Labored Relations

A personally revealing, politically astute memoir by a former Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board.

AgMotiv is a manufacturer of manure spreaders whose hourly employees are represented by the United General Laborers International (UGLI) union, in a right-to-work state (union membership optional). Meet Travis Tee, the shop union business agent, who suffers from a mild case of Tourettes Syndrome and entertains frequent vivid fantasies about being a world renown union leader. Dewey Dumphrey, is a dimwitted shop steward with single goal of impressing Travis Tee. Anita Kloo, is the only female shop steward who hates men and sees any action taken against her or other women as sexual harassment or gender discrimination. On the opposite side are the non-union members including Toivo Jurva, a likeable and imaginative shop employee. Travis Tee struggles to keep his union local relevant in the face of an increasing level of job satisfaction within the hourly ranks. Anita Kloo adds to his headaches when she makes a federal case over an accidental bump from a non-union coworker in the company cafeteria igniting a battle between the union members and a rebellious group of scabs. Then his life takes an unexpected turn for the worse while walking a picket line.

Investigates ATPT influence on regional telephone companies in their relations with national labor unions.

Labor Relations: Striking a Balance, 1st Edition, by John Budd presents labor relations as a system for striking a balance between the employment relationship goals of efficiency, equity, and voice, and between the rights of labor and management. Budd's Labor Relations broadens the narrow process focus of existing labor relations texts by placing the discussion of contemporary U.S. processes into the context of underlying themes - what are the goals of labor relations, are those goals being fulfilled, and are reforms needed. This textbook replaces the tired paradigm of "labor relations equals detailed work rules" with the dynamic paradigm of "labor relations equals balancing workplace goals and rights." Labor law, union organizing, bargaining, dispute resolution, and contract administration are central topics, but these processes are not presented as self-evidently good. These topics are placed in the broader context of the goals of the employment relationship, conflicting rights, and the environment of the 21st Century. This broader context serves to make labor relations more engaging and relevant to students. It also allows instructors to raise important "big picture" ideas while covering the applied business functions and strategies of the existing processes..

Investigates ATPT influence on regional telephone companies in their relations with national labor unions.