Question

• Discuss the role of the judicial system in suppressing the growth of labor unions in the 1800’s and early 1900’s.
• For each of the following schools of thought about labor unions, identify the over-arching view of labor unions: 1) mainstream economics; 2) human resource management; 3) industrial relations; and 4) critical industrial relations. Which school of thought do you most identify with? Why?
• What are laboratory conditions in the context of labor law? Why are they important? What actions, if any can the NLRB take if laboratory conditions are not maintained?
• Discuss the three (3) objectives of Labor Relations: Efficiency, Equity and Voice. How do these objectives clash? How can friction among the objectives be reduced?  

Answer 1

Role of Judicial system in suppressing the growth of Labour Unions in 1800 and 1900

In 1800 and 1900 the labour unions were an important component of Democratic party and they were effectively working towards work place rights, working conditions, wages etc. However the importance of unions were getting reduced due to the fact that the skilled labourers were in shortage. the intervention of Government also reduced their role. This was mainly because the unions started organising strikes and protests to get their rights . They forced the workers to join the protests to ensure safe working conditions. The companies hated the unions as they act as monopolies and they demand higher wages with less work. All this has led to the Judicial intervention to suppress unions and the Labour Acts and other laws were passed to provide protection to labourers and ensure them fair wages and proper working conditions.

Over arching views of Labour unions for

1) Mainstream economics - This is a synthesis of Keynesian and neo classical approaches where the individuals and firms tend to work for maximisation with rational behaviour. They tend to work for individual as well as firms growth and profit maximisation

2)Human resource management - This school of thought as based on the protections and development of human resources which is considered to be a major asset. This included selection, recruitment, training , performance appraisal and development

3)Industrial relations - This includes the work in the industries and their safe guarding. The issues considered are work floor lighting , air circulation, safety features proper breaks , and good and healthy working conditions and fair wages

4)Critical industrial relations - This argues that there is an inherent conflict of interests between the parties but goes far deeper than industrial relations. It also includes family welfare and development of the workers

Laboratary conditions

This means ideal conditions for union election. The laboratary conditions shall exercise free choice. The employer and the union should not interfere with this free choice right of the worker. The employer must maintain strict neutrality

Three objectives of Labour relations

Efficiency, equity and Voice -

Efficiency is related to the productivity of the workers and the fair wages to be paid for the work done.

Equity refers to the equality in the treatment and ensuring proper working conditions and leave and other safety conditions

Voice represents the ability and right to represent themselves in case of deprivation of any of these rights and make a judicial fight against the injustice

The friction among these can be reduced by proper standardisation of the unions and by allowing proper representation of the workers in their management team .This will help the employer as well as employee to get fair treatment in the work environment.