1. Goal 7.3 Unit 7
Labor Unions

2. Labor Unions
Group of workers who band together to improve working conditions
Late 19th century and early 20th century saw rapid rise in union movement
“The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair-novel on the unfair and harsh working conditions of immigrants. Critics claim he exaggerated.
Muckrakers: journalists who exposed corruption of people in power.
“The Jungle” shocked people about the meat packing industry-

3. History of Labor Unions
First union was created in 1886 by Samuel Gompers.
Unions reached their highest membership in the 1930’s
ALF-CIO largest union
In the 1980’s membership begins to drop
Companies begin moving to southern and western Right to Work states.
Right to work: state where union membership is not a requirement to work.

4. Goal of Unions Improve wages and benefits of workers
Improve working conditions
Collective bargaining: process of negotiations between employers and a group of employees aimed at reaching agreements to regulate working conditions.
Members use protests to get concessions. Or
Media attention and lobbyist to encourage boycott
Strike; refusal to work

5. Courts weigh in
If labor and management cannot come to an agreement and the dispute becomes too chaotic- courts will sometimes step in.
Injunction- An injunction is a court order that informs unions they are not allowed to strike while management and the union leadership are in negotiation.
Government employees are forbidden by law to strike.
1980: President Reagan fired the Air Traffic controller members when they went on strike: They were endangering the lives of the public.

6. Employer tools: summary
cutting benefits
lockout- prevent people from working
injunction- court order to stop protest or strike

7. Third party involvement
mediation- when a third party helps to create a compromise
arbitration- if negotiations break down, third party forces an agreement

8. Compromise
Mediation and Arbitration are 2 methods used to bring both sides to the table and reach an agreement.
Define the 2 terms
How are they different?

9. Gov’t Action
Social Security Act: 1935 Gov't money set aside through payroll deductions for retired persons.
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) agency created to protect rights of workers and protect collective bargaining rights.
Fair Labor Act of 1938: established minimum wage
Taft Hartley Act of 1947: that monitors the activities and power of labor unions and unfair labor practices: gives Congress and courts power to impose injunctions that delay or prohibit strikes

10. Labor Union Simulation
10 minutes: Work with your partner to create a plan/strategy for negotiations
10-15 minutes: negotiate with the opposing side and come up with a new contract
This must be signed by all 4 members to be legitimate and to be counted as a grade
When finished, discuss the pros and cons of the labor union.

11. Labor Unions Pros and Cons
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Apple in China
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Chicago teachers