Unhappy with her job, Terri goes to her friend and coworker Joyce and suggests that what the workplace really needs is a union. She thinks this would keep their jobs free from discrimination. Joyce suggests that there are laws that already protect them from discrimination but there may be other benefits to a union.This week will focus on the protected activities of a labor union, in addition to the history of labor unions and their current practices. You will see a clear difference between employment law from the rest of the course and the labor law that is explored this week. The pendulum swings back and forth for the strength of unions and, historically, it is has been a power struggle between management and the union. You will also learn the different types of union shops so that if you are ever in an HRM professional position to work with a union, you will have some awareness and know some questions to ask. TO DO LIST:
Discussion: Redefine the role and purpose of the modern union so it effectively serves its membership.
Assignment: Prepare and record a presentation of 4–6 PowerPoint slides that explains and analyzes the key elements of National Labor Relations Board v. General Motors Corp., 1963.
What You Need To Know: Study the case and the laws to learn more about employer/union rights and obligations.
Interactive Learning Module: Practice identifying the different types of union shops through the scenarios and questions in the activity.
Prepare: Review the assignment for next week, HR Challenge: OSHA Analysis.
Discussion Overview
Redefine the role and purpose of the modern union so it effectively serves its membership.
Assignment OverviewBased on key guidelines from the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), analyze the National Labor Relations Board v. General Motors Corp., 1963 case. Prepare and record a 4–6 slide PowerPoint presentation that explains and analyzes key elements of the case.
What You Need to Know
Legal Background
Read the course file, Legal Background: Labor Unions [PDF], for a basic understanding of the topic for this week. This background information is intended to support your learning like a section of a textbook.
Case
Analyze this case using the IRAC method in preparation for your assignment.
This article is about the serious changes for rules on public sector unions (such as government employers), and open, closed, union, and agency shops.
Key Labor Laws
These laws and a web page outline the legal rights and obligations of employers and unions.
The Wagner Act helped address the causes of labor disputes and the obstruction of interstate and foreign commerce. Also, this act created the National Labor Relations Board.
Amended the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 to provide additional facilities for the mediation of labor disputes affecting commerce and to equalize legal responsibilities of labor organizations and employers.
This act provides for the reporting and disclosure of certain financial transactions and administrative practices of labor organizations and employers to prevent abuses as well as provide standards for the election of officers to labor organizations.
National Labor Relations Board. (n.d.). Employer/union rights and obligations.Retrieved from https://www.nlrb.gov/rights-we-protect/rights/employer-union-rights-and-obligations
Web page with current descriptions of the rights and obligations of employers and unions.
Kaltura
Prepare to record your presentation using Kaltura. See Tools and Resources for more information.
Interactive Learning Module: Types of Union Agreements
Access this interactive activity to learn more about unions. Understanding basic union organization is essential for the HRM professional. Whether your job involves working with union representatives or not, you should understand how the laws around union activity have impacted employee relations. This background will help you analyze the case for your assignment. LAUNCH INTERACTIVE MODULE
Write Your Discussion Post
The Role of Unions in the Twenty-First Century
What will be the role of labor unions in the twenty-first century? Some argue that the traditional role of the union in protecting the worker has been usurped by significant legislation protecting the worker against discrimination, unsafe work conditions, and unfair pay. Others point out that unions remain indispensable for several reasons; for example, because “at-will” employment is still the law of the land, meaning that most workers can be fired for any reason.
How does the role and purpose of the modern union need to be redefined to effectively serve its membership?
How does the presence of a union influence the job of the HR professional?
