1. Labor & Management

2. Past Working Conditions
U.S. primarily an agricultural society up until Industrial Revolution
Businesses small and personal, artisanal
Large factories changed the relationship between employers and workers
Low wages, dangerous conditions, long work days
Little to no contact with workers
Workers had no power to improve their situation

3. Rise of Labor Unions
Labor Unions are organizations of workers hoping to improve wages and working conditions
As they grew larger, sought the right to bargain with employers
Collective bargaining is where representatives from both the labor union and the employer come to an agreement
This labor contract details the wage rates, hours, and conditions

4. Methods Used by Labor
To force business owners to bargain, labor unions use strikes
Members walk off the job if employer refuses to meet their demands; productions stops and company loses money
Picketing strikers try to prevent the hiring of replacement workers
Discourage others from “crossing the picket line”

5. Methods Used by Labor
Instead of strikes, workers will stay on the job but work much more slowly
Worker slowdowns, or job actions, cost the company money
Employers would often hire strikebreakers to replace these striking workers, but new laws restrict the use of strikebreakers

6. Methods Used by Employers
Created blacklists of workers active in the unions
Sent these lists to other companies so employers would know and not hire them
Some employers fought slowdowns by closing the factories and locking out the workers
Lockouts prevented workers from earning any wages at all

7. Closed and Open Shops
To raise money, labor unions charged members dues, or membership fees
Helped unions feed members and their families during strikes or lockouts
Labor unions sometimes tried to enroll every worker in a factory
Closed shop factories were where workers could not be hired unless they first become members of the union
Employers opposed the closed shop- didn’t want unions to have that much control over hiring
Insisted on an open shop- everyone can be hired regardless if they’re in a union

8. The Union Shop
Employers can hire any qualified worker, union or nonunion
Worker must eventually join a union to keep their job

9. Right-to-Work Laws Many states have now passed right-to-work laws
No one may be forced to join a union
Union members and nonunion members can work in the same company

10. Labor Laws Percentage of union members in this country today is small
Does not mean unions are weak
Many major industries are still unionized
Strikes or slowdowns could cause major problems
Congress wants to protect the public from these preventable disasters
Passes labor laws to prevent employers from using unfair practices and to make unions act fairly in their disputes

11. Labor Relations Today
Attitudes between union leaders and employers has changed
Both realize they can get what they want by cooperating and running a more efficient business
Sharing profits with workers, allowing workers to choose their own schedule, give them a voice in how work is done

12. Collective Bargaining Today
Most disputes settled peacefully through collective bargaining
When strikes do happen, both sides can lose money, and it can affect other people as well
During 1994 MLB strike, businesses around ballparks lost money
Strikes aren’t settled until both sides agree to compromise, or give up some of their demands

13. Collective Bargaining Today
If both sides are unable to come to an agreement, an expert may be called in
Mediations are simply suggestions for a solution to the issues at hand
With arbitration, the arbitrator’s decision is binding to both sides
The goal of collective bargaining on either side is to increase productivity and profits