Labor Contract Negotiation : The United Chemical And Plastic Workers

To: Boss From: Re: American Dream Analysis Date 12/5/2014 Subject: Local Union P-9 vs Hormel Meat packing Company. Preparation is key when it comes to negotiating an agreement and a prefect example would be the Hormel Company vs the Local Union P-9 workers(meat packing). The Local Union and Hormel Company both were placed at the negotiation table due to wage cut and “unfair treatment” that was conducted by the management team. This disagreement caused the Local Union to rally up members from the meat packing department that influence the workers and workers from other factories to go on strike. During this negotiation both parties made a few mistakes that are costly and time consuming. Hormel Company

These negotiation exercises are based on management-labor relations at Hormel Foods Corporation’s main plant in Austin, Minnesota. The local union was Local P-9 of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union. The simulations are intended to portray events that occurred at Hormel, rather than to reflect precise details in Hormel’s history. The company and union were intentionally disguised, with the aim of preventing possible bias in role-playing the exercises. The 1978 negotiation role-play presents a fairly accurate portrayal of management/labor relations at Hormel in 1978. The building of the new plant and the

Today’s UBCJA is a modern union which fights vigorously for workers’ rights. The UBCJA is currently led by its president, Douglas J. McCarron. McCarron first joined the union as a carpenter in 1968 and worked his way up through the ranks until he was elected to the position of president in 1995. He has since won four more elections in 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015. During his presidency, McCarron focus has been on training, providing decent benefits, and a living wage (“General President”). The UBCJA itself is currently focused on, “membership support, unmatched skills for our contractors, and a clear direction in leading the industry through this era” (“UBC”). The union has grown immensely in membership in size with 447,743 members within the United States as of 2015.

There was much dissatisfaction throughout the plant among the workers due to workers being treated unfairly by management (Engelmann, 2014). According to Engelmann (2014), “Foremen “traded” workers back and forth between departments – one of them laying off a worker and the other hiring him back at a lower wage”. Many workers throughout the plant would complain about being denied a day off to attend the birth of a child or a funeral service of a friend or family member or to care for their ill spouse or child. Furthermore, company foremen were instructing workers on how to vote in local and national elections, and threatened with layoffs if they did not comply (Engelmann,

Like anything, with time comes changes and at some point employees might feel as if the contract they have should be amended and at that point the negotiation process starts. The APWU would, at this point, begin the negotiation process. To start the union would create a Contract Action Committee (CAC) filled with active members. The CAC would then gather key information about things the members want to amend and plan a contract campaign. This campaign should be created with the intent to apply pressure to the employer. Once the campaign has started a bargaining team should be formed and trained. This team will work close with the CAC and negotiate the contract with the employer. The team will gather information from the union members and begin to lay negotiation round rules to schedule out the location and time of negations. They will also arrange leave for the union negotiators. After the guidelines have been set the next step in the negotiation process is to form a strategy. In this process, the bargaining team should describe the planned proposal, explain how it works, describe the problem that is

This was a multiparty, multi-issue negotiation involving six groups’ representatives: Harborco, Environmental League, DCR, Other Ports, Unions and the Governor. Compared to the “Best Stuff on Earth” negotiation, this multiparty negotiation ran much smoother and was less stressful, not easier but less stressful. All the parties present knew exactly what they wanted to get out of the negotiation. We incorporated some of the tips learned from previous multiparty negotiations such as having an agenda (although minimal in this negotiation but still useful), a time keeper, a note taker/recorder and a discussion leader. Even though we struggled a bit at the beginning of the negotiation to see the bigger picture (or bigger pie), we were able to come together and get an agreement that benefited everyone. This negotiation was comprised of three formal scheduled rounds of voting by secret ballot (15min, 40min, and 75min into discussion).

On January 31, 2015, the union contract of the United Steelworkers Union (USW) expired. This contract represents over 30,000 employees nationwide. On February 2, 2015 the strike was led by 3800 employees across nine refineries in Texas, California, Kentucky and Washington. The U.S. refinery strike widened on its 20th day, with workers at the nation's largest refinery walking off jobs and joining picket lines on Saturday as the United Steelworkers union (USW) pushes for a new contract that improves wages and safety. Strikes have since affected over 15 different refineries and affected over 7,000 employees. This has led to the largest plant strike the United States has seen since 1980. The strike affects oil and refinery plants used by major

The right to associate (join a union) is a statutory (legally protected) right in Canada, but collective bargaining has not yet been ratified as a constitutional or human right (though the debate of such has been ongoing for decades). A human right is defined as a right inherent to all individuals, “as a part of their fundamental existence as human beings” to create/preserve dignity (Foster, 2011, p. 34). The basic disunion between the concepts of collective bargaining for economic parity and human rights for democratic and social equality lays the foundation for the ongoing argument: should collective bargaining be recognized as a human right?

Prior to analyzing the 3 hypotheses we should define the main actors that were a part of the negotiations. Management part included Rod Andrew (Canadian GM negotiator) and Roger B Smith (United States GM negotiator). Labor part included Owen Bieber (UAW agent), Buzz Hargrove and Bob Nickerson (UAWC deputies), as well as, Robert White (UAWC director). Also, the votes that powerfully counted were the Canadian plant legislators, therefore, based on that we count them as actors.

Have you ever participated in the union contract negotiation? If yes, what role did you play and what was it like?

Workers have and always will be the most valuable asset a company has. Without employees, no business can function. Because of employees’ worth, businesses are obligated to satisfy their employees needs and this was accomplished by the formation of the labor union. Before the formation of the labor union, employees had no say or voice. After, however, labor unions acted as the employees’ voice to their employers. The historical changes of the labor union have shaped what labor unions stand for today and what they will stand for in the future. By understanding the historical timeline of the formation and development of labor unions, it is easier to understand the problems that we face today and in the future as a modern society.

Instead of utilizing the city of Tucson Fire Department Union Contract from last week’s discussion, I opted to utilize my union, The Old Pueblo Firefighters Association (OPFFA) Labor Agreement for week two writing assignment which is unique in itself. As a for-profit fire department, we are directly affiliated and hold a sponsorship with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

Before this week I truly had no idea what a labor union was or their actual purpose. I remember hearing family and friends speak on labor unions and may have received some biased opinions concerning the topic along the way. I have never been directly affected or forced to join a labor union which is reason to why I have never showed much interest.

1. Define the term “collective bargaining” and list and describe four issues that are mandatory components of a collective bargaining agreement.

Ground rules are the rules of conduct defined to resolve conflict in a process such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or consensus-building. Ground rules also made so that each party listed each other views carefully and they must treat each other with respect and Honor. Ground rules also defined about which topic should be discussed and which not (Ground rules are the rules of conduct…, n.d.).