Purchase Solution

Union Organizing in the United States

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

I need some help with the questions below regarding union organizing efforts. Please respond with any recent union organizing (within the last 3-4 years), in any industry or geographic area within the United States.

Please respond with as much information as possible and citations so that I can do further research. Your response must include:

1) Background information on the organizing drive, the representation election that was held, any unfair labor practice charges that may have arisen due to employer or union conduct during the campaign, the result of the election, etc.

2) What were the issues of the campaign? What brought about the organizing effort?

3) What has been the history of the targeted employer relative to anti-union attitudes and/or employee relations policies?

Purchase this Solution

Solution Summary

Union organizing in the United States are examined. The issues of the campaigns are determined.

Solution Preview

Please respond with as much information as possible and citations so that I can do further research. Your response must include:

I will focus on the Wisconsin issue. This was in the news quite a bit last in 2011-2012. The Republican governor or Wisconsin, Scott Walker, helped push a bill (Act 10) through the legislature that, due to massive budget cuts, forced public sector unions to organize only under very specific conditions. In fact, only one: they may organize only to demand increases in pay no greater than the rate of inflation.

In addition, it also forced workers to pay more for their health insurance and pension. The Wisconsin budget deficit is about $3.6 billion, and the governor cited that as the main reason for the bill. This led to substantial organizing and protests in Madison that lasted for weeks.

In the book Wisconsin Uprising: Labor Fights Back (2012), Dan La Botz writes that this will remake and re-create American labor. For him, what is significant about the "uprising" of 2011 was that it was political, not economic. It was focused on whether or not the governor or any other institution can decide to what extent a labor union can work for its members. He claims that public sector unions have many handicaps compared to the private sector, and normally take home less pay (this is challenged by Gov. Walker below).

Background information on the organizing drive, the representation election that was held, any unfair labor practice charges that may have arisen due to employer or union conduct during the campaign, the result of the election, etc.

According to the Wisconsin AFL-CIO (admittedly biased), here is the background:
First, the cuts and restrictions on organizing, mentioned above. Second, the loss of about 13,000 jobs in the state during Walker's first year in office. Third, Walker's rejection of a federal grant of $810 million to build a railroad between Madison and Milwaukee.

Fourth, given the restrictions put on public unions, the AFL-CIO, citing a study from the Institute for Wisconsin's Future, says that this has caused a loss of $700 million in the private sector. That is, since the public sector is so large, it has an effect on the economy as a whole.
Fifth, Walker supports Congressional efforts to make relocating a company overseas easier. He opposes "labor rights" amendments to trade treaties and the so-called "fast track" system, namely, the ability of Congress to merely vote on a treaty as is, without amendments.

Sixth, the union claims that Walker has backed, and signed bills for, tax breaks for corporations. Seventh, Walker reopened the "Las Vegas" loophole. This was closed years ago. The loophole permits firms located in Wisconsin to transfer the report of their profits to subsidiaries in states that have no income tax.

Eighth, Walker has repealed the ...

Purchase this Solution


Free BrainMass Quizzes
Title VII Laws

Learn the basics of the laws under Title VII.

Evidence

Do you know your evidence objections? Find out with this quiz!

Constitutional Law Rights

How much do you know about Constitutional Law Rights? Find out with this quiz!

Title VII

This Quiz pertains to the spectrum of Human Rights through Title VII

Criminal Defenses Review

Test your knowledge of the basics of criminal law and defenses with this quiz.