The AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) is a voluntary federation of 57 national and international labor unions, created in 1955 by the merger of the AFL and CIO. It aims to improve conditions for working people through legislation, political action, and community service.
An agency shop is an organizational arrangement in which employees who are not union members must pay a fee to the union to cover the costs of collective bargaining and other union services from which they benefit. This structure is subject to collective bargaining agreements and state laws.
In labor economics, automatic checkoff refers to the authorization for the employer to deduct union dues and other assessments from an employee's salary automatically and remit them to the labor union; also called compulsory checkoff.
A closed shop is an organization where workers are required to be members of a union before they can be hired. Due to legislation, closed shops are largely illegal.
Collective bargaining is the process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees aimed at establishing agreements to regulate working conditions. The employees are usually represented by a trade union or another bargaining organization.
A compulsory checkoff is a mandatory deduction from an employee's wages by the employer, commonly related to union dues or other agreed-upon charges.
Featherbedding refers to work rules that require payment to employees for work that is not actually performed or that is unnecessary.
A horizontal union is a type of labor union that represents all workers in a particular craft or skill across an entire industry, region, or country, irrespective of the specific workplace.
An industrial union is an organization that unites all workers, regardless of their specific trades or occupations, within a particular industry under one umbrella. This type of union aims to include a broad spectrum of workers, from laborers to specialists, to collectively negotiate labor conditions and advocate for workers' rights.
The Knights of Labor, originally a fraternal order for tailors, evolved into a significant national labor union in the United States during the late 19th century. Founded by Uriah Smith Stevens in 1869, the organization aimed to protect its members from employer abuse, advocate for labor reforms, and promote economic and social improvements. Though experiencing significant growth in the 1880s, the Knights of Labor eventually disbanded in 1893 amidst public backlash.
The Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) of 1959, also known as the Landrum-Griffin Act, is a U.S. labor law that regulates labor unions and ensures union democracy, financial integrity, and provides certain protections for union members.
A local union represents the bargaining unit within an organization, with significant authority over the work environment compared to the national union.
A requirement for union members to keep their membership for the duration of a labor agreement. Workers are not required to join unions under this arrangement.
Exploring the essential topics that must be discussed during collective bargaining negotiations, such as hours, medical benefits, pensions, and wages.
The National Labor Relations Association (NLRA) is a foundational piece of federal legislation in the United States that governs the labor practices of private sector employers and their relations with labor unions. Enacted in 1935, the NLRA established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and granted employees the right to organize, engage in collective bargaining, and take collective action, including strikes.
A National Union is a complex organizational structure consisting of workers from various sectors within a country's economy, aimed at negotiating labor conditions and advocating for the rights of its members.
Organized labor, also known as unionized labor, refers to a group of workers who join together to negotiate with their employers regarding wages, hours, benefits, and other working conditions. The AFL-CIO is the largest union representing organized labor in the United States.
Pattern bargaining is a negotiation strategy where individual employee unions and employers reach agreement on the basis of a collective bargaining settlement developed elsewhere. This can occur on a national or regional basis and can be initiated by either a union or an industry.
Right-to-Work Laws are statutes that prohibit agreements between labor unions and employers that make union membership, dues, or fees a condition of employment, as permitted by Section 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act.
Individuals who work for an employer while a strike condition exists. The term, used by union members, is applied to nonunion and union members who cross a union picket line to perform work for an employer.
A secondary boycott refers to a union's effort to exert pressure on an employer by preventing the usage, purchase, or transportation of products, goods, or services related indirectly to a primary employer involved in a labor dispute.
A union member elected by their peers to represent them in dealing with management regarding grievances and other workplace issues.
A form of protest involving workers stopping work but remaining at their place of employment, typically to occupy and take control of the workplace to prevent the use of strikebreakers.
A strike vote is a vote cast by members of a union to authorize a strike against an organization. A clear majority is required for the vote to be effective, but the union leadership decides the timing and occurrence of the actual strike vote.
Strikebreakers, also known as scabs, are management-hired replacements for striking employees. They must cross a picket line and are typically bitterly resented by striking employees.
A sympathetic strike occurs when workers who are not directly involved in a dispute with their employer strike to express solidarity with workers who are on strike in another industry or sector.
A union that is not affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). These unions operate independently, often with their own policies, leadership, and strategies.
Union rate is the standard hourly wage rate for a specific occupation or trade, established through collective bargaining. It is commonly the minimum rate that qualified individuals in the job can earn.
Union salting is a union organizing method where one or more union members join a non-unionized organization as employees with the intention of organizing its membership.
A walkout is a sudden work stoppage by employees aimed at securing an improvement in working conditions.
A Yellow Dog Contract is an employment agreement that explicitly prohibits the employee from joining labor unions under the threat of dismissal. Although historically utilized, such contracts are now generally deemed illegal due to federal and state labor laws.
