Examine how a labor agreement is administered - Essay Example

Labor Agreement al Affiliation Labor Agreement Discuss how the grievance procedure works. There is the standard five step grievanceprocedure that is usually being followed when some labor relations concerns, issues, or violations have been noted. The first step is after a contract violation has been encountered, the grievant brings the issue to the immediate supervisor who reviews the complaint and investigates the matter, as needed. It usually takes 5 working days to review and evaluate the concerns.

If the issues are immediately resolved, then, the matter would not be elevated to the next step; otherwise, the violation is elevated to the union steward with the immediate supervisor still as the contact and authorized personnel to represent the organization. The allotted time frame under step 2 is 10 workdays. After which, if the issues still remain unresolved, the matter is elevated to the chief steward (to represent the grievant) and the immediate supervisor elevates the concern to the department manager, who is the authorized personnel to review and evaluate the matter.

The time allotted for step 3 is 15 days. Step 4 is being addressed by local union president and the vice president for industrial relations. A total of 30 workdays is allotted to mediate the matter. Finally, step 5 already calls for arbitration when the issues still have not been resolved (Chapter 14: The Dynamics of Labor Relations, 2012).What are some union issues that are in the popular press (news, magazines, radio, television, or the Internet) today? Some of the union issues that are in the popular press today are as follows:Restoring dysfunction in city schools; as well as reducing class sizes (Hernandez, 2013);Stalled contract negotiations and low morale (Hernandez J. , 2013);“Thousands of Greeks walked off the job on Thursday in the third general strike of the year, this time called by labor unions to protest a surprise decision by the conservative-led government to close the state broadcaster and put about 2,900 employees out of work” (Kitsantonis, 2013);Wage cuts (The Associated Press, 2013); andAnti-union bill (Bauer & Richmond, 2011); among others.

What is your personal view of unions and their effectiveness? Personally, I strongly believe that unions are formed to serve the best interests of employees or members of the labor force, especially those whose voices could not be aptly heard and duly represented in an organization. Thus, unions’ effectiveness could be measured in terms of their ability to forge a congenial agreement with management (or authorized representatives of the organization) and with the employees (who are members of the union) regarding labor relations issues and concerns.

When clear conditions and stipulations have been clearly set by both parties and have been properly evaluated and agreed upon, it would be an indication that the needs and concerns of the employees are effectively represented and served. Thus, unions’ success in serving the labor relations needs of these employees (and that which are acceptable to management) are the standards of measurement for their effectiveness.ReferencesBauer, S., & Richmond, T. (2011, Febuary 17). Thousands protest Wisconsin anti-union bill.

Retrieved from NBC News: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/41624142/#.Uc0widKRMYc(2012). Chapter 14: The Dynamics of Labor Relations. Cengage Learning.Hernandez, J. (2013, June 18). Labor Seeks Influence in New York’s Mayoral Race. Retrieved from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/nyregion/labor-seeks-influence-in-new-yorks-mayoral-race.htmlHernandez, J. C. (2013, June 24). Once a Union’s Friend, a Bloomberg Aide Is Now a Target of Its Anger. Retrieved from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/25/nyregion/once-a-unions-friend-bloomberg-aide-is-now-a-target-of-its-anger.html?_r=0Kitsantonis, N.

(2013, June 13). Greek Workers Strike to Protest Shutdown of State Broadcaster. Retrieved from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/14/world/europe/greece.htmlThe Associated Press. (2013, May 30). Illinois: 10-Year Hotel Strike Ends. Retrieved from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/31/us/illinois-10-year-hotel-strike-ends.html