Mgmt 583 Labor Relations

Chapter 4:Union Structure and GovernmentFall 2007

Growth in Healthcare Industry Union membership is in decline, but hospitals

offer growth opportunities for unions. 14.6% in bargaining units. 12.6% are union members (8.2% in private

hospitals). Up 2% since 2005.

Hospital Bargaining Units Eight predetermined categories:

Physicians Registered nurses Other professional employees Medical technicians Skilled maintenance workers Clerical workers, guards Other nonprofessional employees

No unit, however, will be certified that has fewer than six employees.

Source: American Hosp. Ass'n v. NLRB, 499 U.S. 606 (1991).

Union Structure: LocalsMembership Meeting

President

Vice President

Secretary Treasurer Sergeant-at-

Arms

Stewards

The Local Represents the members of the BU in the day-

to-day dealings with the employer. How local jurisdiction is defined:

Type of work performed (craft v. industrial). Specific geographic area (city or employer or

facility). Type of activity (bargaining, grievance handling,

etc.) Level of union governance (local v. national)

The Local Remember that in IR there are only two partie:

employer & union. Employees are members of the union which

represents them. Member rights are protected by:

The Constitution of the local CBA

Most union members do not participate in local business meetings (< 1/3).

Independent Local Unions Some unions may be independent of a

national or the AFL-CIO Independent Local Unions (ILU) represent

employees of a single employer and no other.

Union Structure: Locals

Two major committees: Executive Committee

President Vice-president Recording secretary Financial secretary Treasurer Sergeant-at-arms Shop Stewards Business agents (craft unions)

Negotiation Committee

Union Structure: Locals Negotiation Committee

Chief negotiator Representative from the national Cost specialist Note taker/secretary Language draftsman

Union Structure: Locals Duties of the Shop Steward

Ensures first-line supervisors comply with the CBA POC for initial grievance handling Collects dues Disseminates union information Solicits support for union activities

Note: Usually enjoys superseniority

Union Structure: Nationals

Union Structure: Nationals Originally nationals represented workers in a

single industry as their names may imply. “International” unions are such because they

include Bus in Canada. They have elected presidents but full-time

professional staffs. Presidents are elected at the national convention

by delegates chosen by the locals.

Union Structure: Nationals Local-National Relationships

Responsible for organizing new locals Charters locals Requires national approval for:

Strikes Contract ratification

Maintains strike fund Maintains union pension funds Provides IR support and expertise

Union Structure: Nationals Local-National Relationships

Promotes union legislative agendas Health and safety laws Equal pay laws Civil rights laws Minimum wage laws Repeal right-to-work laws Trade restrictions

Union Structure: Nationals National Goals:

Organizing to increase numbers and control a greater share of the labor market.

Enhance the satisfaction of existing members [aids retention].

Focus most strategic activities toward: Corporate campaigns PACs Education

Union Structure: AFL-CIO

AFL-CIO(9 million workers)

National Unions(53 Independent Unions)

Local Unions

Union Structure: AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney (1995- ) AFL-CIO was formed in 1955 when the AFL

and the CIO mergered.

Union Structure: AFL-CIO Primary Activities are Political:

Supporting pro-union candidates in national, state and local elections.

Increasing overall union membership. Union Summer – an organizing campaign. Organizing Institute – trains organizers.

Provides support to achieving political agendas.

AFL-CIO Political Agendas

Anti-Right-to-Work Pro-Affirmative Action Anti-English as an Official Language Anti-Balanced Budget Amendment Anti-School Vouchers Anti-Teacher Competency Testing Anti-Privatization of Public Sector Pro-Regulation of HMOs Anti-Free Trade (including NAFTA) Pro-Increasing the Minimum Wage

AFL-CIO Political Agendas In August 2006, the AFL-CIO

announced it would spend $40 million on get-out-the-vote operations for the 2006 midterm elections.

Trends Increased effort to organize service and

administrative professions. Increased effort to organize public employees. Increased union mergers (attempting to

achieve economies of scale)

Change to Win Change to Win Federation formed by seven unions

who want to place more emphasis on organizing and less on PACs. SEIU (Andrew Stern) IBT (James Hoffa) United Food and Commercial Workers Union UNITE HERE (Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and

Textile Employees and the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees union)

Laborers International Union of North America United Farm Workers, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America

AFL-CIO

OPEIU Local Membership

Business Manager

  Election Board

  Trustees   Executive Board   Labor Council Delegates

|hires

|

Staff

OPEIU International (140,000 members, 209 locals)

Washington State Labor Council

Source: Office and Professional Employees International Union Local

Change to Win On September 27, 2005, Change to Win held

its founding convention in St. Louis, Missouri.

Anna Burger, elected Chair of the Change to Win Federation.

At least 75% of Change to Win's resources and budget must to be allocated to organizing programs.

Have target Wal-Mart as a “must organize.”

International Brotherhood of Teamsters Second time they have left the AFL-CIO.

1960 – expelled 1987 – readmitted 2005 - left on own accord

About 1.4 million members (2004).

Additions to Change to WIN’s Ranks since 2005 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers BLE Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way

Employees BMWE Graphic Communications International Union

GCIU National Association of Government

Employees NAGE Retail, Wholesale and Department Store

Union RWDSU

About Exam I Bring two blue books Four Part Test:

Part I Short Answer Essay (6 of 8) 6 points ea. Part II Definitions (10 of 12) 2 points ea. Part III Essay (3 of 5) 12 points ea. Part IV Matching (all) 8 total points. Bonus 5 points.

Two hours

General Instructions for Exams Closed books, no notes. Students are expected to do their own

work. No hats, caps, or visors (or reverse the

bills) during exams. No cell phones, palm pilots or similar

devices during examinations. Once the exam begins no one may leave

the room unless their exam is completed.