Chapter 18 - Enhancing Employee Management Relations

Maintenance shop

Agreement that once a worker joins the union, they must remain a member for the duration of employment.

Closed shop

Practice where employment is conditional upon union membership prior to hiring; prohibited by Taft‑Hartley.

Jurisdiction (union)

Authority of a particular union to organize workers in a defined occupational category or industry.

Landrum‑Griffin Act

1959 law imposing reporting requirements on unions and protecting members' voting rights within their organizations.

Craft union

Group of workers organized around a specific trade or skilled occupation.

Arbitration

Binding dispute‑resolution method where an impartial arbitrator issues a decision after hearing both sides.

Shop steward

Union‑elected employee who represents members on the job floor and handles day‑to‑day grievance issues.

Taft‑Hartley Act

1947 amendment that defines unfair practices for unions, permits right‑to‑work laws, and allows presidential injunctions on strikes threatening health or safety.

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

Federal agency that conducts union representation elections and adjudicates unfair‑labor‑practice complaints.

Grievance procedure

Step‑by‑step process for addressing alleged violations of a collective bargaining agreement.

Seniority

System that grants workers rights or benefits based on length of continuous service with an employer.

Strikebreaker

Non‑union individual hired to replace workers who are on strike.

Collective bargaining

Negotiation process where a union and employer discuss wages, benefits, and working conditions on behalf of employees.

Contract ratification

Vote by union members to accept or reject a tentative agreement reached during bargaining.

AFL‑CIO

Merged national federation created in 1955 that combines former AFL and CIO affiliates.

Industrial union

Organization that represents all employees within an industry, regardless of job classification.

Union shop

Arrangement requiring new hires to become union members after a short probationary period.

Strike

Collective work stoppage used by employees to pressure an employer during a labor dispute.

Certification

Official NLRB determination that a union has won the representation election and may negotiate on behalf of the unit.

Boycott

Organized campaign urging consumers to avoid purchasing an employer’s products or services.

Mediation

Facilitated negotiation by a neutral third party aimed at reaching a voluntary settlement.

Long‑range strategic partnership

Broad, ongoing collaboration covering multiple aspects such as performance, technology, and compensation.

Union‑management partnership

Collaborative arrangement where labor and employers jointly address workplace issues and strategic decisions.

Union membership rate

Percentage of the national workforce that belongs to a labor organization, currently about 10.7%.

Wildcat strike

Unauthorized stoppage initiated by rank‑and‑file workers without official union approval.

Four‑step grievance sequence

Initial filing, discussion with management, full‑scale meeting, and final arbitration by a neutral party.

Limited partnership (labor‑management)

Focused cooperation on a single project or task, like implementing a new training program.

Good‑faith bargaining

Legal duty requiring both parties to negotiate sincerely, without unreasonable delays or surface tactics.

Contract term

Specified length of time, often 1–3 years, during which a collective bargaining agreement remains in effect.

Norris‑LaGuardia Act

1932 law that bars courts from issuing injunctions against strikes, picketing, or union organizing activities.

Minimum wage

Legally mandated lowest hourly pay that employers may offer, set at $7.25 federally.

Management rights clause

Section of a contract that reserves certain decision‑making authorities for the employer, such as hiring and scheduling.

Authorization cards

Written statements signed by employees indicating support for union representation; at least 30% are needed to trigger an election.

Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)

Union federation formed to organize workers on an industry-wide basis, especially in mass‑production sectors.

Agency shop

Policy allowing workers to opt out of membership but still requiring payment of equivalent dues.

National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act)

1935 statute guaranteeing workers the right to organize, bargain collectively, and creating the NLRB.

Slowdown

Deliberate reduction in work pace intended to affect productivity while maintaining some earnings.

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

Coalition of autonomous craft unions that emphasized collective bargaining and incremental improvements.

Overtime pay rate

Compensation at 1.5× the regular hourly wage for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek.

Lockout

Employer‑initiated action that bars workers from entering the workplace, often to counter a strike.

Union security clause

Contract provision that defines the extent of required membership or fee payment for covered workers.

Bargaining unit

Specific group of workers that a union is authorized to represent in collective negotiations.

Knights of Labor

19th‑century secret society that sought broad social reforms and inclusive membership for workers.

Representation election

Secret‑ballot vote overseen by the NLRB to determine whether employees choose a union as their exclusive bargaining agent.

Fair Labor Standards Act

1938 legislation establishing a federal minimum wage, overtime pay at 1.5× regular rate, and prohibiting child labor.

Right‑to‑work law

State statute that forbids agreements requiring employees to join a union or pay dues as a condition of employment.

National Agency Shop (state level)

State‑mandated requirement that all employees in a bargaining unit pay union dues or fees regardless of membership status.