Question

The following are the terms commonly encountered as a result of a breakdown in negotiations between labor and management. a) lockout b) strike c) picketing d) boycott e) secondary boycott f) jurisdictional strike g) featherbedding Briefly describe each of the above concepts.

Short answer

a) A lockout is a temporary work stoppage initiated by management during a labor dispute to force employees to accept their terms. b) A strike is a work stoppage by a group of workers protesting against their employer's practices. c) Picketing is a form of protest where workers or supporters gather outside a workplace. d) A boycott is a collective refusal to buy or use a company's products to protest their practices. e) A secondary boycott occurs when workers refuse to associate with a connected company during a labor dispute. f) A jurisdictional strike involves two or more unions disputing the right to represent workers. g) Featherbedding refers to labor practices that require employers to pay workers for unnecessary work.

Step-by-step solution

a) Lockout

A lockout is a temporary work stoppage or denial of employment initiated by the management of a company during a labor dispute. This is done to force employees to accept management's terms, put pressure on the union, or protect company property from possible damage during a strike.

b) Strike

A strike is a work stoppage by a group of workers (usually members of a union) to protest against their employer's practices, such as unfair wages, working conditions, or benefits. Strikes are often used as a last resort when negotiations between labor and management break down.

c) Picketing

Picketing is a form of protest in which workers or their supporters gather outside a workplace to call attention to their demands or discontent with the employer. Picketing usually occurs during strikes and can involve carrying signs or banners expressing grievances or demands, and sometimes chanting slogans.

d) Boycott

A boycott is a collective refusal to buy, use, or associate with a company or its products as a means of protest or to put pressure on the company to change its practices. Boycotts can be initiated by workers, consumers, or other groups and can be a powerful tool to force changes in labor-management relations.

e) Secondary boycott

A secondary boycott is a form of protest in which workers or their supporters refuse to buy, use, or associate with another company that is connected to the primary company involved in a labor dispute. This places additional pressure on the primary company to resolve the dispute or change its practices.

f) Jurisdictional strike

A jurisdictional strike is a work stoppage that occurs when two or more unions are involved in a dispute over which union has the right to represent a group of workers. This type of strike occurs less frequently than other types of strikes, as it involves conflicts between unions rather than between labor and management.

g) Featherbedding

Featherbedding is a term used to describe labor practices that require employers to pay workers for work that is unnecessary or not actually performed. It is often criticized as a way for unions to create or maintain jobs even when they are not needed, sometimes resulting in increased costs for the company.

Key concepts

Lockout

Imagine a scenario where management and employees are finding it hard to agree on terms. When the company takes the upper hand and enforces a temporary work hiatus, it's termed a lockout. This move is to apply pressure on the workforce to succumb to company's conditions. It's a power play by the employer to take control of labor negotiations, often risking halting the business operations to get the upper hand.

While it may appear to be a harsh tactic, employers argue it helps protect the assets of the company and ensures the business isn't sabotaged from within during hostile negotiations.

Strike

The concept of a strike is quite well-known and involves workers - usually in a union - ceasing to work. It's their strongest bargaining chip. Strikes arise when there are sticky points like unfair pay, sub-par working conditions, or inadequate benefits. The workforce uses this stoppage as leverage, a collective bargaining tool in their negotiations with their employer.

A strike is both an act of solidarity among workers and a statement of their discontent. It's about fighting back and demanding the respect and conditions they believe they deserve.

Picketing

When workers take their grievance public, often during a strike, they engage in picketing. Paint the picture of employees, with signs and banners in hand, positioned outside their place of work. This serves as a visible sign of protest, drawing public attention to their cause - whether that's unfair pay, layoffs, or other contentious issues.

Picketing is peaceful yet persuasive, aiming to inform the community and gain public support. It's a theatrical way to display dissent and ensure the employer's actions are under public scrutiny.

Boycott

What if protests go beyond the workplace? That's where a boycott comes into play. Let's say a group decides not to purchase products from a particular company to push for change. That's the essence of a boycott. It's a tool used by workers and consumers alike to express discontent and to coerce a company to amend its ways.

Boycotts can last for a short burst or extend for a prolonged period, potentially inflicting financial and reputational damage to the target. It's a collective action that can reshape policies and practices.

Secondary Boycott

Taking it one step further, a secondary boycott widens the scope of a standard boycott. Instead of just targeting the primary employer, this action is aimed at a secondary business that has a working relationship with the first. The goal? To force the hand of the primary business via a ripple effect.

Secondary boycotts amplify pressure and can be more damaging as they affect a broader network, potentially disrupting supply chains and business partnerships. It's a strategic move in the labor dispute chess game.

Jurisdictional Strike

Jurisdictional strikes are a bit more intricate as they stem from a turf war between unions over representing certain employees. Impasse? More like a deadlock where unions clash, leading to disrupted work, and the only casualties are the projects and workers caught in the crossfire.

Such disputes are less about employer-labor negotiations and more about the internal power structures within labor representation. It's a fight to claim territory in the union landscape and the right to advocate for workers.

Featherbedding

A quirky term featherbedding hints at a comfy situation, but for employers, it can be a thorn in their side. Imagining paying employees for tasks that are perhaps outdated, unnecessary, or not performed at all? It's frustrating for businesses that seek efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Featherbedding practices can be entrenched in union rules, making it a contentious issue in negotiations. It's criticized for artificially inflating workforce numbers and costs, but on the flip side, it's seen by unions as a way to protect jobs.