Case Study: The American Federation Of Labor-Congress Of Industrial Organizations

Case 5-3, "Did the Company Violate....?", p. 232; and Case 5-5, "Bulletin Board Use", p. 236. Answer the questions at the end of each case in typewritten format, 3 - 5 pages.

A union is an organization of workers who join together in order to have a voice in improving their jobs and the quality of work within the organization. In many occasions, unions help employees of an organization negotiate pay, benefits, flexible hours and other work conditions that may arise. Unions have a role because some degree of conflict is inevitable between workers and management (Noe, 2003). In this paper, I will be discussing the impact of unions and labor relations within an organization.

HR must enact its own strategies which can aid the organization in meeting its goals and mission. They are referred to as strategic human resource management (SHRM). SHRM is “a pattern of planned human resource deployments and activities intended to enable an organization to achieve its goals” (Noe et al., 2002, 55). The following are examples in which HR strategies can positively impact an organization in meeting its desired outcomes.

As the global business environment becomes increasingly competitive, more and more organisations are targeting human resources as a means of strategically gaining competitive advantage. Strategic human resource management (SHRM) is a constantly evolving process which is concerned with providing a strategic framework that supports an organisation’s long term business goals. The logic behind this is that organisations are using new innovative technologies to provide qualitative low- cost solutions, and are trying to manage their human assets more effectively (Wright,

Throughout American history, labor unions have served to facilitate mediation between workers and employers. Workers seek to negotiate with employers for more control over their labor and its fruits. “A labor union can best be defined as an organization that exists for the purpose of representing its members to their employers regarding wages and terms and conditions of employment” (Hunter). Labor unions’ principal objectives are to increase wages, shorten work days, achieve greater benefits, and improve working conditions. Despite these goals, the early years of union formation were characterized by difficulties (Hunter).

Efficiency, equity and voice are the three objectives of the employment relationship. The productive, profit-maximizing use of labor to promote economic prosperity is efficiency. Equity is fairness in the distribution of economic rewards, the administration of employment policies, and the provision of employee security. The ability of employees to have meaningful input into the workplace is known as voice. Employees’ value having the objectives met throughout employment within their organization. US labor unions and employers should have an understanding of each other’s processes and roles, as it is related to creating a winning employment relationship, with the gain contributing to a healthy sustainable growing economy. The advantage is increased

From this perspective, trade union is perceived not necessary and the role of it is creating conflict, and it is seen an unwelcome intrusion into the organization from outside competing with management for the loyalty of employees (Rose, 2004). Trade unions exist either as the result of wickedness or perverseness of individual employees, or because of a failure of management to anticipate and incorporate worker needs and concerns (Bray, Deery, Walsh and Waring, 2005).

Individuals have been at work for thousands and thousands of years. Over the last century there have been many changes in the United States that protects workers in their positions and the duties they perform. There has been many changes for employers as well that protects companies and organization and offers beneficial information to keep them in compliance with changes and away from any from and form of discrimination. Over the last century there has been the organization of Unions (Bargaining Unit) in which are to protect workers in their positions, give them fair marketable pay and be the liaison between the employer and employee. Union organizations represent employees and negotiate contracts that

A union is an organization of workers who join together in order to have a voice in improving their jobs and the quality of work within the organization. In many occasions, unions help employees of an organization negotiate pay, benefits, flexible hours and other work conditions that may arise. Unions have a role because some degree of conflict is inevitable between workers and management (Noe, 2003). In this paper, I will be discussing the impact of unions and labor relations within an organization.

Unions have many subjects that need to be continuously taught, trained, studied, and critiqued. Some of these are basic unionism, skill training, safety, organizing, grievance handling, contract negotiations, health care, political action, benefits, labor law, as well as others. All these should be taken into consideration at the local and international levels. Top education programs need to be established to keep rank and file members, as well as leadership abreast of new innovations and technology and maintain a progressive intellectual competence. “Continued success in collective bargaining, public campaigns, litigation, and political action hinges to a large degree

“Robert Tobias (2010) argues that to be effective, human resource managers need to embrace the possibility of positive and productive relations with labor unions.” (Riccucci pg. 10-11)

Using the CHRM Decision-Making Framework, consider an organisation’s actual or potential SHRM response to influential factors and link them to the organisation’s internal HRM.

The integrative model of human resource SHRM includes elements of both the control-based and the resource-based SHRM. Desired outcome dictates the elements that will be employed. HR policies can employ elements of commitment, collaboration, traditional and paternal control as needed to support its business strategy. Commitment strategies seek and develop internal talents to meet skill needed. Employees are seen as business partners and competitive advantage agents. Traditional HR and collaborative HR strategies have elements of externally acquiring physical resource or skills. External recruiting in the case of traditional HR strategy and subcontracting and hiring of consultants as part of the collaborative strategy can be used to provide competitive advantages to firms. External talents while providing short term advantages can be a disadvantage in the long term due to cost and potential threat to the firm business. The paternalistic HR strategy provides rewards for employees who learn and follow the company prescriptive directive for success.

The research done in this proposal attempts to find the role of Human Resources Management for the smooth running of an organization through effective implementation of HRM strategies. HRM today has a much broader range of functions than traditionally it use to have over a decade ago. HR manager also has a lot of

Within this essay an in depth analysis will be conducted on the difference between Human Resource Management and Strategic Human Resource Management using contemporary perspectives. Human Resource Management (HRM) is the process of managing human resources in a systematic way. It is a practice devised to maximise the performance of employees and is concerned with the application of management principles to manage organisational personnel while paying attention to the policies and systems of the entity (Delaney & Huselid, 1996). Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) is a function of management which entails development of policies, programmes and practices related to human resources, which are aligned with business strategy so as to achieve the strategic objectives of the organisation (Patrick M. Wright, 1992). Its primary purpose is to improve the performance of the business and maintain a culture that encourages innovation and works continuously to gain competitive advantage. In this essay the Resource-Based View, High Performance Management and High Commitment Management perspectives of Strategic Human Resource Management and Traditional and Collaborative