Respond to each classmate post with 3-4 sentences Classmate 1 post •Many would acknowledge that at one time unions were good for workers and the country as unions were able to help workers obtain safer and healthier working conditions, higher pay, and a variety of legal protections. However, others argue that they have outlived their usefulness and contribute to lower competitiveness and a decline in the value of merit (with the union emphasis on seniority). Evaluate the pros and cons of unions, including your assessment of whether unions have outlived their usefulness or still have an important role. Labor unions are also known as trade unions which continue to be controversial topic for the workforce (union plus, 2016). According to our readings, unions and management both have experienced the same problems (Casio, 2015). Changing the nature of the workforce and the nature of labor, mergers and acquisitions the structure of employees are all impacting both unions and management (Casio, 2015). The origin of labor unions date back to the eighteenth century in Europe pertaining to the Industrial Revolution (union plus,2016).Unions are more common in mining, construction, manufacturing and transportation industries. A lot of criticism goes along with even creating a union, most employees are afraid that if they join a union the company will be against them. Recently and in the past, unions have been scrutinized. Twenty-three states authorize collecting these fees from those who don't join the union but benefit from a contract that covers them (global issues, 2016). Recently the Supreme Court has ruled against unions (global issues, 2016). The court's more conservative justices sharply criticized the current system in which public employees in 23 states and the District of Columbia must pay for the cost of collective bargaining, even if they disagree with their unions' demands. The problem, those justices said, is that virtually everything the unions do affects public policy and tax dollars(global issues,2016).Subsequently being a member of a union comes with a weekly membership fee, the thought of where and how the money is being spent will always be a question for some members. Labor unions have been around since the Roman Empire and actually began to evolve into their present form during the Middle Ages. Like all things created by men, labor unions have good qualities and bad qualities. Here are some pros and cons of having a union member represent an employee. One pro is that the union protects the best interest of the employee (global issues, 2016). Employees who are members of labor unions have the voice and support for a safer working environment. Another pro is that once the union negotiates better working conditions, it will lead to more productivity within the company (global issues, 2016). Some cons that affect unions are that employers are forced to cut down on hiring other workers for certain jobs, because of the demand from.

1. Respond to each classmate post with 3-4 sentences
Classmate 1 post
•Many would acknowledge that at one time unions were good
for workers and the country as unions were able to help workers
obtain safer and healthier working conditions, higher pay, and a
variety of legal protections. However, others argue that they
have outlived their usefulness and contribute to lower
competitiveness and a decline in the value of merit (with the
union emphasis on seniority). Evaluate the pros and cons of
unions, including your assessment of whether unions have
outlived their usefulness or still have an important role.
Labor unions are also known as trade unions which continue to
be controversial topic for the workforce (union plus, 2016).
According to our readings, unions and management both have
experienced the same problems (Casio, 2015). Changing the
nature of the workforce and the nature of labor, mergers and
acquisitions the structure of employees are all impacting both
unions and management (Casio, 2015). The origin of labor
unions date back to the eighteenth century in Europe pertaining
to the Industrial Revolution (union plus,2016).Unions are more
common in mining, construction, manufacturing and
transportation industries. A lot of criticism goes along with
even creating a union, most employees are afraid that if they
join a union the company will be against them. Recently and in
the past, unions have been scrutinized. Twenty-three states
authorize collecting these fees from those who don't join the
union but benefit from a contract that covers them (global
issues, 2016).
Recently the Supreme Court has ruled against unions (global

2. issues, 2016). The court's more conservative justices sharply
criticized the current system in which public employees in 23
states and the District of Columbia must pay for the cost of
collective bargaining, even if they disagree with their unions'
demands. The problem, those justices said, is that virtually
everything the unions do affects public policy and tax
dollars(global issues,2016).Subsequently being a member of a
union comes with a weekly membership fee, the thought of
where and how the money is being spent will always be a
question for some members.
Labor unions have been around since the Roman Empire and
actually began to evolve into their present form during the
Middle Ages. Like all things created by men, labor unions have
good qualities and bad qualities. Here are some pros and cons of
having a union member represent an employee. One pro is that
the union protects the best interest of the employee (global
issues, 2016). Employees who are members of labor unions have
the voice and support for a safer working environment.
Another pro is that once the union negotiates better working
conditions, it will lead to more productivity within the company
(global issues, 2016). Some cons that affect unions are that
employers are forced to cut down on hiring other workers for
certain jobs, because of the demand from union workers for
higher wages. Another con is that labor unions can be
monopolized and can be run by cartels (global issues, 2016).
Unions can affect the company’s production with lobbying,
strikes and other forms of retraining trade and commerce. Since
labor unions are considered a non-profit organization, they are
exempted from paying taxes which can lead to employees pay
rate. Having unions can protect employees from discrimination
and inequality including sexual orientation, religion, race, age
and gender. I believe unions have outlived their usefulness,
because labor laws can do the same and more for an employee
for free!

3. Classmate 2 Post
Ulrich (2012) proposed six key competencies for HR
professionals, including (a) credible activist, (b) strategic
positioner, (c) capability builder, (d) change champion, (e) HR
innovator and integrator, and (f) technology proponent. Conduct
research into the six competencies and assess which of the six
roles is most important for an HR professional to master.
A. Credible Activist
HR professionals who are both credible and active are the most
skilled professionals. They are usually the ones who are trusted
the most, respected, reliable, and make a great impact in their
organization. According to an article in SHRM, Being a
credible activist, culture and change steward, talent
manager/organizational designer, and strategy architect
accounts for more than 75 percent of an HR professional’s
success, the study found. That’s because CEOs are turning more
frequently to HR for knowledge about developing talent,
changing the organization’s culture and moving into new
markets, according to Ulrich" (Gurchiek, 2007). HR
professionals have to be talented enough to recongnize a
changing business market and trends that affect their
organizations, understanding and having the ability to
implement programs or different ways to overcome obstacles
and being able to implement company changes for the success
of the business.
B. Strategic Positioner
These HRM professionals understands the in and outs of their
organization and think outside the box. They target key
customers and work to understand them better by knowing what
they expect and shaping the organizational needs to fit the
customer's. They are able to forcast outside business trends and
shape the organization to gain from those trends and are fully
knowledgable about the scope of business the organiztion is
related to.
C. Capability Builder

4. This is the trademark of the company; what it's good and
known for. The HRM professional will understand how to build
each employees strengths and shape it to fit the need of the
organization. According to an article in HR, "HR professionals
should be able to audit and invest in the creation of
organisational capabilities. These capabilities outlast the
behaviour or performance of any individual manager or system.
Capabilities have been referred to as a company's culture,
process, or identity" (Ulrich, 2012). HR should work with
managers to build strong relationships with employees, in order
to enchance their skills, therefore employees being able to find
value in their work. HR should concentrate on the atributes of
the organization such as customer service, speed, quality,
efficiency, innovation, and collaboration (Ulrich).
D. Change Champion
As change happens so suddenly in the business world so should
an organization change. The change champion helps to make
change in the organization easier for management and
employees. According to Ulrich, "As change champions, HR
professionals make sure that isolated and independent
organisational actions are integrated and sustained through
disciplined change processes. HR professionals make an
organisation's internal capacity for change match or lead the
external pace of change. As change champions, HR
professionals help change happen at institutional (changing
patterns), initiative (making things happen) and individual
(enabling personal change) levels" (Ulrich). Change champions
also look to transition an organization and position them in
ways that will make them more valuable with whatever change
that takes place outside of business.
E. HR Innovator and Integrator
An HR professional must know the complete scope of HR
practices and be able to combine past HR practice with present,
in order to implement programs and practices that will propel
the company. They must be able to recognize talent and and
enchance skills; performance apprasials to where employees are

5. awarded with rewards and incentives; team building skills and
developing employee and manager relationships; and
communication through out the entire organization. The goal is
to have all of those systems to operate effectively in order to
increase productivity through out the organization.
F. Technology Propent
Technology plays a major role in communication with HR
administration. All company forms, payroll, benefits, employee
information, and other administrative services are conducted
and kept online. HRM would need to understand employees
need to understand their computer systems in order to stay
connected. With the growth and expansion of technology,
organizations need to get a full grasp on social media. Many
consumers take advantage of the ease of using companies who
are connected to social media. Using social media will propel a
company forward for any future business.
The most important compentensie is going to be credible
activist because they build realtionships based on trust and
understand the entire scope of HR viewpoints. Credible
activisty has to have an even balance of the other competensies
in order to be effictive. According to Ulrich, "They also have
to have a mix of competencies in positioning the firm to its
external environment (strategic positioner), doing organisation
capability and culture audits (capability builder), making
change happen (change champion), aligning and innovating HR
practices (HR integrator) and understanding and using
technology (technology proponent). These competencies explain
42.5% of the effectiveness of an HR professional: (Ulrich).