BA 2204 and BAS 324Human Resource Management

Unions and labor relations

Instructor: Çağrı Topal1

Why employees join unionsEmployees are dissatisfied with their

jobEmployees feel a lack of influence or

powerEmployees see unionization as a

solution to their problems

2

Unions/labor relations in the USBusiness unionismUnions structured by type of jobCollective bargainingLabor contractsAdversarial labor-management

relations

3

Unions/labor relations in GermanyIndustrial democracyPlant-level involvement of workers

through work councilsCorporate-level involvement of

workers through representatives on boards of directors

4

Unions/labor relations in JapanCooperation between unions and

managementEnterprise unionismLifelong employment

5

Labor relations strategyAcceptance strategy• Cooperation with unions

Avoidance strategy• Union substitution• Union suppression

6

Labor relations process-1Union organizing• Union solicitation• Pre-election or preauthorization conduct• Certification election or authorization

7

Labor relations process-2Collective bargaining• Bargaining behavior• Bargaining power•Distributive bargaining• Integrative bargaining• Bargaining topics• Impasses in bargaining

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Labor relations process-3Contract administration•Grievance procedures Employee complaint, and union stewards and supervisors involved

Department or plant managers and union officials involved

Corporate managers and local or national union representatives involved

Arbitration9

Union impact-staffingUnionized• Job opportunities for seniority• Layoff on seniority•Work rules less flexible

Non-unionized• Job opportunities for merit• Layoff on seniority and merit•Work rules more flexible

10

Union impact-employee developmentUnionized• Performance evaluations rarely used• Longer employment

Non-unionized• Performance evaluations widely used• Shorter employment

11

Union impact-compensationUnionized• Higher wages• Pay raises on inflation and market•Group incentives•More valuable benefits and retirement•More awareness of legal rights

Non-unionized• Lower wages• Pay raises on merit• Individual incentives•More costly benefits and retirement• Less awareness of legal rights 12

Union impact-employee relationsUnionized•More empowered employees•Grievance procedures and union representatives

Non-unionized• Less empowered employees•Open-door programs, and legal courts and counsels

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