...General Motors as a Unionized Organization This week paper is going to outline several things about General Motors (GM) as one of unionized companies in the United States (US) and United Auto Workers (UAW) as the labor union that represents workers for GM Corporation. This paper will also discuss the effects of the union on the GM Motors such as organization’s benefit by joining a union, the unionization process, the process of Union bargain and the effects the union bargaining have in the organization. General Motors Company, commonly known as GM was founded in September of 1908. It’s an American multinational automotive corporation with global headquarter in Detroit, Michigan (General Motors, 2011). General Motors produces cars and trucks in 31 countries, sells and services these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling and is nominated as the world’s second largest automaker, after Toyota (World Ranking of Manufacturers, 2010). This company’s largest national market is in China, followed by US, Brazil, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and Russia. GM employs 209,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in more than 120 countries (General Motors, 2011). History of United Auto Workers (UAW) in relation to General Motors UAW is a labor union which represents workers in US, Puerto Rico and Canada that ranges from multinational corporations, small manufacturers, state...
Words: 499 - Pages: 2
...which is serving domestic much more than other airline, is now America’s largest low-fare carrier(Southwest,2013). Southwest Airline is in 500 Fortune Company in 2009. Southwest Airline is the most unionized in the nation. They stated that 87 percent of their employees belong to a union. (Brancatelli, 2008). Southwest Airline provides low-fare with friendly customer service; they also don’t charge first two luggage. These reasons help Southwest became a big competitive in airlines industry. Same as other company, Southwest Airlines also face some legal issues and obstacles by being part of a union. The case Gregory Wilson reported that the company only hire female for flight attendant and ticket agent. (Bennett-Alexander) Refusing male for those positions was violent of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Southwest Airlines defended against by showing that they did it intentionally base on a bona fide occupational qualification ("BFOQ"). Southwest Airlines also have some benefits which will be some advantages by having employees in union. First advantage is having easier and simpler to negotiate with the head of union. It’s much better than dealing with many different workers. The negotiation will be faster than usually. Employees connect to each other creating an organization which helps increasing their benefits. By having what employees need, they also must improve their employee satisfaction, and work harder to have better product or services. And last but not least...
Words: 395 - Pages: 2
...2007 agencies such as Visser and OECD show that the rates of unionization are 70% in Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Places like the United Kingdom, Canada and Ireland have around 30% followed by the United States that just barely at 10% (Robbins, Coulter, Leach & Kilfoil, 2009). Although these numbers seem high, the have declined steadily over the years and even as much as 50% in the case of the United States since the 1960’s (Robbins, Coulter, Leach & Kilfoil, 2009) . Although these declines are significant, it’s safe to say that unionized workplaces will play a crucial role in the global economy. Management strategies and practices between unionized and non-unionized workplace environments have many differences and has been then focus of many studies. The laws concerning employment and worker’s unions vary from country to country so for these purposes I’ll focus mostly on Canadian and North American practices. Pros and Cons of Unionized Environments The imbalance between employer and employee have always been lopsided. There was a time when employers had all the power when it came to contract negotiations. Not only would they possess the money needed for someone to survive but laws typically favoured the employers and in some cases to the extent of slavery. It was so one-sided that workers could be criminally convicted for not fulfilling a contract, no matter how unfair the terms. This situation caused the creation of a few different employment models including unionization...
Words: 2634 - Pages: 11
...that collectively represents the interests of workers (Dundon&Rollinson 2004). It is widely known that managing employee relations in a non-union environment is increasingly popular in most of the countries; the non-unionized firm in the UK can be seen as a typical exemplar in the employment relations. To be more specific, the employment relations characteristics of firms without a formal union presence barely featured in studies of employment relations for many years except for some foreign-owned companies operating in the UK (Williams&Smith 2010). Before the 1980s, large companies without union recognition were treated as idiosyncratic and given some brief consideration, and those small companies without union recognition were largely ignored (Williams&Smith 2010). However, the issue of the ‘non-union’ firm has become a dominant role gradually in the UK, it is embodied in a sharp decline in union recognition in Britain from the 1980s to the 1990s, and also, the growing non-union sector in Britain became the focus of increasing attention (Williams&Smith 2010). Since then, more and more researchers in Britain began to pay more attention to the employee relations in the non-union environment. The growth of the non-union organizations and workplaces may due to a series of...
Words: 3254 - Pages: 14
...Unions and the Human Resources Department: Information and Trends Unions and the Human Resources Department: Information and Trends Introduction: Compared to personnel management, human resource management is relatively a new approach to manage people. Since human resource is the most valuable asset of an organization without which it could not possibly be able to use any other resources and run the business. So it becomes quite necessary to manage the human resources efficiently and effectively. It paves the way for the development of human resources management. Human resources management is a distinct management philosophy which emerged as a perspective to manage the human resources in an effective manner for the benefit of an organization. Last decade it had witnessed a great exploitation towards the employees in terms of the working hours, payment, and working condition which in turn resulted to the development of their representative group as an employee’s union. As per the article ‘The role of Unions or HR in workplace’ “Unions have been in existence since 1935” (Morreaux, 2013, par.4) when the national labor relation law was passed, which was the first labor relation law. Employee unions were primarily formed for the purpose of representing the employment problem before the management and engaged in “collective bargaining” (Morreaux, 2013, par.3) with the employers in order to protect the worker’s interest and prevent it against exploitation. The prime purpose...
Words: 1594 - Pages: 7
...This paper will discuss, AFL, a unionized organization. First a brief history of AFL will be given. Then obstacles AFL has overcome will be discussed, in addition to ways it effected the organization. Next benefits of having an organization unionized will be explained. A summary of the unionized process will also be described. Last the effects of bargaining in an organization will be discussed. About Factors in the 1930s made industrial unionism eye catching. These factors included the great depression, passing of federal labor laws, which made it easier to organize workers, and the emergence of AFL leaders who wanted to organized unskilled workers into industrial unions. In 1935 these AFL leaders who wanted to organize unskilled workers formed Congress of industrial Organizations (CIO). CIO was created to work within the AFL yet issues occurred between AFL leaders and power rivalries within the AFL. CIO’s strategy was to organize all workers into a given company rather than focus on certain crafts. This was quite successful through sit down strikes. Before the break of AFL and CIO in 1937 the CIO had more than 3.7 million members and exceeded AFL members by 300,000 workers. Early 1950s CIO and AFL realized power was being sacrificed fighting against each other and employers. In result George Meany and Walter Reuther, president of AFL, merged into AFL-CIO (Cascio, 2010, p. 514). Issues AFL-CIO has experienced issues in the past. In AFL-CIO 50th anniversary, several...
Words: 1132 - Pages: 5
...Unions March 19, 2012 Chris Ponciano University of Phoenix HRM/531 Human Capital Management Labor Laws and Unions The foundation of structuring a unionized organization is through labor laws. Consequently, a firm understanding of unions and any potential threats are crucial to Lewis and Lambert and other similar organization. The following passages are about Lewis and Lambert in terms of union processes in accordance to laws under unionized code. Lewis and Lambert In 1965 is the date of establishment of Lewis and Lambert. The unionized company's fulfillment draws from priding in performance, quality, and value associated with Sheet Metal Contracting, HVAC Ductwork Fabrication, and Mechanical Contracting (Lewis & Lambert, 2011, para. 1). Additionally, Lewis and Lambert owns a subsidiary, Sigma Building Services, providing HVAC, and plumbing services. Union Benefits Lewis and Lambert core of work starts with employment gains and representation because the company consists of more than mere environment. The employees of Lewis and Lambert are union workers; therefore, receive the rewards of unionized benefits. For simplicity’s sake, any organization with union workers will receive better benefits in comparison to workers who belongs non-unionized organization. Additionally, workers in the sheet metal field within the company enjoy the benefits of health insurance and workforce stability. Unionization Process ...
Words: 819 - Pages: 4
...employers and employees in unionized workplaces, or those who could unionize, and laws that affects the workplace. This includes processes and rules related to collective bargaining. The government provides a fair and balanced framework of labor relations and dispute settlement. With policy development and analysis of trends and issues of labor relations, the government provides facilitation and education, dispute resolution services and information for collective bargaining. The Canadian Labour Congress is releasing this study to show just how much better the union advantage truly is – both nationally and in 30 communities across the country. This study shows that in Canada on an average, unionized workers get almost $5 more an hour than non-union workers. A union is a group of workers who come together for making collective decisions about their work and working conditions. There is a democratic union in which the members elect the leaders through voting process. With the help of collective bargaining, these leaders negotiate with the employer in terms of wages, safety, working conditions, hours, and other benefits, on behalf of the members. The rights of unionized workers may vary extensively depending on the country, region and industry. Also rules, regulations and laws can also be amazingly complex. These rights are constantly evolving, and state governments adopt national laws to defend or diminish the rights of unionized workers. A non-unionized workplace is a workplace...
Words: 1566 - Pages: 7
...Challenges that Unions Face in the 21st Century HRM 330 Professor Morris Challenges that Unions face in the 21st Century Introduction Unions are normally formed because of the offensive treatment, unfavorable working conditions, as well as the slave labor strategies that some employers use to operate their organizations and handle their workers. Labor unions are considered as organizations that offer protection to employees. The key purpose of a labor union is to make sure that its members are fairly treated. Even with this key goal as the intention, unions have faced a number of problems and negatively impacting stigmas during their tenure. Labor Unions conceive that labor is not a commodity that can be bought and sold and that they should have some type of security in any case that they are injured or laid off. A bigger percentage of the population disagrees on how unions assist members or the kinds of agendas they maintain. Initial allegations that have been brought against the unions include unfair deals and intimidation. Historically, Americans prefer individualism. Supposedly, some union associates have threatened company owners and non-union workers, for the reason that some things were not done in a manner the union had wanted. This paper therefore outlines the challenges that unions face in the 21st century and the necessary changes required for unions to uphold, support from their associates, the society and the employers...
Words: 1866 - Pages: 8
...viewpoint, in operating in a union-free environment vs. a unionized environment. Non-unionized workers are not the individuals that have no membership in a union nor have any type of union representation for them. Workers that have no union, works in an environment that is easily approachable to work with and more flexibility in being able to negotiate their own wages and benefits as an individual. The business owners that operate in non-unionized workplaces have more flexibility and freedom. Being able to have the freedom to negotiate directly from yourself with your manager/supervisor can produce substantial advantages for creating highly productive employees. Working within a non-unionized environment has its perks, but also has its cons in having to deal with the lengthy processes in dealing with individuals. To be able to have more freedom when having to deal with the dismissal process, but also being able to approach your supervisor on issues and negotiation processes. Being able to do at-will dismissal on an individual for violations of policy and contracts, this does avoid the lengthy process that unionized environments deal with. Having the ability to be able to just dismiss or remove employees that are not productive or become disruptive makes the workplace a pleasant working environment and in turn is able to protect the company and its assets and profits as well. Most companies do work with non-unionized environments and have been successful into the future...
Words: 1003 - Pages: 5
...21st Century Organizations and Unions HRM/531 February 6, 2012 Introduction Today’s organizations face a variety of challenges and changes with technology and globalization playing the largest role in a 21st century business. No longer are the days of conference room board meetings and higher paid multiple in-house factory workers. CEO’s and managers are conducting meetings from their laptops or iPhones while lying on the beach with their families and factory jobs are being outsourced to underdeveloped countries in an effort to cut labor cost here in America. These challenges and changes within organization’s can cause miscommunication and misunderstanding between management and employee and sometimes require the intervention and protection of employment laws. Human resources management is the bridge that helps to guide and enforce these laws (Cascio, 2010). Throughout this paper, the writer will discuss the role human resources management plays in the unionized company and the nation’s number one pure grocery chain, Kroger. 21st Century Organizations and Unions The Kroger Company was founded in 1883 by Barney Kroger who invested his life savings to open the grocery store in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Today the chain operates 2,500 supermarkets in 31 states with sales of $70 billion and is considered the nation’s current largest retailer and is known as a unionized company (Corporate News, History,). A union is explained as being...
Words: 872 - Pages: 4
...enlighten senior management about company operations and managements professional conduct under the two significantly differing environments unionized and union free. As XYZ faces the union organizing campaign thoroughly understanding the basic differences, actions as well as statements allowed and prohibited is vital for management during the campaign because both the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Taft-Hartley Act prohibit employers from discriminating against employees for participating in union activities (NLRB.Gov n.d.). It must be understood viewpoints on operating in a unionized and a union free environment differ between employers and the success of XYZ during the union organizing campaign will greatly depend on management’s thorough understanding of the differing advantages. My overall mission is to make sure the XYZ makes the right decision for our company’s strategic goals both in electing for a union free environment and managements conduct when facing the union campaigning. Thank you, HR Director Introduction Unions hold a significant role in the communication between the employers, and the employees. The Unions main objective is to protect the welfare of its members. Employers have many opinions when there is a need to operate in a unionized, and union free environments. Although it may be argued a unionized environment is best, in reality this is the opposite. A union free...
Words: 1029 - Pages: 5
...531 10 September 2012 Prof Phillip Norris OUTLINE 2 Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City is an 1100 bed tertiary teaching medical center with a large, diverse nursing staff. Due to increasing dissatisfaction with management, the nursing staff of the organization with the blessing of the Chief Nurse Executive organized under the SEIU (Service Employees International Union) in 2005. Chapter number 1199 was then formed with the approval of the Mount Sinai Medical Center leadership. Since its inception, the Union has worked with the Medical Center to improve nursing process thereby improving patient satisfaction and also with patient safety initiatives. The larger organization of Mount Sinai may be at risk from state nursing regulations if a strike occurs due to the possibility of patient abandonment. While the applicable Joint Commission rules regarding nursing staffing apply, there is precedent from prior nursing strikes that this would have minimal impact. There is a very real risk of civil litigation if the shortage of nurses causes patient harm from reducing staffing and thereby nursing vigilance. Risk reduction during strikes would be to do temporary staffing with agency nurses. By...
Words: 963 - Pages: 4
...Labor Laws and Unions Sonny Williams HRM/531 9/17/2012 Dennis Cashman Abstract An organization can be unionized or not, but with not being unionized can cause some major problems, because the organization can have its own agenda to which it doesn’t want to be unionized or it could be that it wants to maintain fair law practices while being completely free of any collective bargaining agreement (CBA). In either case there are benefits and disadvantages to both. When thinking of a company that wasn’t unionized. The one that comes to mind was Whole Foods. A company that is ran by its employees and is one of the biggest co-ops running today. Whole foods, has created a huge market for organic foods and for the companies that make those foods. The carry the best products along with some of the best customer service around. I also loved that it was started on a borrowed $45k back in 1978 and the business sense in me loves that they have come this far. Whole Foods has many obstacles related to be on top of the organic foods industry. The fair practice laws and employees rallying for unionization can be tuff ones to over come. The fair market act makes Whole foods and other companies treat employees fair with benefits and minimum pay, so if whole foods is making eight hundred dollars a square foot, which well above the industry standard. This could be a problem for Whole foods, because they have always kept less of its employees at...
Words: 735 - Pages: 3
...found in KGF: * General foods were unionized but Kraft foods were not unionized. (The PR and employees policies face problems because of this issue.) * Integrating issues in Kraft and General Foods. (Human resource issues and employees expertise) * Kraft management was dominant. (The executives of Kraft Foods were more involved.) * Increase in price brought decline in volumes: (Increase in prices of some products decreased volumes of sales.) Analysis: General Foods was unionized but Kraft Foods was not unionized: Employees of General Foods formed unions but the Kraft Foods’ employees were non-union. Labor relations in both companies were positive but divergent because of history and policies. Managers at Kraft foods always take the complaints of the employees seriously and encouraged workers to bring grievances to higher level. Most workers of Kraft voted against unions. Both companies maintained different negotiating philosophies in dealing with workers. Integrating issues in Kraft and General Foods: The cultural differences between both organizations were an issue in the integration of KGF. There was a difference in the Human resource of the both companies. Employees of both organizations were expert in their own fields. Salaries in General Foods were 20-25 percent higher than Kraft foods. A committee was formed by the Philip Morris to resolve the issues of integration, the committee focused on the Structure of the organization, personnel, quick synergies, study unresolved...
Words: 625 - Pages: 3
