1. Chapter 22 Labor Unions

2. Some workers choose to organize and join together to form labor unions (Workers band together to have a better chance at higher pay & better working conditions) Unions became necessary since workers were exploited during the rise of industrialization Original purpose of unions 1)Fair wages 2) Safe working conditions Because of successes, union membership has decreased Today- only about 14% of workers belong to unions

3. Types of unions 1)Craft or trade union (workers perform the same skill) Ex.- plumbers, printers, etc. 2) Industrial Unions (Different types of workers in same industry)

4. How unions are organized 1) Local Union- Members from a union in a factory, company, or geographic area

5. 2) National Unions- Individual craft or trade unions that represent local unions nationwide ***Those with members in Mexico & Canada are called International unions

6. 3) Federation- AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor / Congress of Industrial Organizations) Formed by merger in 1955 Represents over 13 million workers

7. Some people criticize unions for trying to control the supply of labor In past- Unions supported Closed Shops (Worker must belong to the union to be hired) 1947- Taft-Hartley Act outlawed closed shops (Exempt if only intrastate) Today- there are Union Shops (Must join the union if hired) 22 States have Right-to-work laws (Don’t have to join union) ***NC is a right-to-work state Modified Union Shop- workers don’t have to join the union but can If they join: must remain a union member as long as employed **union isn’t brought into the workplace unless a majority of workers approve NLRB makes sure unions elections are fair and honest

8. Union represents workers in negotiations for a work contract Collective Bargaining (between Unions reps & company officials) Agreement lasts several years and must be renegotiated Sometimes an agreement can’t be reached Options: 1) Mediation (Non-binding) Mediator suggests solutions 2) Arbitration (Binding) Both sides agree to follow Arbitrator’s ruling beforehand

9. Tools used to pressure the other side to accept agreement UnionManagement 1)Strike 1) Lockout (greatest power) 2) Hire replacements (Scabs) 2) Work slowdown 3) Boycott (Cesar Chavez- led grape boycott) formed United Farm Workers Union