Nuon Chheang Eng

TFBS, MA scholarship student

Chapter 14 The Dynamics of Labor Relations

Case Study 1 The New Union Battles: Public Unions vs. Rich World Governments

In this chapter, we will learn reasons that employees join unions, process by which
unions organize employees and gain recognition as their bargaining agent, challenges faced by
HR managers when union representation is voted into a company, the bargaining process and
the bargaining goals and strategies of a union and an employer, and a typical union grievance
procedure and explain the basis for arbitration awards. To encourages understanding of this
chapter, we will make a discussion through the case study about “The New Union Battles:
Public Unions vs. Rich World Governments”.

In this case it is not only regarding the declining power of public sector employees, but
it also emphasizes how the state of Wisconsin is a catalyst for this movement. The case examples
about to empower the US government and the state government, especially during the
government is facing with crisis’s and to strengthen society manner.

1. Why are politicians so interested in trying to repeal collective bargaining rights for
public sector employees?

The reasons why politicians were so interest in trying to repeal collective bargaining
rights for public sector is mostly due to political reasons when a large government spending
gaps that have taken place during the economic downturn, deficit rates, and unemployment
rates. When it meets financial crisis, the US government oftenly facing with shut down problem
and many of public employees are in tension of cut down at that time. Another reason, because
the politicians have no legitimate concrete reason in trying to repeal collective bargaining rights
but these politicians ultimately are aiming cutting the power of unions while increasing
government power and tight the social manner.

2. What risks does losing their collective bargaining rights hold for public employees?

When the public employees lose their collective bargaining rights, they face multiple
risks. They are becoming very limited and ultimately letting the government tell them what to
do without their input and they are not be able to join in making decision with the government
for something related to the public employees. When losing these rights, it looks like of making
a joke out of democracy. As in the case, the Governor Walker’s bill in Wisconsin would limit
collective bargaining for most state and local government employees to wage, barring them from
negotiating on issues like benefits and work conditions. It would also require workers to
contribute more to their pension and health care plans, as the cap wage increase based on the
consumer price index and limited contracts to one year.

3. As an elected politician charged with major cuts in your state budget, how would you
negotiate with the public sector unions? As a public sector union leader, how would
you negotiate with the state legislature?
 From looking at how our state legislators currently runs, it seems redundant for an
elected politician charge with major cuts in the state budget to negotiate with public sector
unions, especially after seeing how a state of Wisconsin repealed its 1959 collective bargaining
rights in 2011. As a politician, I think they should come to see the public sector unions and kick
of a meeting for what the government is facing and will doing with the collecting bargaining
rights. Before this meeting and also before the decision made by the elected politician there
should have public survey and voice from those public sector unions in order to avoid protesting
and collecting. As a union leader, I would appreciate for meeting before any protesting or
collecting unless it not leads to break down the social manner. The union leaders have to seeking
for any information or asking for meeting with the elected politician to understand clearly what
they are doing and letting them know how the decision will affect to public employees. These
meeting might be done slowly and step by step as soon as they find the suitable solution for both
parties.