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The Economic Context for Bargaining

Explore the impacts of the corporate agenda on bargaining power and learn effective strategies to strengthen unions at the bargaining table. Discover the necessary skills for a successful bargaining committee.

jcarver
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The Economic Context for Bargaining

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  1. The Economic Context for Bargaining

  2. Responses to Task 1:Impacts on Our Bargaining Power

  3. The Corporate Agenda What Corporations DidWhat They Said Would Happen Cut Labor Reduce/Eliminate Unions Cut Labor Costs Increase Productivity Increased Profits Globalize Increased Investment Increased Jobs Cut Government Increase Wages Cut Taxes, Social Spending Deregulate Environment Trade Labor Politics Privatize and Cut Govt Jobs

  4. Responses to Task 2:The Corporate Agenda in Action • Reduce Labor Costs • Cut Wages: reduce paid hours; reduce paid time off; two-tiering; shift work to lower titles; use of part-timers and temps • Reduce Benefits: cost shifting (premiums, copays, dedectibles, out of pocket costs); limit/eliminate retiree health • Reduce Union Workforce: layoffs; attrition; early retirements; no backfilling; outsourcing/contracting out/privatization; mis-classification of union work

  5. Responses to Task 2:The Corporate Agenda in Action • Increase Labor Productivity • Increase output: fewer workers do same or more work; • Increase worktime: reduce vacations, holidays, hours of work; absence control plans • Productivity plans: increases based on productivity; incentive plans; merit plans; moving benchmarks • Technology: voice response for customer ordering, trouble reporting; self-installation; auto-testing of equipment; etc

  6. Responses to Task 2:The Corporate Agenda in Action • Reduce Power of Unions • Reduce size of union workforce: contract work to non-represented; transfer work to non-union locations • Weaken the union: constant attack on union; assault on contract; concessions; don’t negotiate with union; blame union for unpopular policies; two-tiering to divide and conquer; disciplinary actions as scare tactics; anti-union campaigns to defeat organizing

  7. Responses to Task 2:The Corporate Agenda in Action • Politics, Legislation and Enforcement • Curtail effective enforcement of labor laws • Political spending: to oppose pro-worker candidates; to oppose pro-worker legislation; support anti-union/anti-worker legislation

  8. Given the corporate agenda and the tactics you have described… • What does the local union/national union need to do to increase leverage/union power at the bargaining table? • What skills do you and your bargaining committee need to be more effective bargainers?

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