Protecting Jobs

The 'above-all-else' drive to increase profits often leads to decisions involving outsourcing, subcontracting and privatization. We're faced with it ... and we have to deal with it.

Here’s the problem. The Union Committee at Bermuda Taxhaven Inc. is called into the production manager's office. "I just want to give you advance notice that we are going to outsource all the machining work on our Useless Gizmo line.

Every month it seems like there's a new management scheme introduced to the workforce. Like hula hoops, these fads come and go, but some have been around for awhile now. Even though many of these terms refer to manufacturing, a good number have been adopted for use in the service sector:

Here are two situations that have occurred at UE workplaces.

Imagine this. The personnel manager calls a meeting with the union committee one day and makes the following announcement:

Jose Martinez works in the accounting office of the Town of Westmoreland. One day his supervisor approached him and said, "Jose, there's a new policy the mayor has put out. Starting next week everyone has to be on the public service desk for 2 hours a day. This will rotate, so everyone has to do their bit."

The (few) protections for workers facing plant closings

Issues

• There are not many protections for U.S. workers facing a plant closing. Stewards and union officers must be familiar with the few that are available - especially the WARN act and similar state laws.

Management Schemes – A Short History