Public Sector Labor Relations and Comparative Systems

Unionization

Organized labor groups representing workers' interests.

Public Sector Unionization

Increased union membership among government employees.

Private Sector Unionization

Decline in organized labor in private industries.

GNP Contribution

One-third of GNP originates from public sector.

Civil Service

Regulatory framework for government employment practices.

Sovereignty Doctrine

Legal principle denying union legitimacy in government.

1919 Boston Police Strike

Massachusetts governor fired striking police officers.

UFT

United Federation of Teachers formed in NYC.

MLK's Campaign

Advocated for sanitation workers' unionization.

Taxpayers' Revolt

1970s movement against rising public sector costs.

Interest Arbitration

Binding decision-making process for contract disputes.

Taylor Law

Regulates public employee labor relations in NY.

Pattern Bargaining

Negotiation strategy based on previous agreements.

Fact Finding

Process to resolve disputes without arbitration.

Chilling Effect

Deterrent impact of binding arbitration on negotiations.

Comparative Labor Relations

Study of labor systems across different countries.

Convergence Debate

Discussion on similarities in global labor systems.

Lifetime Employment Principle

Job security model in Japanese labor market.

Seniority-Based Pay

Compensation linked to length of employment.

Enterprise Unions

Unions representing all workers in a single company.

Works Councils

Employee representation in management decisions in Germany.

Dual System

Strong unions and codetermination in German labor.

Political Power

Influence of unions on political processes.

Strike Leverage

Ability of workers to effectively strike.

Absenteeism

Employee absence used as a protest tactic.

Labor Shortage

Insufficient workforce due to demographic changes.

Quality Circles

Employee groups improving workplace processes collaboratively.

Merit-Based Pay

Compensation based on performance evaluations.

Works Council Approval

German firms need works council approval for layoffs.

Proportional Representation

Workers elect representatives for works council composition.

Codetermination

Fewer worker representatives than management in decision-making.

Board of Supervisors

Elected body that includes employee representation.

Union Membership

30% of workforce belongs to unions in Germany.

Collective Bargaining Agreements

90% of workers covered by these agreements.

Sectoral Unions

Unions represent specific industry sectors like banking.

Legal Extension

Labor minister extends CBAs to entire sectors.

Grievance Procedure

Individual grievances handled in labor courts, not unions.

Free Rider Problem

Non-union members benefit from union agreements.

Union Ideology

Members join unions for ideological support.

Strike Rates

Germany and Japan have lower strike rates.

BRICS

Emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa.

Minimum Wages

Crucial for improving living standards in emerging economies.

Informal Sector

Larger component of employment in emerging economies.

Migration Impact

Workers migrate for better opportunities, sending money home.

Role of NGOs

Lobby for employee rights, often filling union gaps.

Political Leverage

NGOs exert influence against employers for workers' rights.

Union Weakness

Unions have low membership in informal sectors.

Labor Movement

Often linked to political parties for influence.

Multinational Corporations

Companies operating in multiple countries, facing union pressures.

Global Supply Chain

Integrated production networks across countries for efficiency.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)

Parent company outsourcing production to suppliers.

Nike's Labor Rights

Nike outsources production, focusing on marketing.

Apple's Supply Chain

Functions primarily in marketing and development roles.

Labor Laws

More lenient in developing countries, affecting unions.

Total Power

Overall influence and control of an entity.

Relative Power

Influence compared to other entities or groups.

Decentralized Decision Making

Authority distributed to local managers or plants.

Centralization

Concentration of decision-making authority in one place.

Colgate Palmolive

Example of aggressive international business expansion.

Industrial Labor Decisions

Choices affecting workforce and production processes.

HR Decisions

Human resources choices regarding employee management.

Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

Negotiated contract between employers and unions.

Cross National Unionism

Union representation across multiple countries.

Internationalization

Increasing global interconnectedness of markets.

Multinational Production

Operations spanning multiple countries.

Labor Disadvantage

Workers' reduced power in international contexts.

Immigration Barriers

Obstacles preventing labor movement across borders.

John Commons Study

Research on national unionism in the US.

Inelastic Demand

Demand that remains stable despite price changes.

Political Lobbying

Advocacy efforts to influence political decisions.

International Labor Organization (ILO)

UN agency focused on labor standards globally.

Rayna Plaza Incident

Event highlighting health and safety labor issues.

Emerging Countries

Nations with developing economies and labor markets.

Trade Union Positions

Stances taken by unions on trade issues.

Market Expansion

Growth of market reach and influence.

Labor Relations

Interactions between employers and employees.

CBA Coverage

Contracts that include workers from multiple nations.

Solidarity Ideology

Shared interests and support among workers.

Binding Authority

Conventions that are not legally enforceable.

Advisory Authority

Power to provide guidance without binding decisions.

ILO Conventions

International Labor Organization agreements on labor standards.

NGOs

Non-governmental organizations focusing on social issues.

Worker Rights

Rights ensuring fair treatment of employees.

Consumer Campaigns

Efforts to influence consumer purchasing decisions.

Fair Trade

Trade that promotes equitable wages for producers.

Rana Plaza

Site of a tragic garment factory collapse in Bangladesh.

Garment Industry

Sector producing clothing, vital to Bangladesh's economy.

Minimum Wage

Lowest legal hourly wage for workers.

Corporate Codes of Conduct

Guidelines for ethical business practices.

Freedom of Association

Right of workers to organize collectively.

China's Economic Role

China's significant influence on global supply chains.

Foxconn

Major supplier for Apple products, known for labor issues.

AFCTU

All-China Federation of Trade Unions, state-controlled.

Iron Rice Bowl

Job security system with minimal pay differentiation.

Collective Bargaining

Negotiation process between employers and unions.

Labor Law Reforms

Changes to improve workers' rights and protections.

Political Repression

Suppression of dissent against the government.

MNCs

Multinational corporations operating in multiple countries.

Consumer Pressure

Influence consumers exert on producers for ethical practices.

Child Labor

Employment of children in harmful conditions.