Management 420 Research Assignment
MG420 DL Labor Relations
Research Assignment
23 April 2011
1. Define and discuss the term “collective bargaining.” Include and discuss [showing relevance or applicability] at least one reference found in our text, along with a current web-based news item/magazine article about a real life example of a collective bargaining action. Write a succinct and complete summary on the contents of the article you’ve provided along with your critical comments about that article. Support your findings with referenced research. (5 points)
Collective bargaining is a type of negotiation used by employees to work with their employers. During a collective bargaining period, workers ' representatives approach the employer and attempt to negotiate a contract which both sides can agree upon. Typical issues covered in bargaining are compensation, personnel policies and procedures, employee rights and responsibilities, employer rights and responsibilities, union rights and responsibilities, and dispute resolution and ongoing decision making. Once both sides (upper management and union members) have reached a contract that they find agreeable, it is then known as the union contract or collective bargaining agreement. Recently, the National Football League (NFL) has experienced issues with the players and the owners in regards to their collective bargaining agreement. In 1993, the original collective bargaining agreement was signed, setting a new standard for salary caps, free agency, and more than 15 years of labor peace in the NFL. The agreement stated that player’s salaries’ would be based on the revenue of the franchises’ success. Players have done quite well with this agreement with the median NFL salary equaling $790,000 a year in 2009. Franchises’ have also done considerably well with this agreement with the average franchise being worth $1.04 billion. So this has begged the questions of championship team players such as Drew Brees of the New Orleans
Research Assignment
23 April 2011
1. Define and discuss the term “collective bargaining.” Include and discuss [showing relevance or applicability] at least one reference found in our text, along with a current web-based news item/magazine article about a real life example of a collective bargaining action. Write a succinct and complete summary on the contents of the article you’ve provided along with your critical comments about that article. Support your findings with referenced research. (5 points)
Collective bargaining is a type of negotiation used by employees to work with their employers. During a collective bargaining period, workers ' representatives approach the employer and attempt to negotiate a contract which both sides can agree upon. Typical issues covered in bargaining are compensation, personnel policies and procedures, employee rights and responsibilities, employer rights and responsibilities, union rights and responsibilities, and dispute resolution and ongoing decision making. Once both sides (upper management and union members) have reached a contract that they find agreeable, it is then known as the union contract or collective bargaining agreement. Recently, the National Football League (NFL) has experienced issues with the players and the owners in regards to their collective bargaining agreement. In 1993, the original collective bargaining agreement was signed, setting a new standard for salary caps, free agency, and more than 15 years of labor peace in the NFL. The agreement stated that player’s salaries’ would be based on the revenue of the franchises’ success. Players have done quite well with this agreement with the median NFL salary equaling $790,000 a year in 2009. Franchises’ have also done considerably well with this agreement with the average franchise being worth $1.04 billion. So this has begged the questions of championship team players such as Drew Brees of the New Orleans
References: Budd, John W. Labor Relations: Striking a Balance. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2005. (Budd 192 – 197). Did You Know This About Big Labor? http://www.biglaborbailout.com/2011/04/05/did-you-know-this-about-big-labor/ ----------------------- [1] A sweetheart contract is a contract made through collusion between management and labor representatives which contains terms beneficial to management and unfavorable to union workers. [2] For purposes of this research paper, the employer will not be discussed as an initiator in the organizing process. [3] “Sufficient interest” is defined by the NLRB as 30%