1. 1 Environmental/Contextual Issues Social, Legal, Economic and Political

2. 2 Social Environment for Collective Bargaining in the U.S. Individualism –Rights of individuals superior to other rights –Property rights as a derivative of individual rights –Corporations are legal individuals Chartered by state Collectivities of shareholders Perpetual life Limited liability

3. Citizens United v. FEC U.S. Supreme Court, 1/21/2010 Justice Kennedy, Majority Opinion. “The Court has recognized that First Amendment protection extends to corporations.... (23 citations omitted) This protection has been extended by explicit holdings to the context of political speech.... (2 citations omitted) Under the rationale of these precedents,political speech does not lose First Amendment protection ‘simply because its source is a corporation’ (2 citations omitted)... The Court has thus rejected the argument that political speech of corporations or other associations should be treated differently under the First Amendment simply because such associations are not ‘natural persons.’” (558 U.S. _____, pp. 25-26 Opinion) 3

4. Citizens United v. FEC U.S. Supreme Court, 1/21/2010 Justice Stevens, Dissenting Opinion. “In the context of election to public office, the distinction between corporate and human speakers is significant. Although they make enormous contributions to our society, corporations are not actually members of it. They cannot vote or run for office... The financial resources, legal structure, and instrumental orientation of corporations raise legitimate concerns about their role in the electoral process.” 558 U.S. ____, p. 2 Dissent) 4

5. 5 The Employment Relationship An economic exchange transaction –Between two individuals –Basically, perceived as no different than purchasing a commodity –No social content

6. 6 Unions and Individualism Collectivities –Collectivizing what we view as natural individual economic transaction –At a disadvantage vis-à-vis those exercising rights Corporations – legal individuals Employees – actual individuals Skeptical About Governmental Protection

7. 7 Other Values Europe –Class – based collectivistic values in Europe Asia –Confucianism based principles of obligation and harmony

8. 8 Implications of Social Environment for Collective Bargaining Strong management and employers –Property rights –Individualism –Job provider –Resistance to unionism Unionism –Struggle for legitimacy –Difficulty in staying organized

9. 9 Legal Environment Basic Principles of Legal Environment –Accessible –Wide Coverage –Public –Mandatory Procedures

10. 10 Economic Environment Macro-Level Focus –Determinants of Union Growth Shifts in Structure of Employment Business Cycle Micro Level Focus –Labor and Product Markets\Firm skilled - hard to replace workers inelastic demand for union product inelastic supply of substitutes for union labor ratio of labor costs to total costs (“importance of being unimportant”) –Take Wages out of Competition - Organize the Product Market

11. 11 Product Market Successful organization of product market key to union success during period 1945-75 –Autos –Steel –Airlines –Trucking –Paper –Construction Union Taking Wages (labor costs) Out of Competition

12. 12 Product Market Implications –As entry increases, union power declines Wages and labor costs –If employers can remove themselves from unionized sector, union power declines spatial limitations –Longshoring –Public Employment Post 1975 –Increasing foreign competition - “nonunion” autos: less than 5% market share in late 60’s to roughly 35% today steel: increase in worldwide capacity –Deregulation - airlines and trucking

13. 13 Product Market (cont.) Employer Removal - rubber Spatial Characteristics - longshoring

14. 14 Microeconomic Principles Consumer Welfare –Efficiency is desirable –Efficiency is determined by low prices to consumers –Work is for the purpose of generating income so that individuals can consume Labor supply –Labor an input to production

15. 15 Implications More competitive product markets due to entry of unorganized firms reduces union power Unionized employer capability of removal from union sector reduces union power Both happened in period 1975-2005

16. 16 Political Environment Political linkages –Unions – Democratic Party –Employers – Republican party Republican party rise over last 25 years –Favorable to Business Flexibility –Reduction of Legal Constraints Minimalist government

17. Political Environment (cont.) Legislative Gridlock –Each side can prevent other from meeting its labor market regulatory goals –Freezes status quo Defaults to –NLRB –Courts of Appeals 17

18. 18 Linkages to Other Three Environments Social –Reinforces individualism Legal –Legislation – Appointments Administrative Judicial Economic –Fewer constraints on business –Willingness to let “market” work