Labor Laws

Labor Laws and Unions

Tasha Wiley

HRM/531

October 19, 2011

Instructor:

Labor Laws and Unions

While working for any employer, employees are subject to abide by the organizations policies and procedures in regards to performance, attendance, work schedules, vacation time, and pay increases, etc. However, if the workforce is unionized than the working relationship between management and its workforce should be harmonious, and in agreement with the union contract. In addition, to achieve long-term success, the union workforce and management must work together to accommodate each other’s needs (Cascio, 2010). However, accommodating one another needs can be difficult because both parties are struggling for power. Additionally, if the relationship is not harmonious or if the labor and human resources (HR) practices are deemed unfair than the unionization of the workforce may strategizes ways to have their needs met. Nevertheless, the working relationship between labor-management is critical to the organizations success and productivity. Therefore, to achieve the best results, the labor-management relationship should work towards mutual agreements along with mutual respect.

The following report will help identify the benefits of joining a union, explain the unionization and bargaining process as well as identify how union bargaining effect organizations with recommendations to help unite the working environment.

Union Workforce at Southwest Airlines

The term union refers to an organization of workers that

band together for the purpose of lobbying for better working conditions, which a collective action is taken against managers or employers who mistreat or disrespect workers rather than treating their workforce as a valuable asset. Additionally, despite the disgruntle views about unions, organized unions represent 15.7 million white-collar professionals, and when these groups of people come together and unionize, they become a powerful, social, political,...