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HRM in the News is South-Western's service to provide summaries of the latest human resource management news stories. Review the brief summaries and, for stories of interest, select the full summary. |
| LABOR RELATIONS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING | |
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When an organizing drive was launched at Stanadyne Automobile Corp., supervisors established a “no-talking” rule about the union during working hours. Shortly after that, William Gurley, CEO, established a rule against “harassing” fellow employees, and the union lost the election at the company’s Windsor facility, prompting the 2nd Circuit Court to rule that employers are not allowed to “promulgate a rule that has a chilling effect on the right to organize or form a union.” (Updated August 2008) |
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For the first time in a quarter-century, the proportion of union workers is up, but the nature of the work is changing. The jobs are more likely to be low-paying rather than the high-paying manufacturing jobs typical of union jobs in the past. (Updated May 2008) |
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Members of the United Automobile Workers union narrowly approved a four-year contract with Chrysler after a six-hour strike. The close vote reflects the tough choices members were faced with, some of whom believe that the contract does not provide a strong enough guarantee of future work. (Updated January 2008) |
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Labor leaders believe that unions will be making a comeback in America as their key issues—fair trade, health care coverage, and runaway executive pay are adopted by the mainstream. The recently passed Employee Free Choice Act might make it easier for employers to form unions. (Updated July 2007) |
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The new Democratic Congress is extending what it calls a “grand bargain” to the business community in an effort to reach a compromise on issues of great concern to both groups. Whether the relationship will prosper or falter hinges on several workplace issues that will unfold over the next few months, including minimum wage and unionization legislation. (Updated June 2007) |
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Wal-Mart will have to pay $78.5 million in back pay to employees in Pennsylvania who were forced to work through company-sponsored break periods. This lawsuit is just one of several that the company faces in the U.S. for breaking labor laws. (Updated December 2006) |
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The Bloomberg administration in New York City has asked a state labor agency to appoint an arbitration panel to settle a long-running dispute with the city’s largest police union. The latest call for arbitration demonstrates how strained the relationship is, and how difficult it has been for the two sides to come to agreeable terms. (Updated September 2006) |
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Tensions are high at Delta Airlines as Delta management seeks millions of dollars in concessions from its pilots to keep the airline solvent. Pilots have voted overwhelmingly to strike if their current contract is overthrown. (Updated May 2006) |
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By reaching out to European multinational companies, groups like the Union Network International are gaining entry into American businesses that had previously fended off labor efforts. The objective is to achieve local benefits by improving global labor and wage standards. (Updated March 2006) |
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Union leaders have announced a campaign to ensure that employers contribute enough to their employees’ health care costs. The movement comes in response to the rising number of uninsured in America and the increasing costs of public programs for which taxpayers must pick up the cost. (Updated February 2006) |
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As part of its bankruptcy reorganization plan, United Airlines has announced it will reduce stock payments to company executives and management from a proposed 15% down to 8%. The plan is still met with criticism by union representatives who feel it is exorbitant and not mindful of the pilots and flight attendants who have suffered for the success of the company. (Updated February 2006) |
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Large corporations have used outsourcer monitoring of their overseas factories in order to prevent abuse. However, unfair working conditions persist, and some outsourcer monitoring programs are proving ineffective (Updated December 2005) |
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Employees usually understand what constitutes good on-the-job behavior. But, when an employee shows out of bounds behavior outside the workplace, he/she can be fired as well. Employment-at-will doctrine allows employers to fire an employee for any reason, on or off the job. (Updated September 2004) |
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Northwest Airlines and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers are currently in contract negotiations. However, the airline has taken a dim view of the union's current hard tactics and has fired 4 union employees, including one union leader. (Updated 07/01/04) |
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The apparel and textile industry has not defined what "sweatshop free" means, so companies have begun using the term "transparent production." They want to make it clear to the consumer where the clothing is made, and how. (Updated 01/01/04) |
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With big-city political machines gone, unions are the primary champions of America's new immigrants. The unions are working with the immigrants' churches, media outlets, and elected officials to organize the workers. The immigrant workers are seeing the benefits in the form of pay and job security. (Updated 12/01/03) |
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As corporations deal with a weak economy, overseas competition, and soaring health care costs, they are asking employees for concessions that include wage freezes, lower starting pay, and high health insurance premiums and co-payments. Unions are resisting, but employees fear losing their jobs and management seems to have the upper hand. (Updated 11/01/03) |
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Wal-Mart is considering a Chicago site for a new store. Two major unions in the city oppose the move because of Wall-Mart's anti-union stance. The opposition could keep city planners from granting Wal-Mart's request to rezone the district in question to allow Wal-Mart to do business there. (Updated 10/01/03) |
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United Airlines flight attendants union assailed the carrier's plan to give raises to professional and technical employees just two months after pay cuts took effect for most workers. (Updated 09/02/03) |
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