Labor Relations in the US - Essay Example

Labor Relations The history of America has been the history of labor. With the explosion of industrial technology in the 19th century, and the ushering in of the Industrial Revolution, the American workforce experienced drastic shifts in terms of rights and experience. It was in this organizational climate that workers began to organize and the first widespread unionization efforts emerged. While the power, political and public support of the American union system has greatly shifted throughout the last one hundred years this system has always been at the heart of American labor. In recent years, two of the most prominent labor bills are the Employee Free Choice Act, and the Mandatory Secret Ballot Protection Act. This essay reviews the argument for and against these acts and indicates how I would vote on the matter. One of the most prominent measures introduced in recent years has been the Employee Free Choice Act. This bill was introduced into both houses of Congress in 2009. In terms of its overarching intentions, this bill’s noted function is to, “amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations [unions], to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes” ("H.r. 800," 2009). In these regards, the bill’s intention was to enact significant reforms in terms of workplace unionization and worker’s rights. Significant reform measures that would greatly support worker’s rights include the elimination of a new ballot approving the establishment of a union that would have to be voted on by the employer if the employees had already voted in majority support of unionization. Another prominent reform measure was that the employer would have been required to negotiate with the employees for a collective agreement within 90 days of a disagreement. Finally, increased penalties would have been leveraged against employers that punished employees for joining a union. Among prominent support of this bill included President Barack Obama. In addition to elements described above, major proponents of this bill argued in favor of it in terms of American democratic principles. Some of the major notions were the perspective that the current system inhibited employees from choosing to freely vote in favor of unionization. In these regards, University of Oregon professor Gordon Lafer (2010) noted, In the American democratic tradition the principle of the secret ballot is not simply the fact that you go into a voting booth and pull a curtain and nobody sees what you do. It is your right to keep your political opinion private to yourself before, during and after the act of voting Here Lafer is referring to notions of labor relations as being hindered by employer’s ability to punish workers for acts of unionization. While the reaffirming democratic values was one of the primary reasons proponents gave for the need to support this measure, other prominent support emerged from interests that contended the bill would aid the American economic system. As the bill emerged during a time of significant economic distress, this was a highly prominent concern among policymakers. While there were significant supporters for the Employee Free Choice Act, there were also a number of detractors. Within this spectrum of understanding a variety of perspectives emerged, with many of them contending that this labor act with inhibit American economic progress and unfairly punished employers. In addition to these concerns, there was significant objection to the specific structure of the bill, as individuals believed it would lead to unethical practices among union organizers and not function to protect employee privacy in the ways intended. The main point in this context of understanding concerned the nature of the bill providing employers with the ability to see which employees voted in favor of unionization. One prominent detractor noted, “It is beyond me how one can possibly claim that a system whereby everyone… knows exactly how you vote on the issue of unionization gives an employee free choice” (‘Former Union Organizaer’). In this context of understanding, while the bill protects workers rights to unionize, detractors ultimately note that it does not go far enough in reaffirming the democratic process. While not as complex as the EFCA, another prominent labor bill that has emerged in recent years is the Mandatory Secret Ballot Protection Act. This act would ensure that, “no one – not unions, not companies – can deny workers the right to a secret ballot” ("The secret ballot," 2009). Supporters of this bill consider that it functions in an area where the EFCA fails, namely the assurance that ballot measures are necessarily private. In passing this bill supporters note that the democratic process would be reaffirmed for employees to unionize as their votes in favor of unionization could not be subjected to a card check ballot. Still, a number of detractors emerged against this bill. Detractors included business organizations that claimed, much like with the EFCA, that this bill would hinder the American economic system. Still, the most prominent detractors were a number of union organizers who rejected this act as it had become a common practice to enact unionization in corporations through peer pressure, as allowed through card check balloting procedures. Other union organizers argue that instituting this act would be most costly than card measures ("Labor union recognition," 2007). Ultimately, it’s clear that there were significant signs of support and opposition from both union organizers and corporations. In conclusion, this essay has reviewed the Employee Free Choice Act, and the Mandatory Secret Ballot Protection Act. When considering how I would vote on these ballots, I would affirm both bills. In terms of the EFCA, while I recognize that creating a cultural climate that is business friendly is essential to a prosperous and functioning economy, the history of American labor also attests to the propensity of corporations to exploit employees. In these regards, I recognize that ballots measures like the EFCA are essential to affirming basic employee rights. In terms of the Mandatory Secret Ballot Protection Act, it goes without saying that all ballots should be secret. The nature of having an election with card check procedures is antithetical to the very nature of the voting process. Ultimately, both of these bills represent significant and important contributions to American labor relations. References "Former Union Organizer Details Tactics of Manipulating Workers Just to Get a Majority on the Cards". Press Release. Committee on Education and Labor (Minority). 2007-02-08. Retrieved 2007-02-19. H.r. 800. (2009). Retrieved from http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi- bin/bdquery/z?d110:H.R.800: Labor union recognition procedures. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.policyarchive.org/handle/10207/2453 Statement of dr. gordon lafer before the united states senate committee on appropriations. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/general/one_item_and_teasers/file_not_ found.htm The secret ballot protection act. (2009). Retrieved from http://edworkforce.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=19 5906 Read More