tailieunhanh - Lecture An introduction to collective bargaining and industrial relations (4e) – Chapter 6: Union strategies and structures for representing workers

Chapter 6 - Union strategies and structures for representing workers. The main contents of the chapter consist of the following: Unions and politics, union growth and membership characteristics, models of union growth, explanations of recent union declines, union structures for collective bargaining. | Chapter Union Strategies and Structures for Representing Workers 6 McGraw-Hill/Irwin An Introduction to Collective Bargaining & Industrial Relations, 4e Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Unions and Politics . labor unions have historically devoted the bulk of their efforts to collective bargaining as opposed to political action This is consistent with the concept of “business unionism” There is no sizable labor party in the ., as is the case in a number of European countries Unions have not typically identified themselves with a socialist political platform, as is another characteristic of many European labor unions 6 - American Unions Do Have a Political Agenda Unions have been ardent and successful supporters of federal legislation to protect and improve employment conditions, including: Minimum wage, OSHA, the Davis-Bacon procedures, Family and Medical Leave Act, and various pension regulations Unions mobilize voters, play an active role in state and local politics, and the preparation of legislation 6 - Labor’s Voice in National and Corporate Affairs In recent years the AFL-CIO has increased assistance to candidates for President and Congress who support its labor, trade, economic, and social policies John Sweeney created a new Department of Corporate Affairs to identify strategies for making corporate behavior more responsive to worker interests 6 - Labor’s Role in Coalition Politics In recent years, labor has increased its efforts to build or join coalitions for changes in legislation or corporate behavior An example would be the “Living Wage” Labor campaigns have produced community level ordinances in over fifty . cities requiring companies that do business with local government to pay above the minimum wage 6 - Current Debates in Unions over the Appropriate Role of Politics Some unionists want to reorient strategy away from bargaining and toward political action An independent labor party was | Chapter Union Strategies and Structures for Representing Workers 6 McGraw-Hill/Irwin An Introduction to Collective Bargaining & Industrial Relations, 4e Copyright © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Unions and Politics . labor unions have historically devoted the bulk of their efforts to collective bargaining as opposed to political action This is consistent with the concept of “business unionism” There is no sizable labor party in the ., as is the case in a number of European countries Unions have not typically identified themselves with a socialist political platform, as is another characteristic of many European labor unions 6 - American Unions Do Have a Political Agenda Unions have been ardent and successful supporters of federal legislation to protect and improve employment conditions, including: Minimum wage, OSHA, the Davis-Bacon procedures, Family and Medical Leave Act, and various pension regulations Unions mobilize voters, play an active