1. Organized Labor Labor Unions
An organization that helps workers improve working conditions, wages, and benefits.
Membership peaked in the 1930’s at 30%
Today, about 10% of US workers belong to a union 10

2. Labor Movement – 1800’s
Rise of factories led to difficult and dangerous working conditions.
Long days, long weeks, low pay
Discontent grew to organized protests
Strikes – work stoppage
Higher wages, shorter hours, safer workplace 10

3. Labor Movement – 1900’s Pro-union Legislation:
1932 Norris-La Guardia Act
Outlawed yellow-dog contracts
1935 National Labor Relations Act
Gave workers the right to organize
1938 Fair Labor Standards Act
Created the minimum wage, outlawed child labor, and established OT 10

4. Decline of the Labor Movement
Unions could be an obstacle to replace outdated and inefficient production methods. (Featherbedding)
Taft-Hartley Act of 1947
Right-to-work laws ban mandatory union membership
President can delay a strike for 80 days
1981 PATCO 10

5. The Decline of Unions Less Blue-collar jobs
More women in the workforce
More jobs shifting to the south
Most union goals have been achieved
Shorter work weeks
Safer workplace
Better benefits 10

6. Types of Union Workplaces
Closed shop
Hires only union members, now illegal
Union shop
Hires nonunion members, but requires them to join the union with a certain time.
Agency shop
Hires nonunion workers and does not require them to join the union. However, they still need to pay union dues. 10

7. Labor Imperfection Restrict Membership Collective Bargaining
Union card, license, certification
Collective Bargaining
Union represents large number of employees, with many different goals.
Seniority and Protection 10

8. Collective Bargaining
Mediation
A settlement technique in which a neutral mediator meets with each side to try and find a common ground. Nonbinding.
Arbitration
A settlement technique in which a third party reviews the case and imposes a decision that is binding. 10