Abstract
Labor unions continue to be a major concern for both management and the employee workforce. Nationally, a union represented less than 11% of American workers in 2020. (www.bls.gov/cps) This research presents a brief history of labor unions, which includes the early struggles of the labor movement efforts of the 1800’s; the advent of modern unions and the strategies by key union leaders of the time for success; the key legislative efforts and the significance of the federal government’s attempt to balance power between management and unions. This research further addresses recent labor relations’ activities including the highly publicized legal cases involving Janus V. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the status of the ongoing battle between Amazon and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). Finally, the status of the desired balance of power between labor and management is addressed with discussion of the current “Great Resignation” phenomenon and its’ many challenges including an effective Employee Value Propositions (EPV) which addresses current and future employee trends such as “Boomerang employees” and “Quiet quitting”. The case will provide guidance to both parties in labor relations concerning the question: What is the current and future positions of the pendulum regarding the relationship between labor and management?
Recommended Citation
Mayfield, E. Hill; Mertens, Daniel P.; and Cunningham, Brent J.
(2022)
"A History of Labor Relations: Know the Past, Understand the Present, Develop the Future,"
Journal of Business, Industry, and Economics: Vol. 27, Article 4.
Available at:
https://roar.una.edu/jobie/vol27/iss1/4