Issues in Union Organization Campaigns Term Paper

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Employers' Role During Union Organization Campaigns

Union organizing has become a major issue in today's working environment because of increased efforts by workers to promote suitable conditions in the workplace and obtain compensation that suits their contributions to the organization. Even though the number of unionized employees or membership of labor unions has declined significantly in the past few years, unionization is still an important component of today's labor force. As employees continue to join labor unions to advocate for their welfare in the workplace, the role of employers during union organization campaigns has been a slightly controversial issue. The controversy relating to this issue is attributable to the tendency by company management to attempt undertaking measures that defeat the union during union organization campaigns. However, the National Labor Relations Act defines the role employers should play during union organization campaigns. This paper examines whether employers should sack their employees during union organization campaigns. This evaluation includes a discussion on the advantages and disadvantages for a company that is unionized and whether supervisors can be involved in union organization campaigns.

Origins of the American Labor Movement

The American labor movement has a history that dates back to the 1800s when the initial forms of labor organization in the country were primarily mutual aid societies or craft guilds (Domhoff, 2013). These societies or guilds limited entry into a craft and imposed workplace standards similar to the case in Western Europe. Since craft employees were relatively few during this period, the labor organization measures did not generate many hassles or hackles. However, the 19th Century industrial development in the country widened the gap between employers and skilled employees, which forced these employees to start considering industrial factories as threats to their status and wages. As a result, the skilled employees started to create fledging craft unions in order to resist the unprecedented wage reductions, unsafe working conditions, and longer working hours.

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These craft unions were also created to help safeguard the political, economic, and social rights of skilled workers. While these initial unions were local in scope, the advancements in labor and product markets such as improvements in transportation during this period enabled them to become more national. During this period, employees believed that their effectiveness in fighting against decreased wages and poor working conditions would be enhanced if they organized on a national scale. Even though the initial efforts generated little success, they acted as the origins of the American labor movement. Since then union organization in America has experienced several success and failures and developed to become an important aspect of the American labor market.

As union organizing has become important in today's workforce and workplace, employers and the union have specific responsibilities during union organization campaigns. Based on the National Labor Relations Act, the responsibilities of the union in an organizing campaign include collective bargaining with employers on behalf of their workers, promoting the establishment of suitable working environments in an organization, and ensure that the wishes of employees are expressed during union organization (Mehta & Theodore, 2005). On the other hand, the responsibilities of employers during union organization include allowing employees to form or join labor unions/organizations and engage in collective bargaining with workers through their representatives. Employers and unions are prohibited from engaging in behaviors or activities that infringe the established regulations of fair conduct, unfair labor practices, victimization or violation of the provisions of the National Labor Relations Act. In light of these responsibilities, employers should not fire their employees during union organization campaigns.

Facts Surrounding NLRB vs. Transportation Management Corp

One of the cases that relates to the role of employees and unions during union organization campaigns is NLRB vs. Transportation Management Corp. In this case, the Transportation Management Corporation fired bus driver Sam Santillo shortly after his distribution….....

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