Unions in America

by Gary N. Chaison

Overview

Unions in America provides a concise and current introduction to what America's labor unions do and why they do it. In this engaging text, author Gary Chaison portrays America's unions as complex, self-governing organizations that are struggling to regain their lost membership, bargaining power, and political influence. This accessible textbook offers an impartial overview of American unions that ranges from the struggle for recognition from employers in their earliest years to their present-day difficulties.  

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452239477
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	11/09/2005
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Gary Chaison is Professor of Industrial Relations at the Graduate School of Management at Clark University.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Chapter 1 - The Evolution of Labor Unions
The Early Years
The Knights of Labor
The American Federation of Labor
Confrontations with Employers
The Industrial Workers of the World and Revolutionary Unionism
Union Decline and Resurgence During the Years Between the Wars
Union Solidarity and Power
The Erosion of the Labor Accord
The Rise of Public Sector Unionism
The Search for Union Revival
Chapter 2 - Union Structure and Growth
National and Unions
Union Locals and Intermediate Bodies
The Labor Federation
Union Jurisdiction
Union Mergers
Union Membership and Decline
The Causes of Union Growth and Decline
How Unions Organize
Chapter 3 - Union Government and Administration
The Union Constitution
Union Conventions
Union officers and Governing Bodies
Local Union Government
Union Democracy
Corruption in Unions
Unions and Information Technology
Union Effectiveness
Chapter 4 - The Union as Bargaining Agent
The Fundamentals of Bargaining
Collective Bargaining Structure
Collective Bargaining Agreements
The Return of Concessionary Bargaining
The Decline of the Strike
Chapter 5 - Unions in Politics
Union Political Action
Union Political Campaigns
Living Wages
Labor Law Reform
Two Campaigns in California
Shopping Wal-Mart
Chapter 6 - Union Revival
Organizing
Collective Bargaining
Political Action
Changing the Unions' Mission and Sturcture
Chapter 7 -- The Unions of the Future
Retreat
Rebound
Appendix: Selective Bibliography and Industrial Relations Websites

Editorial Reviews

"Chapters in this excellent primer for understanding the background and current challenges facing the US labor movement focus on the historical background, the structure and growth . . and the labor movement's future ina dramatically transformed economy. Especially useful in this brief book are the discussions of unions' political activities and their prospects for revitalization."

K. Fones-Wolf