The Major Challenges Facing Labor Unions Today - Assignment Example

SOC 318 question set 2 Future of Unions What are the major challenges facing labor unions today What will the labor movement look like in 10 years 25 years The main challenges facing labor unions today include neoliberalism, deindustrialization, and decreasing density of the unions. We have witnessed a big change in the economy, from an industrial economy to one that is information or a service based, leading to capital flight, reduction of manufacturing jobs, and massive plant shutdowns. It seems that the auto, steel, and other heavy manufacturing industries have been the most adversely affected. The government has promoted neoliberalism by establishing regressive tax policies allowing for a decline in social programs like welfare, privatization of government jobs, and the embracing of a free market at all costs, advocating free trade, both nationally and at the international level The decline in unionization means the continued expansion of the part-time, temporary, and contingent workforce, less job security, more economic insecurity, and a growing underclass of working poor. The vast majority of people living in poverty in the United States are not the unemployed, but the working poor. More than forty million Americans have no access to health care. Studies show that in industries with a high level of unionization, the wages, benefits, and working conditions of all workers in the same industry improve, whether or not they are unionized. Nonunion employers will frequently match union wages and benefits to maintain a competitive workforce. Conversely, in industries with low levels of unionization, there is much less regulation, and workers have few protections at the workplace. (http://www.jil.go.jp/event/ko_forum/kouenroku/documents/resume.pdf) 2. Charismatic Leader Choose a leader of the labor movement. Conduct your own Internet research. You may want to search Ceasar Chavez, Jimmy Hoffa, Kate Mullany, Samuel Gompers, Crystal Lee Sutton (Norma Rae) or someone else. Introduce us to the person you have selected and the grievances they had with the workplace. What lessons can be learned from this leader 3. Challenges Let's suppose the Department of Labor has called upon everyone in our class to: 1. identify three most important challenges facing the extractive industries today, 2. identify the single most underlying cause of these problems, and 3. offer one viable suggestion. Present your report to the class and decide which policy suggestion from the class is most realistic. Three most important challenges facing the extractive industries today are lack of effective communication, low trust for management, and ineffective technical infrastructure. A scenario in which management and employees talk and listen to one another and resolve problems together will increase employees' trust in management. If employees are to believe what the management says, there has to be continuous clear and open verbal and written communication, and this will be done according to a specific strategic plan of action. By not asking, not listening, not talking, not taking action and not opening numerous channels of communication, companies will feed the adversarial relationships that lead to unionization and to slowdowns, walkouts and strikes in companies where unions already are in place. (Harrow, 2004) 4. Hazardous work Based on information from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, how do jobs in the extractive industries rate What three conclusions can you draw regarding the dangers in these workplaces Challenge or confirm the conclusions of your classmates. According to the Workforce Challenges and Opportunities for the 21st Century Forum, which was hosted in April 2004 by the GAO, the 21st century workforce in the United States is expected to have a very different set of challenges and opportunities than those encountered by previous generations. These observations certainly apply to the extractive industries. Also, workers in the extractive industry are taking a serious interest in the organization of their own unions and are also seeking various kinds of affiliations with the already existing unions, in order to improve on their professional autonomy, and to have a hand in decision- making which might have an effect on their careers. 5. In the news Provide a "Pro" or "Anti" narrative for a TV news commentator reporting on technology in the workplace (think Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes). It should include a summary of the three recent reports on technology in the workplace that you found in your news search. Respond to other commentators as if you were writing in to the TV station. 6. Most important technological advances Imagine you are hosting a technology awards show. Nominate the three most important technological advances that have occurred in the workplace since the beginning of work. Argue why each nominee is important. As a class, cast your votes and select the winner of the most important technological advancement from all of your nominees. Some of the most important technological advances include the continued use of computers to enhance calculation and work in general Considering all of the scientific and technological advances that have occurred in the last century, one must conclude that the century to come is bound to make our heads spin. Time warps, hyperspace, parallel universes, and wormholes will no longer be science fiction. Our top physicists are closer than ever to bringing all of the forces of the universe into one master "framework." An alias for the superstring theory is the "theory of everything." The superstring theory brings together the four forces of the universe and leaves nothing unaccounted for (http://www.jil.go.jp/event/ko_forum/kouenroku/documents/resume.pdf) 7. Deskilling or Upgrading Explain which theory, the "Upgrading Thesis" or the "Deskilling Thesis," is most descriptive of the workplace today and why. Provide examples. At your service How do your experiences with services compare to the readings in Wharton In the world of service, argue who wins - the employer, worker or customer and why Discuss the different standards outlined in the text. Research carried out on the effects of new workplace technology has shown that the deskilling vs. upgrading controversy is still unresolved. Those on the upgrading side believe that the work machines do involves repetitive and simple physical movements or decisions, so automation most easily replaces already deskilled repetitious labor, resulting in an overall upgrading of worker skills. However, the hypothesis of this study is that mechanization and automation have become increasingly sophisticated and are now replacing the skilled sector of the workforce, leading to alienation and job dissatisfaction. This study also enlarges the discussion to place technological change within the context of other workplace trends, such as the ongoing process of rationalization and globalization. 8. Alienation and service work Marx's Theory of Alienation focuses on the relationship of the worker to the product of his labor. Argue whether or not Marx's theory applies to service work. Provide evidence from the readings to support your argument. Marx developed his theory of alienation to reveal the human activity that lies behind the seemingly impersonal forces dominating society. He showed how, although aspects of the society we live in appear natural and independent of us, they are the results of past human actions. For Hungarian Marxist Georg Lukcs Marx's theory 'dissolves the rigid, unhistorical, natural appearance of social institutions; it reveals their historical origins and shows therefore that they are subject to history in every respect including historical decline. For Marx, alienation was not rooted in the mind or in religion, as it was for his predecessors Hegel and Feuerbach. Instead Marx understood alienation as something rooted in the material world. Alienation meant loss of control, specifically the loss of control over labor 9. The feminization of clerical work Were you surprised to find out that clerical work was once a male dominated occupation Discuss the most important factors leading to the feminization of clerical work and why Women now seem to dominate the clerical workforce, but clerical occupations used to be seen as a man's job. During the 19th century, most clerical positions where filled by male workers. According to Davies (1975), "the 1870 census showed that only 3 percent of the office workers were women." Working as a clerk at the turn of the century was often the first step on the occupational ladder for men. Some men used clerkship as an apprenticeship and worked very closely with their bosses, moving up into the managerial ranks after acquiring knowledge by working as clerks. Hence the son of a business owner might eventually take over the whole business. 10. The Law Profession on Trial The future of the law profession is on trial and you are the judge. First, act as the prosecuting attorney and present evidence from your analysis of the 10 online advertisements for attorneys that the legal profession is de-professionalizing. Then present the defense's case using the NPR broadcast as evidence. As judge, make a final ruling on your classmates' presentations, they will rule on your case. You may appeal. Whenever there is a disagreement or dispute between members of a society, or between organisations the matter would have to be resolved by applying the law, through the courts. There are different types of laws such as the constitution law and the common law. In many cases judges will use previous cases to help solve a current case. This process is called precedents, which means to follow the decision of other judges in similar cases to solve their case. Within the law there are three types of common classifications of law, (1) criminal law and civil law, (2) substantive law and procedural law, and (3) public law and private law. This classification of law enables the courts system to know which law will be applied to a case based on the category the case falls into. The first function or role of the constitution is to set up a structure of government. The structure is set up for the political units that the government controls, Branches and subdivisions are created in the government. Another function of the constitution law is to make sure that other units of government do not take certain actions or even pass certain laws that may restrict certain rights of the individual. One example would be the passing of the bill of rights (http://www.oppapers.com/topics/Three-Branches-Government/150) 11. Theory X, Y, or Z Using Theory X, Theory Y or Theory Z, discuss which theory is most descriptive of a workplace you have worked Was it an effective management strategy, why or why not In the many studies of management that have been conducted over the past 50 years, it has been shown time and again that management style is dictated by the assumptions managers have about people generally - and specifically about the people under their authority. In 1960, social psychologist Douglas McGregor attempted to explain the link between management and motivation. In The Human Side of Enterprise, McGregor explored a model that illustrated two very different styles of management, underpinned by two opposing mindsets, and looked at their subsequent behaviours and the impact these approaches could have on business. He called his findings Theory X and Theory Y and stated that businesses (or their managers) were either of one type or the other. Theory x ('authoritarian management' style) states that: The average person dislikes work and will avoid it he/she can. Therefore most people must be forced with the threat of punishment to work towards organisational objectives. The average person prefers to be directed; to avoid responsibility; is relatively unambitious, and wants security above all else Theory y ('participative management' style) states that Effort in work is as natural as work and play. People will apply self-control and self-direction in the pursuit of organisational objectives, without external control or the threat of punishment. Commitment to objectives is a function of rewards associated with their achievement. People usually accept and often seek responsibility. The capacity to use a high degree of imagination, ingenuity and creativity in solving organisational problems is widely, not narrowly, distributed in the population. In industry the intellectual potential of the average person is only partly utilised. (Douglas McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y) 12. Working Poor Imagine that an alien from outer-space heard the same 3 low wage profiles on her radio that you just listened to on NPR. She asks you to explain to her why these three people have not been able to achieve "The American Dream" despite working diligently. Respond with a sociological explanation. Then respond to your classmates' explanations as if you are the alien. 13. The Homeless and Meaningful Work After reviewing the websites on the homeless and recycling work, consider, in what ways does this work fit the criteria for marginal work and to what extent have the homeless and advocates for the homeless de-marginalized this work Then review the determinants of job satisfaction in Chapter 3 and argue whether or not workers derive job satisfaction from this work Finding and maintaining meaningful employment is hard enough for most people. It's far more difficult while being homeless. Many homeless are not capable of working enough to possibly afford any housing. Some get disability or social security income, but it's not enough for both housing and living expenses. Could you live on less than $600 per month In the county I live in a modest one bedroom apartment is at least $700, plus utilities. (www.homelessamerica.com) Many with serious disabilities apply with the Social Security Administration, but become, or continue to be, homeless due to delays in the process. Some are on the street for years before finally receiving any payments 14. Corporate Power Imagine you read Who Rules America in your local newspaper. Respond to the article with a "Letter to the Editor" in which you highlight three issues raised, concerns you may have, or conclusions you have drawn from reading the article. Respond to other classmates' letters with a response letter. THERE IS NO GREATER POWER in the world today than that wielded by the manipulators of public opinion in America. No king or pope of old, no conquering general or high priest ever disposed of a power even remotely approaching that of the few dozen men who control America's mass media of news and entertainment. Their power is not distant and impersonal; it reaches into every home in America, and it works its will during nearly every waking hour. It is the power that shapes and molds the mind of virtually every citizen, young or old, rich or poor, simple or sophisticated. The mass media form for us our image of the world and then tell us what to think about that image. Essentially everything we know-or think we know-about events outside our own neighborhood or circle of acquaintances comes to us via our daily newspaper, our weekly news magazine, our radio, or our television. It is not just the heavy-handed suppression of certain news stories from our newspapers or the blatant propagandizing of history-distorting TV "docudramas" that characterizes the opinion-manipulating techniques of the media masters. They exercise both subtlety and thoroughness in their management of the news and the entertainment that they present to us. For example, the way in which the news is covered: which items are emphasized and which are played down; the reporter's choice of words, tone of voice, and facial expressions; the wording of headlines; the choice of illustrations-all of these things subliminally and yet profoundly affect the way in which we interpret what we see or hear (Who Rules America The Alien Grip on Our News and Entertainment Media Must Be Broken retreived from http://www.natvan.com/who-rules-america/wra.pdf) 15. Images of Child Labor Choose one of the images in the web movie Child Labour that speaks to you the most. Describe the photo and tell us what it is about that image that captures your attention. Then post a discussion question based on this picture, the readings and the objectives of this module to the rest of the class. 16. Future of Work Describe the future in your chosen field of work 50 years from now. Address the three pivotal work trends outlined in your text when discussing the future. 17. Future of Leisure Imagine you work in the marketing department for Travelocity.com (or other travel website) and your boss just entered your office very upset about the future of leisure. She was surfing the web and came across the excerpt from Schor's The Overworked American. Address her concerns and argue whether or not Schor's research it is still relevant and why. Schor argues from statistics what the rest of us know from experience, that "in the last twenty years the amount of time Americans have spent at their jobs has risen steadily." And the statistics, if accurate, are stunning. However, as Schor notes, we are also willing victims of this erosion of leisure as we pursue promotions, bigger salaries, and conspicuous consumption. Her proferred solution is to hold jobs to a set number of hours per week, offer comp time for any overtime, and lower our living standards. Schor's relied on data that asked workers to estimate how many hours they worked in the past week, a question subject to large recall errors. An alternative approach is to ask survey respondents to keep detailed diaries of time use. In an August 1994 paper in the Monthly Labor Review ("The overestimated workweek"), John Robinson and Ann Bostrom found that respondents recalled longer work weeks that what was actually shown in their time diaries. Moreover, government data shows that the average work week declined from 38.2 hours in 1972 to 34.5 hours by 1996 (Council of Economic Advisors, Economic Report of the President, 1996, Table B-43). Only an enormous increase in moonlighting could reconcile Schor's data on increased annual hours worked with government statistics showing shorter work weeks (which seems implausible given that fewer than 10 percent of workers hold more than one job). Meanwhile women's market time increased over this period while their home work decreased. These gender-based changes in paid employment and household work resulted in the net 163-hour increase in the work year noted above. Understanding gender differences in market and household work is key to reconciling the government's data showing shorter work weeks with Schor's overwork thesis. Men were more likely to engage in this pattern of "feast before famine," which resulted in their wives working more hours. In other words, job instability among fathers resulted in mothers working harder than before. For those who have failed to complete college, however, working harder is a response to stagnant real family incomes. Therefore, policies which seek to reduce the length of work weeks will only be successful if they are coupled with policies which increase job security and improve living standards. (http://asweb.artsci.uc.edu/sociology/kunzctr/overwork.htm) References Hodson, R., & Sullivan, T.A., (2008). The Social Organization of Work (4th Ed) USA: Wadsworth. Harrow (2004) Nursing Management https://webfilter.abdn.ac.uk/sociology/notes07/Guides/SO4025.doc http://www.amazon.com/Working-America-Continuity-Conflict-Change/dp/0073528013 Wharton, A.S. (2006). Working in America: Continuity, Conflict, and Change (3rd. Ed.). New York: McGraw Hill. http://www.oppapers.com/topics/Three-Branches-Government/150 http://www.jil.go.jp/event/ko_forum/kouenroku/documents/resume.pdf McGregor, D. Theory X and Theory Y retreived from http://www.strategyvectormodel.com/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=45:theoryxandy&catid=30:managementtheoriesgeneral&Itemid=12 http://www.simply-communicate.com/advice http://asweb.artsci.uc.edu/sociology/kunzctr/overwork.htm Schor, J. (1992) The Overworked American: The Unexpected Decline in Leisure. Basic Books Who Rules America The Alien Grip on Our News and Entertainment Media Must Be Broken retreived from http://www.natvan.com/who-rules-america/wra.pdf Read More