NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

HRM 303 Human Resource Management
Dr. Naomi Rotter
Session 21: Union & Labor Relations

Objectives:

1. To understand the role and importance of unions in organizations
2. To be familiar with reasons for joining a union
3. To be familiar with the history and legislation of unionization in the U.S.
4. To describe the structure of unions in the U.S.

I. The role of unions in organizations

    A. Improve working and economic conditions

    B. Improve security against market, economic, technological & managerial threats

    C. Improve power relations

    D. Provide structure for protections against arbitrary and capricious policies and practices

    E. Unions goals

1. Power

a. Key industries

b. Political activity

2. Growth

II. Reasons for joining

    A. Dissatisfaction

    B. Socialization

    C. Union shops

III. Historical-legal consideration

    A. Before 1930

    B. After 1930

1. The Wagner Act -- 1935

2. The Taft-Hartley Act -- 1947

3. The Landrum Griffith Act -- 1959

4. State & local regulations

5. NLRB vs Electromation

    C. State of unionization

1. Declining membership

2. Small blip up

3. Distribution of membership

4. Public sector unions

IV.. Organization of unions in the U.S.

    A. Locals

    B. Craft and industrial unions

    C. Nationals

    D. AFL-CIO