Week 1 Project

Management and Labor Relations

Centuries ago, unions were formed to encourage employers to offer better wages, safer work environment, and modi�cation to work hours. Over the years, many people were instrumental in creating the rules to de�ne the employer-employee relationship. The labor relations process begins with the employees electing a union to represent them. The labor union will select a spokesperson for the employees. The union representatives and the management must adhere to all labor laws and contractual agreements. As part of the contractual agreement, the union and management representatives will make a uni�ed decision regarding the work rules, rights, and responsibilities as it pertains to conditions of employment. The union and management representatives must abide by the terms of the labor agreement in order to avoid labor disputes and grievances. The elements in the labor relations process consist of the following sections:

Negotiating and administering the work rules

Identifying the key participants

Recognizing the constraints that impact the negotiation and administrative procedures for the work rules

Labor Union Goals and Objectives Review each icon to learn more.

Impact of Labor Unions Review each icon to learn more.

Work rules comprise the compensation structure for the employees as well as speci�c rules outlining the employer-employee relationship (job rights, obligations, performance, layoffs, promotions, and so on). The state of the economy can have a negative in�uence on the work rules (interest rates and

Positive Impacts of Labor Unions

Negative Impacts of Labor Unions

unemployment rates). At this point, the union may intervene and use its bargaining power to protect the members.

Additional Materials

From your course textbook The Labor Relations Process, read the following chapter:

Union-Management Relationships in Perspective

From the South University Online Library, review the following article:

The Two Faces of Partnership? An Assessment of Partnership and Co-Operative Employer/Trade Union Relationships  (https://www.thecampuscommon.com/library/ezproxy/ticketdemocs.asp? sch=suo&turl=http://search.ebscohost.com.southuniversity.libproxy.edmc.edu/login.aspx? direct=true&db=eue&AN=12070039&site=eds-live)

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