1. Review Proprietorship---Advantages, Disadvantages
Partnership---Advantages, Disadvantages
Corporations---Advantages, Disadvantages
Do Corporations deserve to be treated as people?

2. The American Labor Force

3. What is a Union?
Groups of workers who band together to have a better chance to obtain higher pay and better working conditions
How do you get Unions? Majority of workers have to work in favor of forming a Union
Two types of Unions:
Craft or Trade Union-workers who perform the same skills join together, as in a Printers’ Union
Industrial Union-bring together different types of workers from the same industry (United Auto Workers)

5. Unions
Formed mainly by workers in industry, however airline workers, teachers, and professional athletes join unions today
Local Unions-Comprised of members of a union in a factory, company, or geographic area
National Unions-Individual craft or industrial unions that represent local unions on a nationwide level (American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, AFL-CIO)

6. Unions-Good or Bad? Good Better Wages More Access to Benefits
Job Security
Seniority
Bad
Union dues & fees
Loss of Autonomy
Less Collaborative Work Environment
Seniority

7. Unions Today 11.1 % of American workers belong to a Union
North Carolina lowest, at 3%
Percentage has fallen since 1980s
Why? Shift from a manufacturing to a service economy
Rise in # of Right-to-Work States (do not have to be a union member/pay dues to stay employed)
Still play an important role in the nation’s economy and political life

11. Union Arrangements
Closed Shops- Workers had to 1st join a union in order to be hired by a company
Made illegal in 1947
Union Shops- Companies may hire anyone as long as they join the union shortly after they begin working
Modified Union Shops- workers not required to join a union to be hired or to keep job, but they must remain in the union if they join
Agency Shop-requires workers to pay a fee to the union for representing them even if they do not join

12. Negotiations Union’s Greatest Asset? COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Officials from the Union and the company meet to discuss the workers’ new contract
Negotiations focus on wages and benefits, including health care, holidays, working conditions, and procedures for changing rules
Getting Outside Help
Mediation- bring in a 3rd party who tries to help them reach a compromise agreement
Arbitration- 3rd party listens to both sides, then decides how to settle the disagreement

15. Labor-Management Conflict
Management & Unions use different techniques to force the other side to accept their position
Labor Tools
Strike-all workers in the union refuse to go to work
Hope that the business will have to shut down without any employees, forcing the company to accept the union’s contract terms
Picketing-walking in front of business carrying picket signs that state their disagreement with the company
Meant to discourage workers from crossing the line to work for the employer
Boycott-refuse to buy a business’s product

16. Labor-Management Conflict
Lockout-company prevents workers from entering its buildings until they accept its contract
Hopes that loss of income will convince the workers to accept the company’s position
Hire Scab, or temporary workers, to replace those on strike
Union Folk Song-
Chicago Teachers Strike-

17. Injunctions Legal order of a court preventing some activity
Initially, courts treated unions as illegal conspiracies, with leaders prosecuted and sued for damages
Early 1900s-injunctions used to prevent strikes and other activities
Companies & Unions may ask for injunctions; if issued against a union, will direct them not to strike; if used against a company, will direct them not to lock out its workers
1995 MLB Lockout-Players took management to court, got an injunction against the owners and the season began

18. Seizure
Government may seize, or temporarily takeover operations, to allow the government to negotiate with the union
1946-Gov’t seized the bituminous coal industry, feeling the welfare of the entire country was at stake because of its need for coal
While operating the mines, government officials worked out a settlement with the miners’ union

19. Public v. Private Sector Unions
Difference between the two?
Public Unions emerged around 1960s & 1970s
Private Union Members
6.7%
Public Union Members
35.3%
Construction, Transportation & Utilities
Teachers, Police Officers & Fire-Fighters

21. Review-Labor Day
Private v. Public Sector-