Deck 6: Union Organizing

Question 1

Outline the pros and cons of the NLRA's election-based union recognition process. Why do labor unions seem to criticize this process more than businesses? Describe some alternative means for deciding questions of representation. What do you think would be best for the workplaces and workforce of the 21st century? Refer back to the "Labor Relations Application: The Case against Employer Campaigning" box on p. 208 -should employers be excluded from the representation process?

Answer 1

NLRA
This is the certifying authority that give recognition to worker union and regulate their act. This was established in the year 1935 with a reason to decide for the union representation.
Pros and Cons of NLRA's election-based union recognition process
NLRA's election-based union recognition process is done to certify the unions. As union represents the whole community of workers in the organization and possesses a qualified bargain power, this process is a must.
However, there are certain pros and cons relate with the process which can be stated as follows:
Pros
• Law for violators of NLRA's rule
• Recognized union representation
• Structured and democratic election process
Cons
• Long and time-consuming process
• More than needed involvement of employer
• Loopholes in establishing liability of employer who violates the law
Criticism from labor unions
There are the cases of criticism from labor unions, more than that from the employer side, on this process. One instance is the area where employer found it easier to hold meetings against the formation of union by the workers. However, for the employees, it is difficult.
In other instances, workers may get fired or may have to lose their wages in case of violation of NLRA's rules. While for the employer it is not just same as that for an employee or worker. Thus, they may hesitate to hold or form union.
Alternative means for the deciding the questions of representation
Right to expression should not be ignored and in that perspective, there should be made some flexible terms for the decision on questions. Long term process should be made more swifter for organizing unions. Working of any organization depends greatly on the environment created by the workers and thus that should be taken care of.
In today's modern time, a transparent relationship should be maintained between the employer and the workers. The need to organize labors and their recognition is necessary but it should not hamper their access to basic rights and freedom. This is all basically done to ensure that workers exploitation should not be present in the organization.

Question 2

In a concise paragraph, paraphrase what you have learned about union strategies in organizing drives to describe the strategies to a new union organizer.

Answer 2

Union:
It is basically referred to the group of workers who come together in a particular type of the organization. Such group is formed for the purpose of improving the working condition in the organization. It is also formed to promote the common interests of the group in the organization.
Union organizer:
It is a particular type of the member of the trade union or the union official who is appointed. The role of the organizer is to employ the group of workers in most of the unions. In the other unions, the role of the organizer is to enforce the work rules and work as service members.
The author has learned that the multiple steps are required in organizing drives to the new union organizer. The needs have to be carefully analyzed in order to be righteous and successful in forming a work environment. Three significant players are required for the union representation. They are the union, the workers, and the employer.
The representative of the employee requests the union to visit the workplace of the employee and begin asking the worker. The union can also initiate the membership drive and this can be used in getting the attention and vote from the workers. According to the national labor relation board, the union must have the voting cards from the employees whom, he represents. If the union secure more than half of the votes. It is certified as the bargaining representative of everyone.
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Question 3

Bob Ulrich, CEO of nonunion retailer Target, justifies his company's antiunion philosophy by saying that Target "simply doesn't believe that third-party representation would add anything for our customers, our employees, or our shareholders. We just do not believe it's productive and adds value." Critique this stance.

Answer 3

Requirement of Unions
Unions were formed in order to stop individuals being taken benefit of, and they clogged it, now they just appear to be in home to only face any change which is what is needed in order to adjust. They are constraining financial development, occupational union frontrunners are only killing time and funds that could be expended refining the structures they have the right to guard. As employee privileges and salaries are always declining the employed group is in more a want of harmonizing these monetary and radical inequalities then from the time of late 19th era.
While commercial misbehavior runs industries into the earth, accommodating tax-paying bail-outs only to evade, all the while are concealing their avaricious blameworthiness from the public via merger incriminating. More to the point, non-unionized trades tyrannize the employee from their right to form unification and seek a liveable pay with reasonable aids for themselves, by danger of sackings/layoffs.
The difficulty with labor groups as they have grown is that they work by terrorization and compulsion. Those strategies are not always at the forward-facing line, but they are ever existent. They pursue exceptional administration honor that goes the other way on their campaigns or that commands their stresses. Often, the result is an overall reduction in service or even wound to the monetary forte of the companies.
They may need some improvement, however. It is sure that with a slight effort and some improved guidelines, unions could once again find a use in the nation, guarding the employees and safeguarding that their speech is caught. Nothing is flawless, and unions are no exclusion, but that does not have to interpret they are outdated or impractical.

Question 4

Should employees be allowed to use company e-mail systems to discuss common work related concerns pertaining to their wages, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment? How about to discuss unionizing? If not, what types of restrictions should companies be allowed to place on the use of their e-mail systems?

Question 5

The "HR Strategy" box that follows contains four scenarios of union organizing drives that end with different decision points for management. Follow the instructions at the beginning of the box to analyze these scenarios.