Human Resource MGM Chapter: 11 Managing Labor Relations

wildcat strike

occurs when workers suddenly go on strike, without the authorization of the striker's union and while a binding labor agreement is still in effect

closed shop

refers to a workplace in which only workers who are already union members may be hired by the employer

bargaining unit

refers to the specifically defined group of employees who are eligible for representation by the union

final offer arbitration

the parties bargain until impasse and then the two parties' final offers are submitted to the arbitrator

1. boycott 2. slowdown

What are two less extreme tactics that unions sometimes use are?

1. mandatory items 2. permissive items

What two categories of items may be dealt with during labor contract negotiations?

1. no labor contract can currently be in force 2. the union must have served as the official bargaining agent for the employees for at least 1 year

What two conditions must be met before decertification to occur?

1. Generate interest in union among employees 2. Collect signed authorization cards 3. Petition NLRB to hold election 4. Secret ballot election is held 5. Union signs up members and elects officers 6. Collective bargaining over first labor contract 7. Labor contract signed 8. Grievance procedure used to resolve disputes during the life of the contract

What are the steps employees use to form a union?

mediation

a neutral third party called the mediator listens to and reviews the information presented by both sides and then makes an informed recommendation and provides advice to both parties about what she or he believes should be done

National Labor Relations Board

administers most labor law in the US

shop steward

an elected position in a local union, is a regular employee who functions as a liaison between union members and supervisors

locals

are unions organized at the level of a single company, plant, or small geographic region

arbitration

both sides agree in advance that they will accept the recommendation made by an independent third party arbitrator

Labor Management Relations Act (Taft-Hartley Act)

curtails and limits union powers and regulates union actions and their internal affairs in a way that puts them on equal footing with management and organizations

picketing

occurs when workers representing the union march at the entrance to the employer's facility with signs explaining their reasons for striking

Landrum-Griffin Act (Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act)

focused on eliminating various unethical, illegal, and undemocratic practices within unions themselves.

union shop agreement

includes various types of union security agreements in addition to a requirement that a nonunion member can be hired, although he or she must join the union within a specified time to keep his or her job

Mandatory items

including wages, working hours, and benefits, must be included as part of collective bargaining if either party expresses a desire to negotiate one or more of them

labor union

is a legally constituted group of individuals working together to achieve shared, job related goals, including higher pay and shorter working hours

impasse

is a situation in which one or both parties believe that reaching an agreement is not imminent

agency shop agreement

is one where employees can decide whether or not to join the union certified as the bargaining agent, but if the employee decides not to join, he or she must still pay a fee roughly equal to the amount of union dues.

collective bargaining

is the process by which managers and union leaders negotiate acceptable terms and conditions of employment for those workers represented by the unions

labor relations

is the process of dealing with employees who are represented by a union

permissive items

may be included in collective bargaining if both parties agree

lockout

occurs when an employer denies employees access to the workplace

strike

occurs when employees walk off their jobs and refuse to work

boycott

occurs when union members agree not to buy the products of a targeted employer

slowdown

occurs when workers perform their jobs at a much slower pace than normal

Knights of Labor

was an important early union that expanded its goals and its membership to include workers in numerous fields rather than a single industry

American Federation of Labor (AF of L)

was another early union; it focused its efforts on improved working conditions and better employment contracts rather than getting involved in legislative and political activities

National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act)

was passed in an effort to control and legislate collective bargaining between organizations and labor unions, to grant power to labor unions, and to put unions on more equal footing with managers in terms of the right employees

Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)

which focused on organizing employees by industry, regardless of their craft, skills, or occupation