Unit 4: The American Labor Force - Chapter 12

civilian labor force

total number of people 16 years old or older who are either employed or actively seeking work

blue collar workers

category of workers employed in crafts, manufacturing, and nonfarm labor

white collar workers

category of workers employed in offices, sales, or professional positions

service workers

people who provide services directly to individuals

white collar workers example

office workers, salespeople, and highly trained individuals such as physicians and engineers

service workers example

cooks, piano tuners, health care aides, computer repair specialists, and barbers

blue collar workers example

craft workers, workers in manufacturing

unskilled workers

people whose jobs require no specialized training

semiskilled workers

people whose jobs require some training, often using modern technology

skilled workers

people who have learned a trade or craft either through a vocational school or as an apprentice to an experienced workers

professionals

highly educated individuals with college degrees and usually additional education or training

unskilled workers example

waiting on tables, assembly line work, and custodial work

semiskilled workers example

nurse's aide

skilled worker example

police officers and electricians

professionals example

teachers, architects, and accountants

minimum wage law

federal law that sets the lowest legal hourly wage rate that may be paid to certain types of workers

labor union

association of workers organized to improve wages and working conditions for its members

strike

deliberate work stoppage by workers to force an employer to give in to their demands

craft union

union made up of skilled workers in a specific trade or industry

industrial union

union made up of all the workers in an industry regardless of job or skill level

local union

members of a union in a particular factory, company, or geographic area

closed shop

company in which only union members could be hired

union shop

company that requires new employees to join a union after a specific period of time

agency shops

company in which employees are not required to join the union, but must pay union dues

right to work laws

state laws forbidding unions from forcing workers to join and pay union dues

collective bargaining

process by which unions and employers negotiate the conditions of employment

cost of living adjustment

provision calling for a wage increase each year if the general level of prices rises

mediation

a neutral person tries to get both sides to reach an agreement during negotions

arbitration

union and management submit the issues they cannot agree on to a third party for a final decision

picketing

action of strikers who walk in front of a workplace carrying signs that state their disagreement with the company

boycott

economic pressure exerted by unions urging the public not to purchase the goods or services produced by a company

lockout

situation that occurs when management prevents workers from returning to work until they agree to a new contract

injunction

court order preventing some activity