ECON 451/551 - Unions and Collective
Bargaining
The organized labor movement in the United States has been unlike that
of most western industrialized nations in that it has not sought to govern
politically or change the extant economic system. Instead, American labor, lead initially by
Samuel Gompers, has sought to work within capitalism and other institutional
structures. Regardless, unions in the United States
have experienced the same dramatic decline in membership (and bargaining power)
as in many peer countries. In this
course, we trace the vicissitudes of the American labor movement and project
its future in the current legal environment.
We also examine management’s goals, the collective bargaining procedure,
and the options available (strikes, boycotts, mediation, and arbitration) when
impasse occurs. Throughout the course,
we will examine the effects of current issues and policies on labor such as the
North American Free Trade Agreement, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the
Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act.
Syllabus
Old Exams
Topics (Notes,
Problem Sets, and Answer Keys)
Worksheets
Data
Old Exams
Topics (documents include notes, problem sets, and answer keys)
Worksheets