Abstract
This paper discusses two Hollywood films on labor unions, corruption and labor-capital conflict. It explores how each film depicts union activity. The films are Elia Kazan's 1954 "On the Waterfront" and Paul Schrader's 1997 "Blue Collar. The paper examines the different style and approach to union politics of each film.

From the Paper
Hollywood has often used its capacity as a producer of popular entertainment to address political and ideological concerns..."

Tags:labor unions, organized labor, film

Abstract
This research paper examines significant roles played by the labor unions in the United States and how labor unions have played a significant role in improving the employees' working conditions, issues of minimum wage, safety, and working environment. This paper also discusses reforms and working structure alterations to improve efficiency.

From the Paper
"Labor unions have played significant role in improving the working conditions of employees. Employees' rights of minimum wage, pension funds, health insurances, better working conditions, and safety can be protected through an organized system of labor unions. A declining rate of union membership has been observed during the last few decades. Globalization, outsourcing jobs, economical changes, decreasing number of industrial jobs, new technological advancements, and inactive roles of labor unions themselves are few strong factors responsible for declining rate of union membership. Despite struggling in fast changing economical and political conditions, labor unions have also adopted new strategic ways to re-organize their efforts and operations. Without introducing new reforms and structural changes within labor unions, a successful future of unions is doubtful. Different labor unions are also thinking to merge with each other to make their operations more successful and efficient."

Tags:labor unions, trade unions, working conditions, globalization industrialization jobs workforce

Abstract
The paper discusses how the social economy tradition has been significantly influenced by labor unions, particularly by the positive impact they had on America's society and economy prior to World War II. The paper explains that in the 19th and 20th centuries, labor unions formed an important part of the social economy by standing up and speaking out for social and economic justice, and by pursuing social economy activities such as preserving the employment of union members, supporting their pension rights, improving their working conditions, and finding new and innovative solutions to social and economic problems.

From the Paper
"The social economy tradition has been significantly influenced by labor unions, particularly by the positive impact they had on America's society and economy prior to World War II. In the 19th and 20th centuries, labor unions formed an important part of the social economy by standing up and speaking out for social and economic justice, and by pursuing social economy activities such as preserving the employment of union members,..."

Tags:labor, unions, issues

Abstract
The paper compares United States and Canadian labor unions and highlights the differences in union strength as measured by union density or number of members divided by labor population.

From the Paper
"The strength of a union can be measured by the proportion of union members versus total employees within a country; the resulting ratio of which is commonly referred to as union density. Union density has been the focus point of much research, and a common measuring stick to understand the variability of historical and cross-national labor movement strength. Furthermore it is used to define and characterize a union's interrelationship with public policy, social acceptance, or other considerations that influence a union's relative power or weakness (Brooks, 2005)."

Tags:labor, unions, us & canada

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses effects of globalization, free trade and other variables on the future of American labor unions in the 21st century. The writer argues that declining membership and influence are likely to continue regardless of what labor does to offset outsourcing and loss of jobs.

From the Paper
Organized labor in the United States was described by Sloane and Witney as dealing with formidable obstacles in the new geopolitical and economic environment. At issue in this brief report is the question of how unions will respond to these challenges in the 21st century. Sharp declines in membership are threatening the influence of such institutions and causing them to change their approaches to organizing labor groups. Unions historically developed according to Michael Jedel ..."

Tags:labor unions, globalization, declining membership

Abstract
The author of this paper argues that the although labor unions have evolved since the unionization denotation in the 1930's, there is still a large amount of conflicting opinion for and against these workers' organizations. Some advantages discussed include the unification of coworkers, wage protection, their ability to raise salary and benefits. Disadvantages include a loss of motivation to work hard and no freedom for the employee to develop no their individual virtues.

From the Paper
"Labor unions began to develop due to the need for protection and security for personnel. Workers formed labor unions to respond to the unbearable working conditions, low income, and long working hours. During the Industrial Revolution people used to work in insecure factories from daylight to dark throughout the week for only pennies a day. These harsh conditions forced workers to look for better ways of improving their situation. They steadily learned that by joining and negotiating as a group, they could pressure the managers to act in response to their demands.
"The merging of employees brought about specialization of employees in the workplace. This new factory system, which developed in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, brought to workers both steady employment in good economic times and bad working conditions and unemployment during depressions (zinga, 2005)."

Tags:labor, union, workers, strikes, employees, managers

Abstract
This paper discusses the power of labor unions and their tactics.
The paper first explains that labor relations are a natural outgrowth of labor unions that depict the relationships between the unions and management. The paper then discusses how it is in both labor unions' and managements' interests to cooperate and work alongside each other.

From the Paper
"A labor union is a representative group that can bargain with management on such diverse issues as wages, working conditions, relations, and even health care coverage. They can also recommend to the union members certain actions be taken by the membership in order to influence the outcome of such bargaining. Unions are also known for the influence they wield in regards to politics and implementing or changing laws that affect their membership(s)."

Tags:labor, relations, strikes, negotiations

Abstract
This paper argues that fully democratic organizations, such as labor unions, should faithfully represent the needs of their members. However, it points out that traditions and practices of unions cater primarily to men. This surely suggests that unions are not very democratic, since the needs of women members are not fully represented nor met.

From the Paper
"If unions were fully democratic organizations, then they should faithfully represent the needs of their members. However, it is a documented fact that union traditions and practices cater primarily to men (Foley, 2001). This surely suggests that unions are not very democratic. On the other hand, it must be borne in mind that unions do appear to strive to be democratic, but are hamstrung by certain realities. For example, workforces have become very diverse, and this means that many..."

Tags:trade, unions, women

Abstract
This paper provides an overview of labor unions, a number of reasons for a decline in their membership, and a discussion of right-to-work laws and their effect on the unionization process. An analysis of the similarities between conflict theorists and functional theorists in the discussion of labor unions is followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.

From the Paper
"A labor union, according to Black's Law Dictionary (1990), is "a combination or association of workers organized for purposes of securing favorable wages, improved labor conditions, better hours of labor, etc., and righting grievances against employers (875). Labor unions generally represent trades, crafts, and other skilled workers such as plumbers and truck drivers (Black's 1990). Unions were originally formed in response to the increasingly severe hardships that were imposed on working people through the process of industrialization (Galenson 1994). The shifts from an agrarian to industrial society resulted in many people being uprooted from their traditional homes and work."

Tags:unionization, work, laws, employers, wages

Abstract
This paper discusses the history and development of labor unions in the United States from the 1920s until the present day. It describes the changes in public opinion regarding the labor unions over this period of time and then discusses ways to increases the chances of labor union success. Finally, the paper discusses the Employee Free Choice Act and corruption within the labor unions.

Table of Contents:
History of Labor Unions
From the 20s to the Present
Wavering Public Opinion on Labor Unions
How Successful or Unsuccessful: How to Improve Chances of Success
Influence on the Decline
The Employee Free Choice Act to Perk Up Union Growth
Corruption Among Labor Unions

From the Paper
"Leaders of the Big Labor were not too happy about the new disclosure rules from the Department of Labor (D'Agostino 2003). The rules could expose the unions' finances. The revised Form LM-2 must be filed by labor unions earning $250,000 or more annually. The Office of Labor-Management Standards said that convictions for the past five years for union corruption had an average of 11 per month. Critics and other observers had long complained about the laxity of the government in union disclosure rules. The Department also said that Form LM-2's reporting requirements would be far less intrusive and difficult than corporation files. It would not require independent supervision of union financial reporting. Before this new Form, public corporations and non-profit organizations had to submit their books for review by independent auditors. Now, unions must itemize expenses below $5,000. In contrast, federal political campaigns must itemize costs above $200. The Labor Department said that the rules could be implemented without need for congressional action (D'Agostino)."

Tags:corruption workplace, Employee Free Choice Act