Course Title: Labor Relations MG 6133
Instructor’s Name: Matt DeLuca
Course Description______
Objective: to provide a comprehensive overview of this major functional area – at a graduate level – so that students completing the course will have a thorough understanding of the current state of the union movement, an appreciation for its role as part of the HR curriculum; and a sensitivity for the unique role of labor unions in the US – past, present, and its future direction.
Each person successfully completing this course will also:
· Have completed a review of state-of-the-art thinking from both academics and practitioners in the areas of labor relations and the union movement in the United States and its implications in a global marketplace;
· Possess a thorough understanding of collective bargaining process and the characteristics of effective contracts; and,
· Be able to utilize workplace environmental scanning techniques to determine the demographics of the workforce while linking organizational processes and human resource practices and results to individual, team and intra-organizational performance and reward systems in both organized and non-union settings.
MajorTopics______
Course Introduction
n A Word about Poly, ePoly and eLearning
I. Union-Management Relationships in Perspective
Similarities and Differences – Unlike Any Other Place in the World
Overview to the Labor Movement in the United States
Some Labor Statistics.—Economic Consequences
II. A Very Brief Review of US Labor History
III. Union-Management Relationships:
Phases in the Labor Relations Process
Elements in the Process
HR Organizational Delivery – Labor Relations vs. Employee Relations
IV. Evolutionary Aspects of the Labor Movement
V. US Labor Law Basics
Pre-NLRA Era
Origins/Common Law
Railway Labor Act
The Norris-La Guardia Act
NLRA Era – The Wagner Act
Post NLRA to the Present
Taft-Hartley Act
Landrum-Griffin Act
VI. Key Participants in Labor Roles
Management and Unions – Goals and Strategies
VII. For-Profit, NGO’s and Governmental Organizations and Labor Relations Activities
VIII. Union Structure and Governance
Union Corruption
Union Security
IX. Union Organizing & Campaigns
Why and How Unions are Formed
The Union Organizing Process
Design and Execution of Representative Election Campaigns
A Word about Decertification
X. The Collective Bargaining Process and Outcomes -- A Never-Ending Process
Collective Bargaining: Definition and Structure
The Value of Negotiation Preparation
Roles and Behavior – A Level Playing Field Desired
Negotiating an Agreement – Mandatory Items and Any Others
Economic Issues
Administrative Issues
If Necessary: Moving from Impasse to Cooperation -- Resolving Negotiation (Interest) Disputes
Mediation vs. Arbitration
Ratification
Strikes and Boycotts as a Strategy
n A Word about the New York State Taylor Law
XI. Contract Administration & Grievances
The Day-to-Day Administration of the Contract – All about the Details
Grievances: Definition, Sources, and Significance
-- The Union’s Duty of Fair Representation
Steps in the Grievance Process
Effective Grievance Resolution – Relationships and Flexibility
XII. Labor & Employment Arbitration
The Evolution of Labor Arbitration
Components of a Typical Arbitration Proceeding
The Arbitrator’s Decision
Current Arbitration Issues
XIII. Employee Discipline – In Union and Non-Union Settings
Progressive Discipline
The Just Cause Principle
XIV. Other Labor-related Laws
FLSA, Workers Compensation, Social Security (FICA, including Unemployment Insurance), The Civil Rights Act, The ADA, The Warn Act, OSHA, ERISA
XV. Unions & the Public Sector,
XVI. Global Aspects and Implications
XVII. The Future for Unions in the United States
Required Textbooks:
1) The Labor Relations Process, Eighth Edition, by William H. Holley, Jr., Kenneth M. Jennings and Roger S. Wolters; South-Western, Mason, Ohio, 2005
2) Walter Reuther: The Most Dangerous Man in Detroit (Paperback) by Nelson Lichtenstein; University of Illinois Press, 1997, ISBN: 025206626X.
COURSE PROCEDURES
Grading: Grades will be determined by the following:
Class Discussion 25%
Book Review 20%
Weekly Assignments 15%
Final Examination 40%
Total 100%
Class Discussion: there will be weekly questions posted that are relevant to the week’s topics and/or addressing breaking news items that provide one more opportunity to create a proactive learning environment. Students are expected to participate at most twice weekly with substantive comments of at least one hundred fifty words in response to any item posted.
Book Review: During the semester you will submit a book review for 20% of your grade. You have the opportunity to choose one book from the two listed below, as the subject of your book review this semester. The book selected for the course this semester is:
Walter Reuther: The Most Dangerous Man in Detroit (Paperback) by Nelson Lichtenstein.
The length of the book review is to be between four and seven pages of "word processed" and double spaced text on 8 1/2" x 11" paper. In addition to a summary of the book’s major points, you will be expected to provide a critical analysis (including comments on why you selected this particular book) and its relevance to the subject of labor relations. The review must be submitted on or before the night of class, 3/23. Electronic submission as an e-mail attachment is required.
Weekly Assignments: Weekly assignments are to be prepared electronically as well. They, of course, will be submitted electronically (preferably using MS-Word in hardcopy format). Content is more important than length. The purpose for these assignments is twofold. First, it ensures practical preparation for each weekly session's discussions. Second, it provides the opportunity to undertake a communications exercise on a regular basis that will help to develop professional expertise in a rapid manner. Each assignment will be submitted by midnight EST on the date due. They will be returned after review with grades and comments, if appropriate, by the end of the next week. To encourage brevity as well as clarity, no weekly assignment should exceed 3 pages in length with a double spaced format. Weekly assignments will include questions from the assigned reading and case studies. Each student is expected to complete all homework assignments, including case studies and the final examination, individually.
Lateness: Any assignment submitted late will be dropped one grade for each day of lateness. No assignments will be accepted more than 2 days late.
Academic Honesty
Due to the fact that this course is a part of a professional program at the graduate level, there is an even higher standard required of each student enrolled in this course. The integrity of each student enrolled in this course will be required at all times. Sharing or obtaining information without appropriate attribution will not be tolerated.
Getting started with your ePoly course
ePoly is your gateway to electronic course content. All materials used in your class can be accessed from the ePoly course page. Here are some answers to common questions about using ePoly:
What do I need to do before the first day of class?
Clicking on the topic under "WEEK ONE" will take you to a page listing the objectives and materials for the first day of class. The "Assignments" section lists assignments that are due the first week. All other individual and/or team assignments will appear in your faculty member's syllabus. Students will receive the syllabus from the faculty member on the first day of class.
Can I save my course materials for later use?
Many ePoly materials can be saved to your own computer for your personal electronic library. This includes Microsoft Word documents. Call ePoly @ 718-260-3626 for more information.
Can I get printed versions of course materials?
All ePoly materials are provided electronically. If a student wishes to have a printed version of any content, it can be printed using your own printer. Some courses use electronic readings that are in Adobe's PDF format, and a PRINT version is provided. This version is optimized for printing, while the VIEW version is optimized for viewing on the computer screen.