Significant Victories: An Analysis of Union First Contracts

摘要: Excerpt] After two decades of massive employment losses in heavily unionized sectors the economy and exponential growth largely unorganized service sector, U.S. labor movement is struggling to remain relevant. Despite new organizing initiatives practices, union today remains a tremendously arduous endeavor, particularly private as workers their unions are routinely confronted with an arsenal aggressive legal illegal antiunion employer tactics. This vigorous opposition sector does not stop once election won, but continues throughout bargaining for initial agreement, all too often turning victories into devastating first-contract defeats. these overwhelming obstacles, still organize win—through certification elections voluntary recognition campaigns both public sectors. And each year successfully negotiate thousands first contracts United States, providing representation time hundreds workers. research takes in-depth look at what achieve contracts. Why, when such powerful opposition, do continue want belong newly organized stay union? What provide that makes struggle worthwhile? To explore questions, we analyze evaluate along four primary dimensions. First, inventory basic workers’ rights provided by contracts, which go beyond very limited federal state law under “employment will” system. Second, how institutional power shape work process on day-to-day basis. Third, codify presence daily life, arrangements meaningful role workplaces. Fourth, examine kinds workplace benefits codified supplemented gaining important insights types human resource practices exist Finally, examining interactions among dimensions, limitations have been able current environment, it would take improve quality