...of the decline of unions and previously powerful labor drastically increasing the income discrepancy between the upper and lower classes of American society. but (comprehends) it through a differing approach: computerization. She mentions the (differing) beliefs seen by economists and sociologists; while the former thinks that computerization and the power of machines are factors for income inequality, the latter focus more on the (social and power relations) between the laborers and “capitalists”. Kristal (utilizes) aspects of both in her article as income (inequality) being the (result) of the positional power between the workers and the capitalists based on their incomes. The economists’ viewpoint is incorporated...
Words: 795 - Pages: 4
...Labor Unions in the United States Posted Mon, 2010-02-01 17:21 by Anonymous Gerald Friedman, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Unions and Collective Action In capitalist labor markets, which developed in the nineteenth-century in the United States and Western Europe, workers exchange their time and effort for wages. But even while laboring under the supervision of others, wage earners have never been slaves, because they have recourse from abuse. They can quit to seek better employment. Or they are free to join with others to take collective action, forming political movements or labor unions. By the end of the nineteenth century, labor unions and labor-oriented political parties had become major forces influencing wages and working conditions. This article explores the nature and development of labor unions in the United States. It reviews the growth and recent decline of the American labor movement and makes comparisons with the experience of foreign labor unions to clarify particular aspects of the history of labor unions in the United States. Unions and the Free-Rider Problem Quitting, exit, is straightforward, a simple act for individuals unhappy with their employment. By contrast, collective action, such as forming a labor union, is always difficult because it requires that individuals commit themselves to produce "public goods" enjoyed by all, including those who "free ride" rather than contribute to the group effort. If the union succeeds, free riders...
Words: 10531 - Pages: 43
... When the labor union movement began in the early twentieth century, the goal was to safeguard the rights of labor and putting an end to management’s almost cruel and unrestricted power. Prior to the 1930s and 40s, when most of the pro-labor legislation was passed, management was free to treat workers as it saw fit, abusing the labor with only the economic bottom line in mind. Unions became a powerful and necessary weapon for labor in the battle for rights within the workplace. Over time, federal protection for union organizing and collective bargaining allowed unions to be more powerful and politically unfair. The rights of individuals seemed to be in jeopardy, as the collective fate of the union began to take on greater importance than those of the individual workers. Because of this, many states have established right-to-work laws, which make it illegal for unions and employers to only hire union members. These laws tend to be argued, the unions believe that they weaken labor’s power, while supporters of these laws believe that they safeguard the rights of individual workers. History The unions’ power began to set in the 1930s and 40s, with the passage of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (NLRA), which “provided employees the right to bargain collectively for wages, benefits and better working conditions” (Henderson, 2006), for the first time in U.S. history. There have been a few judicial cases that also helped to lessen the dislike toward unions, as they tried...
Words: 2175 - Pages: 9
...RLAT Task 4 Labor Unions Historically, labor unions were created to protect the American worker from business management. Throughout the years, many laws have been enacted to protect the American worker and businesses. With the decline in our labor force and shrinking wages and benefits, do they continue to be relevant today? The story of American labor is dramatically relevant to today’s society. There are very little issues that is or has not been influenced by the labor’s organized efforts or lack of them. (Cahn, 1972) Labor organization in the mid-nineteenthy century was not new to America, and it was inevitable due to the working people being confronted by common problems causing them to unite their protection efforts. There was mutual aid or societies for masters, journeymen, and apprentices. They were usually founded to provide insurance against accidents and sickness. In 1801, an early labor organization announced the purpose of said insurance, and they were called the Society of Mechanics. Society or association was used in place of the word union representing a local organization of journeymen within a single trade. In the 1830’s the term trade union came in use, then later national and international which meant representing members in more than one country. Terms such as trade assemblies and central labor unions came in the 1860’s. The first permanent labor organization was founded when journeymen shoemakers of Philadelphia joined forces...
Words: 2917 - Pages: 12
...___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1. Real and nominal wage rates; trends 1-11 2. Purely competitive labor markets 12-46 3. Monopsony and imperfectly competitive labor markets 47-85 4. Union models and licensure 86-122 5. Minimum wage 123-130 6. Wage differentials; human capital 131-148 7. Pay and performance 149-162 Consider This 163-164 Last Word 165-167 True-False 168-184 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Multiple Choice Questions Real and nominal wage rates; trends Type: F Topic: 1 E: 523 MI: 279 1. Real wages in the United States in the long run: A) show no discernible relationship to output per worker. B) have increased at about the same rate as increases in output per worker. C) have increased slower than increases in output per worker. D) have increased faster than increases in output per worker. Answer: B Type: F Topic: 1 E: 523 MI: 279 2. The long-run trend of real wages: A) cannot be determined from available data on nominal wages and the price level. B) has been downward because the price level has risen faster than nominal wages. C) has been upward. D) has been downward because labor's share of the domestic income has fallen. Answer: C Type: A Topic: 1 E: 521-522 MI: 277-278 3. If the nominal wages of carpenters rose by 5 percent in 2000 and the...
Words: 10412 - Pages: 42
...FY 2002 Annual Performance Plan Table of Contents 1. Introduction The 1913 Act that created the Department of Labor (DOL) stated that its purpose "... shall be to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners of the United States, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment." While this statement is as true today as it was 88 years ago, our vision has matured as the Department has addressed changing economies and a diversified workforce. Today, the Department must ensure that the 21st century workforce is prepared to face the 21st century economy with hope--by equipping all workers with the skills to reach their aspirations. As we respond to the challenges of the changing economy, the Department's first responsibility will continue to be the protection of workers by enforcing the Nation's labor laws: * to ensure the safety of every workplace, * to guarantee an honest day's pay for an honest day's work, * to stop discrimination, * to protect workers from coercion and intimidation, and * to safeguard the pension of every American worker and retiree. The Department will emphasize prevention and compliance assistance--to protect workers before they are harmed physically or economically. Consistent with the Department's commitment to enforcement, we will work together with employers on better prevention strategies, avoiding whenever possible the loss of life, health or economic well-being...
Words: 3202 - Pages: 13
...Executive Summary In this paper, I argue that unions will still survive as an institution and play a significant role in the labor relations development, but for the purpose of better meeting the changing demands of new environment, after analyzing their strengths and weaknesses, I try to prove that unions must change in order to survive and further grow. Then the following part focuses on specific changes need to be made and the difficulties unions face in making such changes. Because the intensity of membership has fallen quickly since the 1980s, labor unions are forced to take measures to deal with this trend, but new changes of the labor force in the United States are barriers for unions’ expectation. Actually, for the purpose of regaining the vital role unions once did in American labor-management relations, they have made changes to create more communication and cooperation opportunities with the management to reach agreements and undoubtedly, this new approach has a positive effect on the total labor and management relations. Strengths and Weaknesses of Unions According to the definition of unions, they should be organizations of wage earners and are formed for the purpose of serving the members' interests with respect to wages and working conditions. By analyzing its history, it is obvious that labor unions were born out of necessity, to protect the health and well-being of American workers. Through the years, they have provided a unified voice...
Words: 2476 - Pages: 10
...RUNNING HEAD: LABOR RELATIONS COURSE PROJECT PAPER Sudie Foday HRM 330 Labor Relations Devry University Professor Ellison Abstract This paper addresses the following labor union issues, as it relates to both the United States and its Global counterparts: The changes that are needed for unions to maintain support from their membership, the community, and the employers within organizations. The Decline in labor union membership and political influence and the influence of politics in membership decline. The continued influence of generational aspects on the labor unions by Baby Boomers, as well as Generation X, and Generation Y. Also some other external dynamics that are affecting labor unions such as the impact on union strategies by the global workforce, the past, present evolution of the unions. And will conclude with considerations for the labor unions to remain active and viable organizations in the 21st century. Labor Relations Course Project Paper There are changes are needed for unions to maintain support from their membership, the community, and the employers. The recommendations I would make to union and management leadership in order to meet the demands of a constantly changing workplace, would be that in order to reach the more professional labor market, unions must remove the blue-collar mentality and appeal to more contemporary workers. Unions must determine how to organize 21st-century industries. In the market...
Words: 3556 - Pages: 15
... you will be able to: 1. Discuss the employment relationship between workers and the company. 2. Discuss how employers can exist without unions but unions cannot exist without employers. 3. Identify reasons why workers unionize. 4. Discuss why unionization is declining in the United States. 5. Analyze the difference between the public sector labor relations and private business. Introduction to this week's topics: Labor relations is the set of processes and activities unions and employers develop and use to clarify, manage, reduce, and resolve conflicts between employees and their representatives while accommodating the various goals of each. The practice of labor relations is governed by contracts negotiated by and agreed to by both parties. Contracts are renegotiated periodically to take into account changing goals and objectives of both parties and changes in the economy and society. Within larger employers that operate several establishments, labor relations will differ depending on what is produced in each establishment and whether different unions represent employees in different establishments. Employers would like complete freedom to alter the terms and conditions of employment in their workplaces, as necessary, to maximize returns on investments and achieve organizational goals. While labor is somewhat mobile, with workers able to move between employers as opportunities occur, it is less mobile than financial capital. They would like to...
Words: 7520 - Pages: 31
...input combination will result in an optimal production of a target level of output. Conversely, employment of inputs such thatMRPi= Pi for each input will result in an optimal production of an optimal level of output. 2. “Output per worker is expected to increase by 10 percent during the next year.Therefore, wages can also increase by 10 percent with no harmful effects onemployment, output prices, or employer profits.” Discuss this statement. ANSWER This statement is correct so long as the projected increase in output per worker issolely due to an improvement in labor productivity and provided that the demand for output is also expected to rise. Gains in labor productivity are sometimes derivedfrom an improvement in worker skill due to education or experience, elimination of obsolete work rules, labor-saving technical change, and so on. When increases inoutput per worker can be directly attributed to such gains in labor productivity, acommensurate increase in wages can be justified with no resulting increase in output prices or decrease in employer profits....
Words: 2185 - Pages: 9
...All Technology Makes It Happen The Global Relay Race Globalization Globalization of Markets Reduces Marketing Costs Creates New Market Opportunities Levels Uneven Income Streams Yet Local Needs Are Important Globalization of Production Access Lower-Cost Workers Access Technical Expertise Access Production Inputs Forces Driving Globalization Falling Barriers to Trade and Investment World Trade Organization Regional Trade Agreements Trade Agreements and Trade Growth Technological Innovation E-mail and Videoconferencing Internet and World Wide Web Company Intranets and Extranets Advancements in Transportation Technologies Measuring Globalization Untangling the Globalization Debate Today’s Globalization in Context The Current Globalization Backlash Leaving the Anarchists Behind Before We Go On Globalization’s Impact on Jobs and Wages Globalization Costs Jobs and Lowers Wages Eliminates Jobs in Developed Nations Forces Wages Lower in Developed Countries Exploits Workers in Developing Nations Globalization Creates Jobs and Boosts Wages Increases Wealth and Efficiency Generates Labor Market Flexibility Creates Jobs in Developed Nations Advances Developing Nations’ Economies Summary of The Jobs and Wages Debate Globalization’s Impact on Labor and Environmental Regulation Labor Standards Environmental Protection Developing Future...
Words: 2641 - Pages: 11
...Nov 3, 2010 Jack Nelson's Problem An article for Human Resources Management course, Gary Dessler 12/e, page: 52 1st Question: What do you think is causing some of the problems in the bank’s home office and branches? - There is not any communication between branch supervisors, home offices, and other branches. The supervisor employ their own employee without any communication with the main branch. The major problem is high employee turnover, actually there can be many reason for turnover, however in the text this is a result of when an employee would be hired, they would be resign another employee. In additionally, Ruth Johnson has been working in a home office for two months, howeever she does not know what the machine called she used and what it did. That means, there is not any HR to asist her about that machine. 2nd Question: Do you think setting up an HR unit in the main office would help? - Setting up an HR unit in the main office would help the managers. Through the HR unit the bank can employ the educated bankers and reduce turnover ratios. I mean, because of HR unit will work for supervisors’ and line managers’ needs, the employee which apply the job probably educated by HR unit about the which machine or computer software does he/ she have to. As a result of HR unit, turnovers decrase and efficiency increases in the bank. 3rd Question: What specific functions should an HR unit carry out? What HR functions would then be carried out by supervisors...
Words: 10243 - Pages: 41
...Prepared by: Lisa Fell The Effect of the “Right to Work” Law on Unions and Union Workers in the United States Capstone Co-ordinator: Ted Seath Faculty Advisor: Gary Gannon Table of Contents CHAPTER I 1 DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM 1 Background Statement 1 Problem Statement 2 Purpose Statement 3 Limitations of Study 3 Reliability 4 Availability 4 Timeliness 4 Precision Error 4 Researcher Prejudice 5 CHAPTER II 5 LITERATURE REVIEW 5 Selected Review of Literature 5 The Effect of Right-to-Work Laws on Workers and Wages 5 Right-to-Work Laws are Beneficial to Unions and Union Workers 10 Right-to-Work Laws Negatively Affect Unions and Union Workers 16 Free-Riders are the Cause of Union Demise 23 Free-Riders Make Unions More Accountable 26 Results Summary 28 Right-to-Work Laws Weaken Labor Unions 28 Workers Gain Fewer Benefits from Economic Growth under Right-to-Work Laws 28 The Broader Economic Effects of Right-to-Work Laws are Difficult to Separate 29 CHAPTER III 29 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 29 Conclusions 29 Recommendations 30 WORKS CITED 32 CHAPTER I DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM Background Statement The typical factory worker in the late nineteenth century worked ten hours a day, six days a week. Unskilled workers were paid between $1.00 and $1.50 per day. Children were a significant part of the labour force after the Civil War. Workplace accidents were common, and the idea of compensating workers...
Words: 10566 - Pages: 43
...homemaker has been replaced by the “juggler family,” in which no one is home fulltime. Two-parent families are working 10 more hours a week than in 1979.1 To be decent parents, caregivers, and members of their communities, workers now need greater flexibility than they once did. Yet good part-time or flex-time jobs remain rare. Whereas companies have embraced flexibility in virtually every other aspect of their businesses (inventory control, production schedules, financing), full-time workers’ schedules remain largely inflexible. Employers often demand workers be available around the clock. Moreover, many employees have no right to a minimum number of sick or vacation days; almost two thirds of all workers – and an even larger percentage of low-income parents – lack the ability to take a day off to care for a family member.2 The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 finally guaranteed that workers at large companies could take a leave of absence for the birth or adoption of a baby, or for the illness of a family member. Yet that guaranteed leave is unpaid. Many businesses are finding ways to give their most valued employees flexibility but, all too often, workers who need flexibility find themselves shunted into part-time, temporary, on-call, or contract jobs with reduced wages and career opportunities – and, often, no benefits. A full quarter of American workers are in these jobs. Only 15 percent of women and 12 percent of men in such jobs receive health insurance from their employers...
Words: 5465 - Pages: 22
...Globalisation and Rising Inequality in Australia Is Increasing Inequality Inevitable in Australia? Tom Conley Griffith University Introduction I want to dedicate my government to the maintenance of traditional Australian values. And they include those great values of mateship and egalitarianism.1 10 years ago a Mitsubishi type development would have flattened people psychologically. Now they take it in their stride … 2 Policy-makers and commentators have long been cajoling Australians into accepting that they are a part of the global economy, which means an acceptance of a whole range of ‘new realities’. One of the major themes of the pro-globalisation position is that Australia has accepted these new realities and adjusted well to globalisation by embracing economic liberalism. The results, it is argued, have been overwhelmingly beneficial. John Howard points out the Australian economy has grown for fourteen years straight – a remarkable achievement by any standards. This success story of growth has tended, however, to override more disaggregated, negative analyses of social outcomes in Australia. A less sanguine part of this new globalising ‘reality’ appears to be an acceptance of rising inequality. Indeed, it is often implied that rising inequality is a spur for growth. The argument is that everyone is better off, it’s just that some people are better off than others. While commentary is often not explicit about the association of globalisation and rising inequality...
Words: 11217 - Pages: 45
