The trends in the labor union climate are ever changing. Labor unions have been around for some time. Labor laws have been enforced through collecting bargaining that allowed the negotiations and agreements between management and labor about wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. Prior to the NLRA of 1935 employers had held virtually all the power over the employees. We also compare and contrast the union environment on a national and global scale.
Under the NLRB, an independent federal administrative agency, was establish so that they provided the empowerment to issue orders, that were enforceable in courts, to prevent any unfair labor practices. To prevent any unjust practices, the board established five unfair practices that were outline in Section 8 of the act:.
1. interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of their rights;.
2. interfere with the formation of labor organizations;.
3. discriminate in the hiring or tenure of employment or discourage membership in a labor organization;.
4. retaliate for filing charges or testifying under the act;.
5. refuse to bargain with the representatives of the employees.
With support from the NLRB they can guarantee employees the right to engage in concerted activities such as union organizing, the discussion of unionization among employees, and the attempt by one employee to solicit union support from another employee.
There are many issues that arise when working with or discussing unionization one topic is discrimination against minorities and women. Women have been struggling for years to receive the same level of respect and hierarchy for some time until last year for Jan Bowman she became the first women president of the Buffalo AFL-CIO Counsel's, labor governing board. Bowman is the exception in the predominant male leaders and has been over dominantly white males. While lacking these diverse voices the union hopes to attract a more diverse membership.