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Organized Labor

In this lesson, students will be able to identify characteristics of unions. Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms:

UnionCollective Bargaining

StrikeMediationArbitration

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In the early years of the IndustrialRevolution, workers were frequently

exploited.

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Union• Workers realized that united workers had more

power than a worker alone. Therefore, workers formed unions.

• A union is an organization of workers which tries to improve wages, working conditions, and benefits for their members.

• Bosses tried to break unions but unions survived.

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Bosses tried to break unions but unionssurvived.

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Union Tactics• A strike is an organized work stoppage.

Sometimes union members go on strike to improve their working conditions or wages.

• When union and company representatives meet to negotiate a new contract, collective bargaining occurs.

• Unions use many tactics to improve the lives of their members.

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When union and company representativesmeet to negotiate a new contract, collectivebargaining occurs.

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Mediation and Arbitration• Sometimes union and company representatives

cannot agree on the terms of a new contract. To ensure a new contract, mediation or arbitration can occur.

• In mediation, a neutral party tries to find a mutually beneficial solution. The solution can be rejected.

• In arbitration, a neutral party imposes a solution. It must be accepted. It is legally binding.

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Mediation, you can reject.Arbitration, you must accept.

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Employment and Unions• Eventually, unions gained power. Though

it is illegal today, unions forced employers to use closed shops.

• A closed shop is a business that only hires union members.

• A union shop is a business that will hire nonunion members but requires them to join the union once they are hired.

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As unions becamemore powerful,employers were

pressured to onlyhire union members.Today, however, the

closed shop isillegal.

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The Agency Shop

• An agency shop is a business that does not require workers to join the union but does require all workers to pay union dues.

• Even nonunion members must pay union dues to prevent the problem of the free rider.

• A free rider is a person who would not pay for a particular service but would nonetheless benefit from the service.

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The White Plains School District is anagency shop.

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While union membership has fluctuatedover the years, unions are still important.

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Questions for Reflection:

• What is a union and how do unions benefit their members?

• List two significant union tactics. Define each tactic.

• What is the difference between mediation and arbitration?

• How do closed shops, union shops, and agency shops differ?