The AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) is a voluntary federation of 57 national and international labor unions, created in 1955 by the merger of the AFL and CIO. It aims to improve conditions for working people through legislation, political action, and community service.
An agency shop is an organizational arrangement in which employees who are not union members must pay a fee to the union to cover the costs of collective bargaining and other union services from which they benefit. This structure is subject to collective bargaining agreements and state laws.
In labor economics, automatic checkoff refers to the authorization for the employer to deduct union dues and other assessments from an employee's salary automatically and remit them to the labor union; also called compulsory checkoff.
Bargaining refers to the process of negotiating for better prices, terms, working conditions, or other benefits between two or more parties, typically involving a give-and-take approach.
A bargaining agent, also known as a bargaining representative, is a union or individual certified through a secret ballot process to be the exclusive representative of all employees in a bargaining unit or group.
Boulewarism refers to a 'take-it-or-leave-it' offer made by management to labor in the context of collective bargaining, circumventing union negotiations. It has been ruled illegal as a violation of the Wagner Act (National Labor Relations Act of 1935).
A closed union, often referred to as a closed shop, is a type of employment arrangement where employers agree to hire only members of a specific labor union.
Collective bargaining is the process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees aimed at establishing agreements to regulate working conditions. The employees are usually represented by a trade union or another bargaining organization.
Compulsory arbitration involves the forceful submission of a labor dispute to a neutral third party, such as a government body or the American Arbitration Association, for resolution. This method, also known as binding arbitration, has been resisted by labor unions and employers who prefer collective bargaining and economic pressure to resolve disputes.
A deferred wage increase involves delaying the implementation of a wage increase until a later date. In collective bargaining, it serves as a concessionary labor tactic for winning a wage increase from management.
A coordinated national, regional, or municipal work stoppage employed to pressure management or the government into agreeing to contract terms, resolving grievances, or recognizing a union.
A grievance is an allegation that something imposes an illegal burden, denies some equitable or legal right, or causes injustice. It often refers to formal complaints within an organizational context, particularly in workplaces subject to collective bargaining agreements.
A colloquial term used to describe employees going on strike against their employer, usually as a protest against labor conditions, wages, or other employment terms.
Industrial relations encompass the dealings and interactions of a company with its employees, labor unions, and governmental institutions, with a focus on promoting partnership, cooperation, and negotiated conflict resolution.
An industrial union is an organization that unites all workers, regardless of their specific trades or occupations, within a particular industry under one umbrella. This type of union aims to include a broad spectrum of workers, from laborers to specialists, to collectively negotiate labor conditions and advocate for workers' rights.
A labor federation is an umbrella labor organization encompassing multiple affiliated local labor unions and providing extensive support services. The national AFL-CIO is a central trade union federation in the United States with numerous affiliates.
A labor union is an association of workers formed to negotiate collectively with employers over wages, working conditions, benefits, and other aspects of employment.
Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act passed in 1959 to eliminate union corruption.
A lockout is a management action that prevents employees from performing work in the organization until a labor settlement is reached, physically barring them from entering the workplace.
A requirement for union members to keep their membership for the duration of a labor agreement. Workers are not required to join unions under this arrangement.
Management prerogative, also known as management rights, refers to the rights believed by management to be exclusively theirs and not subject to bargaining in a collective bargaining contract.
Exploring the essential topics that must be discussed during collective bargaining negotiations, such as hours, medical benefits, pensions, and wages.
Multiemployer bargaining, also known as association bargaining, refers to an arrangement where an association of employers in the same industry negotiates with labor unions as a collective entity.
A pivotal federal statute aimed at promoting and protecting employees' rights to organize and collectively bargain while prohibiting certain unfair labor practices by employers.
The National Labor Relations Association (NLRA) is a foundational piece of federal legislation in the United States that governs the labor practices of private sector employers and their relations with labor unions. Enacted in 1935, the NLRA established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and granted employees the right to organize, engage in collective bargaining, and take collective action, including strikes.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is an independent federal agency tasked with enforcing US labor law in relation to collective bargaining and unfair labor practices.
A National Union is a complex organizational structure consisting of workers from various sectors within a country's economy, aimed at negotiating labor conditions and advocating for the rights of its members.
Organized labor, also known as unionized labor, refers to a group of workers who join together to negotiate with their employers regarding wages, hours, benefits, and other working conditions. The AFL-CIO is the largest union representing organized labor in the United States.
Pattern bargaining is a negotiation strategy where individual employee unions and employers reach agreement on the basis of a collective bargaining settlement developed elsewhere. This can occur on a national or regional basis and can be initiated by either a union or an industry.
A reopener clause is a contractual provision that allows for the renegotiation of specific terms in a collective bargaining agreement before its expiration under certain conditions.
Retroactive refers to any policy, payment, or legal effect applied to a prior time period. For instance, retroactive pay can be granted based on the provisions of a new collective bargaining agreement for work completed before or at the start of the new contract's implementation.
A secondary boycott refers to a union's effort to exert pressure on an employer by preventing the usage, purchase, or transportation of products, goods, or services related indirectly to a primary employer involved in a labor dispute.
A form of protest involving workers stopping work but remaining at their place of employment, typically to occupy and take control of the workplace to prevent the use of strikebreakers.
A formal notification given by a union to an employer and relevant mediation agencies, signaling an imminent strike action due to unmet demands or rejected offers.
A strike vote is a vote cast by members of a union to authorize a strike against an organization. A clear majority is required for the vote to be effective, but the union leadership decides the timing and occurrence of the actual strike vote.
A sympathetic strike occurs when workers who are not directly involved in a dispute with their employer strike to express solidarity with workers who are on strike in another industry or sector.
A trade union, also known as a labor union, is an organization formed by workers to protect their rights, improve working conditions, secure better wages, and advocate for their interests through collective bargaining and various forms of negotiation with employers.
A Union Contract, also known as a Labor Agreement, outlines the terms of employment between a company and its unionized workforce. These contracts typically include provisions related to wages, working hours, benefits, and other conditions of employment.
Union rate is the standard hourly wage rate for a specific occupation or trade, established through collective bargaining. It is commonly the minimum rate that qualified individuals in the job can earn.
A labor agreement providing that existing employees may continue as union or nonunion members, but new employees must join the union.
A wage floor, or minimum wage, is the lowest legal remuneration that employers can pay their workers, established either by law or through an agreed-upon wage bracket in collective bargaining agreements.
The Wagner Act, also known as the National Labor Relations Act, is a fundamental legislation enacted in 1935 that significantly strengthened labor's bargaining power and established guidelines to prohibit anti-labor practices by management. It created the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to enforce labor laws and support workers' rights.
A Yellow Dog Contract is an employment agreement that explicitly prohibits the employee from joining labor unions under the threat of dismissal. Although historically utilized, such contracts are now generally deemed illegal due to federal and state labor laws.
