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Effectively Managing in a Union-Free Environment

April 2011SETHRA

Robert Morehouse, SPHR

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Agenda

• What is your company’s position on unions?• A little labor history• Why do employees want unions?• Why do employees remain union free?• Treatment and RESPECT• What will it mean to you if your employees

organize• Positive actions

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What is your company’s position on unions?

• Do you have one?• Orientation• Some terms– Strike– AFL-CIO– “Right to Work”– Unfair Labor Practices

Unfair LP vs. Economic

National Labor Relations Act

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Labor History

• 1835 General strike for 10-hour workday• 1887 Haymarket Square• 1890 Sherman Anti-Trust Act• 1914 Clayton Anti-Trust Act• 1935 Wagner Act• 1947 Taft-Hartley Act • 1959 Landrum-Griffin Act• 1981 Reagan fires air-traffic controllers

National Labor Relations Act

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Why do employees want unions?

• Poor management• A common misconception “The employees want

more money”• The truth: “Unions generally do not seek to

organize…employees do.”• Lack of Security• RESPECT• “No other choice.”

It is NOT about money and benefits

Quote of a Union Leader

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Why do employees remain union free?

• Good management• Security• RESPECT• “Fair” treatment• Understand the business realities of their

company• Competitive pay and benefits

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The “How” of Treatment and Respect

• Share information with employees• Involve them in decisions that impact them• Have clearly written and available rules and

policies – more is not better• Follow your rules and policies• What is “favoritism?”• The Role of the Site Senior

Manager

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What it will mean to you the employees if you organize

• Probably will lose your job• T.I.P.S. and F.O.E.• Like a divorce• Deal with a third-party • Establish a Collective Bargaining Agreement• May become noncompetitive due to:• If you remain employed…a valuable learning

experience

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Positive Actions• The ± employee surveys• Management development• Live the principles behind the

“7 tests for just cause”• Know and communicate how

you are competitive ( if not…why?)

• Employee engagement

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Questions

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51%

69%

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