1. Labor Relations & Collective
Bargaining
Ingrid G. Hoskins
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2. Labor Union & Labor Relations
Labor Union: An organization representing the collective interests of workers
Labor Relations: the dealings that result from interactions between a labor union and an
employer
Most employees are not organized into labor unions
The possibility of employees organizing into unions make it even more vital that labor relations
are positive in an organization
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3. Task of a Labor Relations Employee
Employee and labor relations: a human resource role that is concerned with building and
maintaining good relations with employees and labor unions
Relationships between unions and employers can often times with adversarial
Each side hopes to achieve what is best for their union or business
This can cause issues
By working together to improve overall productivity and customer service an organization can
achieve success and have happy employees
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4. Unions
A primary objective of a labor union is to provide security and long-term employment for its
members
Powerful labor unions can make it difficult for organizations to let employees go
Unions encourage organizations to provide workers with training and better develop
employment skills
Unions tend to oppose workers taking additional work without additional assistance
Unions work best with organizations that can provide long-term worker relations
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5. Unions
A main objective for unions is to secure fair wages and benefits for all workers
This reduces pay differences for employees at different skill sets
The gap between high performing and low performing employees is not as high within
unionized organizations
Unions, thus, create equal opportunities among workers
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6. Unionized Organizations
These organizations tend to invest less profits into business because of the higher percentage of
profits going to employees (higher wages)
They spend less time on research and development
An issue for organizations wishing to innovate and create different products for the market
This reduction in innovation is not universal
Germany is an example of equal pay into business and employees
Research suggests being committed to long term employment can still reduce innovation
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7. National Labor Relations Board
Created by the Wagner Act
Board is to enforce the Wagner Act
Members of board are appointed by the president, Senate approves, serve 5 year terms
A General Counsel serves as a prosecutor, the NLRB the judge
First purpose of NLRB: organize and oversee employee elections that determine if a union is to
be formed
Second purpose of NLRB: investigate allegations of wrongful labor practices, provide remedies (if
needed)
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8. Wagner Act
Federal law passed in 1935, created the NLRB
Provides employees with the right to organize
Formal name: the National Labor Relations Act
Pro-union legislation
Gives unions the right to organize employees
Prohibits businesses from retaliating against employees that wish to unionize
Requires business to good faith bargaining with unions
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9. Taft-Hartley Act
Labor Unions were fast to form following the Wagner Act
Organizations felt that the Wagner Act was too union focused
1947, Labor-Management Relations Act, shifted power toward management by creating a list of
unfair labor practiced for unions
Prohibits labor unions from coercing employees to join and requires unions to bargain in good
faith
Procedures for removing a union after it is established
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10. Illegal Union Practices under Taft-Hartley
Secondary Boycott: occurs when a labor union pressures other businesses to stop purchasing
services and goods from another business based on disputes
“Featherbedding:” when a union requires a business organization to pay employees wages, yet
employees are not performing services
Closed shops: hires only individuals who are members of a particular union
Right to work: state laws that require open-shop labor agreements
Open shops: does not require employees to have any relationship with the union in question
Unions do not like right to work laws; unions provide benefits if members pay, open shop is basically
“a free ride.”
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