the Public Sector (1) Fundamental economics differ vs. private sector Can’t outsource DMV to India No ‘invisible hand’ to protect against overreaching Public employees covered Many states have collective bargaining statutes covering most public employees Federal restrictions Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 Federal Labor Relations Authority

Labor Relations in the Public Sector (2) State, county, and municipal public employees Professional associations Craft unions Industrial-type unions AFL-CIO Difference between public and private collective bargaining No strike clauses  slowdowns and the Blue Flu

Management Tips (1) Recognize that your employees know unions affect your workplace without organizing your employees, and there are costs assoc’d. with union (dues). Philosophical objections, too. If employees consider unionizing, do not directly interfere with the process (seek expert advice) Do not assume any employee you speak to for the purpose of persuading employees not to unionize [or any other reason] will keep the conversation confidential

Management Tips (2) Know the kinds of things the employer can legally do to influence the unionizing decision, and do only those things that are permissible Once the union is in place, conduct all negotiations only with the union representatives Treat the collective bargaining process as one would any business activity Know what the law requires

Management Tips (3) Keep the lines of communication open Try to keep “us versus them” mentality from having a negative impact on the collective bargaining process Bargain hard without setting management up for an unfair labor practice charge You often ‘get’ the union you ‘deserve.’