Labor Laws and Unions

Labor Laws and Unions

Milan Kelly

HRM - 531

August 22, 2011

Abstract

The State of Connecticut Department of Social Services is a unionized public service organization whose goal is to protect the jobs and benefits of its employees. In this paper, the history of the Department of Social Services, its relationship with the state government, and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) will be discussed. Topics such as legislation will be discussed along with the process of unionization and the effects a union such as AFSCME has on this organization.

The State of Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) is a public service organization that provides services for residents statewide. Some of these services include Medicaid, SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps), Temporary Family Assistance (TFA), as well as other services that aid the elderly or disabled. The agency is comprised of 191 offices statewide to ensure that members in all of these communities have access to all services. The agency is headed by a commissioner followed by a deputy commissioner, regional administrators, and social services operations managers. The Department of Social Services mission is to 1) meet basic needs of food, shelter, economic support and health care, 2) promote and support the choice to live with dignity in one's own home and community and 3) Promote and support the achievement of economic viability in the workforce (State of Connecticut Department of Social Services, 2011). The vision that this organization has in order to accomplish this mission is for people to work cooperatively to support individuals and families to reach their full potential and live better lives with humanity and integrity (State of Connecticut Department of Social Services, 2011).

Employees of the Department of Social Services are all members of the American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees...