Human Capital Management – HRM 531 Labor Laws and Unions Week 3 Labor Laws and Unions Michelle Mackey Human Capital Management – HRM 531 02/12/2012 Instructor: Bob Hanks Labor Laws and Unions Abstract My family has an extensive history in the U.S. Postal Service therefore the appeal of the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO was irresistible. My grandfather, godfather, aunt, brother-in-law and even I have worked for the USPS in one capacity or the other. As a student worker during my college days I found out why unions are important, and a necessity in the USPS. I was a scab (non-union worker) unwanted, unappreciated and over worked not to mention easily …show more content…
While another recent bill (H.R.3813) recently passed through the House of Oversight and Government Reform Committee would increase the amount postal and federal employees contribute to their retirement by 1.5 percent, with the increase phased in over three years, beginning in 2013 (Guffey, 2012). Process, Benefits, and Effects of Unionization “APWU membership is open to any USPS employee, regardless of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, political affiliation, age or religion” (Guffey, 2012). Supervisors and managers are allowed to join the APWU however they are not allowed to participate in the union activities; they are only participants in the Health Plan (Guffey, 2012). Regular members have the right to participate in local meetings, to vote for local and national officers, to vote on the contract, to run for office, and to petition for change in the union. Members are encouraged to join both a local and national chapter of the union. Both levels represent change. On the local level the union deals with the day to day for area workers while the national level deals with congress and the concerns addressed by the national convention of APWU. There is a separate division and
Labor unions represent workers interests and the collective bargaining process provides a way to manage the conflict (Noe, 2003). More than ever, union employees have come to see unionizing as a way to achieve an
Usually when unions show up on the door steps of an organization they are usually there to fight for the rights and better treatment of employees. Unions
Labor unions have existed in one form or another in the United States since the birth of the country. They were created in an effort to protect the working population from abuses such as sweatshops and unsafe working conditions. On the other hand, they have also been accused of crippling industries and consorting with organized crime over the decades. But in one way or another, labor unions have been
They worked off the “Keep it simple” standard and that ultimately lead to their success. Of the two million members represented, a very small number were industrial workers. This union focused mainly on skilled craft workers rather than unskilled or semiskilled workers. Unskilled and semiskilled workers were lefts to be organized by other universal unions. As stated on www.history.com, “smart leadership, patience, and realistic goals made life better for hundreds of thousands of working Americans it
My current position requires a daily assigned tasks and answering incoming calls from HR personnel. The incoming calls require first priority with scheduling candidates for interviews that must be completed. I prioritize completion of the calls based upon their hire dates. The assigned task of background checks is completed based upon the candidates hire dates.
According to Pamela Prah, another reason workers are not seeking involvement in unions is that they are afraid of losing their jobs. In her article about the future of labor unions, Prah quotes Carol Pier, a labor rights and trade researcher for the Human Rights Watch, as saying, “U.S. labor laws contain weak penalties, are riddled with loopholes and are not effectively enforced.” This means that employers who fire workers for joining unions could either get away with it or only have to face a weak penalty. There has been a recent controversy over wrongful termination involving the retail giant, Walmart. Walmart is known for openly avoiding union organization and they have been accused of strategically firing union members throughout the country (Vrba). Walmart denies firing workers because of union involvement but the case will eventually go to court (Vrba). In cases such as this, workers could unjustly lose their jobs and so this prevents workers from acting and joining a union.
AFL were unwilling to participate in a lot political activities to transform the function of society. Instead, AFL adjusted to the real social conditions and focused on the immediate need of labors. After economic depression, the price of the living grew dramatically. Workers eagerly escaped from the increased poverty and wanted to have a shorter working hour. AFL “reflected [its] ability among the proponents of the “new unionisms” to distinguish what was immediately attainable from what was ultimately desirable. It also flowed from their belief that ultimate end could never be won in the absence of stable organizations that satisfied the urgent needs of their members” (SR p.235). The federation had a rational view on the social condition and put emphasis on the members. In local unions, AFL organized successful strikes to get what workers wanted. In a national scale, it could call for more general program to push the labor movement. Moreover, if its every action was practical and adjusted to the social condition, AFL could efficiently make a change with the employers. Labors would prefer AFL rather than other unions because their needs can be satisfied. Unless a union satisfied its members’ demand, the union could not last for a longer time and get more support to expand
It’s not union. Unlike the union labors which are groups of workers and employees who bond together to be placed in good working condition including good paying wages and fair working hours.
Today most labor unions in the United States are members of one of two larger umbrella organizations: the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) or the Change to Win Federation, which split from the AFL-CIO in 2005. Both organizations advocate policies and legislation favorable to workers in the United States and Canada, and take an active role in Democratic party politics. The AFL-CIO is especially concerned with global trade issues.
At the point that the certain branch of the USPS’s union is certified the employer, the federal government, would then be legally required to negotiate with the union, in good faith, a legally binding contract covering all of the aspects of employment. (Office & Professional Employees International Union, 2011)
labor movement is the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign for better working coditions and treatment from their employers and the government. Through the labor and employment law unons are able to mediate the relationship between workers, employers, trade unions, and the government. Labor unions are legally recognized as representatives of workers in many industries in the United States. Union activity today centers on collective bargaining over wages, benefits, and working conditions. They also target disputes with management over violations of contract provisions. Larger unions also typically engage in lobbying activities and electioneering at the state and federal level. Two active unions in the U.S. today are the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and the Change to Win Federaton that split from the AFL-CIO around 2005. The 21st century has the most prominent unions are among the public sector employees such as city employees, government workers, teachers, and police that consist of older, male residents of the northeast, Midwest, and California (New Republic,
Employees generally seek union representation because they feel their workplace rights from their employer are not being met, or that they have an unfair disadvantage in regards to any needs or workplace desires. They turn to unions to help bridge the gap and ease the power differential that exists between employers and their employees. In order for a group of employees to obtain representation, they must undergo an election process to choose their union or decide if they, as a unit, want a union at all. Here, we will discuss the history of and changes to the manner in which employee votes have been counted to determine an outcome in these elections.
Labor unions are groups of workers who come together to accomplish specific objectives. Gaining notoriety in the 19th century, labor unions have accomplished many achievements that have helped workers in areas such as increasing their income, improving working conditions and dispute resolution. Workers have been known to use these unions to help negotiate for the betterment of all workers. Becoming a member of a labor union requires workers to apply for membership and pay union dues. In order for labor unions to become certified there are certain steps that have to be followed. According to this week’s Lecture Hall, the National Labor Relations Act (1935) gave workers the right to create or join a union, discouraged union discrimination and created unfair labor practices.
A labor union is considered a group of people who share a common interest in a trade or a profession. This particular group of people are formed to protect each other and their rights as workers. “Labor unions seek, through collective action, to give workers a formal and independent voice in setting the terms and conditions of their work” (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, Wright, 2013, p.603). I think most people join labor unions to have a voice and influence others that have to same interests in a profession. “A major goal of labor unions is bargaining effectiveness, because with it comes the power and influence to make the employees voice heard and to effect changes in the workplace” (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, Wright, 2013, p.603) Would I be interested
The company recognizes the IWU as the sole and exclusive collective bargaining agent in all matters pertaining to rates of pay, wages, hours of employment, and other conditions of employment for all production and maintenance employees, excluding professional employees, storeroom employees, office clerical employees, guards, and supervisors, as defined in the Labor