Throughout This Course You Will Be Putting Together A Series

Throughout This Course You Will Be Putting Together A Series of Paper

Throughout this course, you will be putting together a series of papers based on the units you are completing. Within the first two units, you need to research a company with a union and contact the HR manager, a union representative, or both to see if they can assist with this project. You might need to email them and document their response. You may use the same company for all three unit assignments. Next, you will choose a minimum of three of the following five issues for each assignment: the topics are Unit IV: At the Bargaining Table, Unit V: Grievances and Arbitration, Unit VI: Wage Issues and Economic Supplements, Unit VII: Institutional Issues, and Unit VIII: Administrative Issues.

As you study these chapters, develop between eight to ten questions per unit to ask the company. These questions should be approved by your professor before the interview. Once approved, contact the company representative(s) via in person, phone, or email interview. For each assignment, write a minimum two-page paper summarizing your findings.

The first paper is due in Unit VI, the second in Unit VII, and the final in Unit VIII. It is encouraged to submit each paper early to receive feedback and improve subsequent work. If you require assistance at any point, contact your professor for guidance.

Paper For Above instruction

This series of assignments aims to deepen understanding of union-related issues within a company setting through research and interviews. The process begins with selecting a company that has a labor union and establishing communication with relevant company or union personnel. Developing a set of approved questions aligned with the course topics enables targeted discussions that explore critical aspects of union operations, bargaining processes, grievance handling, wage and economic issues, institutional factors, and administrative concerns.

Each assignment focuses on a specific theme derived from the course units, specifically: bargaining strategies, grievance procedures, wage negotiations, institutional roles, and administrative functions. The student's engagement involves conducting interviews, whether in person, via phone, or through email correspondence, to gather firsthand insights from industry practitioners. The subsequent papers require summarizing these findings, reflecting both on the practical realities faced by employers and unions and on theoretical concepts discussed in class.

This structured approach facilitates a comprehensive understanding of labor relations and prepares students for real-world engagement with human resource and union management. Early submission of papers for feedback enhances learning outcomes and allows refinement of research and interview techniques. Throughout this process, students are encouraged to actively seek guidance from instructors to maximize the quality and depth of their analysis.

References

  • Bamber, G. J., Lansbury, R., & Wailes, N. (2014). International and Comparative Employment Relations: Globalisation and the new 'unionism'. Sage Publications.
  • Kolins Givan, R., & Kwon, H. (2012). The Impact of Union Recognition Laws on Union Density: Evidence from U.S. State Level Policies. Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society.
  • Keller, B., & McGerr, M. (2010). Union Strategies and the Decline of Union Power. Labor History.
  • OECD. (2019). OECD Employment Outlook 2019: The Future of Work. OECD Publishing.
  • Ray, D. M. (2016). Labor Unions and Collective Bargaining. Routledge.
  • Freeman, R. B., & Medoff, J. L. (1984). What Do Unions Do?. Basic Books.
  • Kellock, J. (2018). Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining. McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Budd, J. W., & Bhave, D. (2018). Theorizing Workplace Responses to Union Organizing. Human Resource Management Review.
  • Ferris, K. R., & Stiell, T. J. (2013). Introduction to Industrial Relations. McGraw-Hill.
  • Chaison, G. (2018). Organizing Unions: Strategies and Challenges. Industrial and Labor Relations Review.

Related Assignments