Discussion: UnionManagement Relations

At the start of the industrial revolution, employers took advantage of desperate workers by demanding 1216 hours a day, six days a week from them, providing poor working conditions and little in terms of compensation and benefits. Labor unions swung the balance back in the direction of the worker and continued their hold as a solid third-party participant between workers and employers in labor negotiations throughout the post-war era.

Some people think unions are a twentieth-century has-been, and that theyre not as powerful as they need to be to protect workers interests. In his 2014 article The Employer Strikes BackLinks to an external site. for prospect.org, Josh Eidelman talks about the worker lockout, and how its used by employers as a weapon to force desperate workers to agree to worse contracts than those that have just expired.

On the other hand, in the October 2019, Economist article, The GM Strike is an AnachronismLinks to an external site., the author states that, over time, union victories made carmakers less competitive, and the recent Flint, Michigan, auto workers strike may be another case where demands will be met that will make employers buckle, this time under the weight of healthcare costs.

Looking at it from either the point of view of the locked-out worker, or the employer who is facing lost profitability and crushing overhead costs, it seems as though unions might not be making the same difference in labor negotiations that they used to.

Discussion Prompt- Post 1

Technology aside, the future of unions is in debate in these two articles. As a future HR professional, read these articles and consider these differing opinions on the work of labor unions. Is there a way that labor unions can move away from a zero-sum-game approach to negotiations, where one party has to lose in order for another to gain? Consider government law and government contribution in your response (e.g. Affordable Health Care Act, etc.) This posting should be a minimum of one short paragraph and a maximum of two paragraphs. Word totals for this post should be in the 100200-word range. Whether you agree or disagree, explain why with supporting evidence and concepts from the readings or a related experience. Include a reference, link, or citation when appropriate.