Today’s Schedule – 10/22 Discuss BLS Research PPT: Organized Labor HW: – Study for Unit 3 Test – CHECK GRADES ON SPA: FRIDAY IS LAST DAY FOR MISSING WORK

1880s Industrial Revolution introduced the factory worker – hour days; 7 days a week; dangerous equipment Initially unions were considered illegal Samuel Gompers: founded American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1886 – Higher wages – Shorter hours – Safer work environments

Responses Companies often fired union organizers – Forced workers to sign contracts to not unionize – Sought injunctions to force workers to work – Harassed union workers

Congressional Response Congress started to champion the worker as a result of the Great Depression Started passing measures that were pro- union – Resulted in an expansion of unions Peaked in the 1940s Dominated industries

Decline of Labor Movement Unions started to abuse their power – Trying to keep union workers in jobs Unions started to be linked to organized crime

Decline of Unions Drop in union membership: 13.2% in ’02 Congressional measures Rise of white collar worker Decline of blue collar worker Decline of manufacturing industries Increase of women in the workforce

Unions and Management Collective Bargaining- negotiating new contracts – Wages and benefits – Working conditions – Job security Discharging a union employee – Grievance can be filed by union – Requires hearing between union rep. & mgt.

Union Actions Strikes- stoppage of work to try and force an employer to address union demands Mediation- neutral third party reviews the conflict to try and find a solution acceptable to all parties Arbitration- mediation that results in a legally binding decision