The Gap Inc
. Case Summary The Gap, Inc is a chain of retail stores that sell casual apparel, shoes, and accessories for men, woman and children. Headquarter in San Francisco; the stores operate under a variety of names including: Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy Clothing Company, Gap Kids, and baby Gap. All merchandise sold by chain is private label. The Gap was founded in 1969 when Donald Fisher and his wife, Doris opened a small clothing store near San Francisco State University. By 1971 they were operating six Gap stores. In 1995, Fisher retired as CEO and Drexler, now age 50, took over the title. The Gap contracted with over 500 manufacturers around the world that made the companies private label apparel according to Gap specifications. Gap, Inc purchased about 30 % of its cloth from manufacturer located in United State and 70% from vendor located in 46 foreign countries. No single supplier provided more than 5 % of its merchandise. In the wake of concern over third world working conditions, the Gap also adopted a set of sourcing principle and guideline. This provide standard that the vendors had to meet including: engage in no form of discrimination, used no forced or prison labor, employee no children under 14 years of age, provide a safe working environment for employees, pay the legal minimum weight of the local industry standard- whichever is greater. The Gap's supplier
Identify and explain the major issues relative to the unionization process and what organizations do to make it difficult to implement the process relative to unfair practices. Cite sources and examples.
Essay Question: Identify and explain the major issues relative to the unionization process and what organizations do to make it difficult to implement the process relative to unfair practices. Cite sources and examples. Introduction I intend to explain in great detail the major issues relative to the unionization process, the act, which governs, and the independent agency, which polices it. I will also show what organizations do to make it difficult to implement the process relative to unfair practices. Body The NLRA (National Labor Relations Act) was enacted by Congress in 1935. It has the power to regulate interstate commerce and to govern the employer/employee bargaining and union relationship on a national level. The Labor Management Relations (Taft-Hartley) Act in 1947 and the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure (Landrum-Griffen) Act in 1959 amended the NLRA. Most employers and employees involved in businesses that affect interstate commerce in any way are regulated by the act. The NLRA gives employees the right to determine for themselves whether they wish to be represented by a union. If the majority of the employees in an appropriate bargaining unit indicate that they support a union a certification of representative is issued. This petition, which is normally filed by a union, seeks an election to determine whether employees wish to be represented by a
Running head: Winnipeg 1919
The year of 1919 has been one of the most influential years of strikes in Canadian history. The event that occurred on this year still lingers in Canadian minds and continues to be one of the most meaningful and powerful effects of labor protest and the struggle of people to create trade union rights. As it is stated it is "the first and the only time in Canadian history that a major city was split clearly into two opposing classes." (McNaught, 1963). The implications of The Winnipeg General Strike were far more reaching that just Winnipeg alone. It is argued that: "it involved the federal state, which threw its whole weight behind the business interests of Winnipeg, and aroused deep and bitter feelings in the ranks of labor all over the country. Its impact was far wider than the immediate economic issues of the strike. In the end, the six weeks that shook Winnipeg also shook the politics of Canada, and the legacy of the strike is more to be seen in its political consequences that in any other of its many aspects." (Penner, 1975). During WWI, which began in 1914, Canada showed its loyalty to Britain by sending many Canadian soldiers to fight in the battlefield. Canada was also a big supplier of ammunition and food to Europe during the war. This created many jobs during the war and even the unskilled and unemployed were able to find employment. Although war proved to
How significant were trade unions in the creation and Development of the LRC by 1903?
How significant were trade unions in the creation and Development of the LRC by 1903? Over one hundred years ago, on 27th February 1900, a conference of trade unionists and socialist organizations met to establish the Labour Representation Committee (LRC), the forerunner of today's Labour Party. However in 1867, the trade union movement in Britain was limited to a mere 5% of the working class. The unions, although initially uncoordinated and unsupported by the law had, by 1903, acquired millions of members, legal protection and political representation. In order to understand the relationship between the trade union movement and the rise of the LRC it is necessary to look at the development of the unions in the context of the social, economic and political conditions in the late nineteenth century. Life at this time was pretty grim for the working class. Research by Booth and Rowntree estimated that a family of five needed a minimum of £1 a week to survive in reasonable health. He also found that 1/3 of families had less than this. Skilled workers were financially more secure, but still had no real political representation. In an attempt to improve their circumstances these skilled workers and artisans established their first trade unions in the late 1860s (these are now known as new model unions or NMUs). These were so called because they revamped previous trade union
"Why Gay Marriages Should Be Allowed".
"Why Gay Marriages Should Be Allowed" As an American and as a child, I was brought up in a Christian home, where a certain, rather common, breed of ethics and values was instilled in me. I was always taught that you should obey your parents and God, that you should not lie, cheat, or steal, and that God was always watching you; I was also taught that homosexuality was wrong. As the years have passed, I have been confronted with the issue of homosexuality many times firsthand, and I believe that though homosexuals are not terrible people because of their sexual orientation, their lifestyle is still wrong. In recent years, the topic of homosexuality and gay and lesbian marriages has also become prominent in American politics. The question of whether these marriages, also sometimes referred to as "civil unions," should be legalized has become a pressing issue, and one that has only begun to test the limits and limitations of the US Constitution. The notion that such a thing as sodomy could ever be legalized is causing civil distress and has become quite a point of contention for countless Americans. For, on the one hand, many argue that allowing such marriages would corrupt the morals and society of the United States, yet others respond that Americans should all have the equal opportunity to lead happy and fulfilled lives. In the end, I have concluded that while it
For my report I will be analysing the recent events of the fire brigade strike. To start off it is important to address the reasons what they are going on strike.
Industrial relations - analysis of the Fire Brigade strike For my report I will be analysing the recent events of the fire brigade strike. To start off it is important to address the reasons what they are going on strike. Since 1978 firefighters pay was linked to manual work, since the initial link from more than 25 years ago, their pay had fallen in real terms whilst the demands placed on them had increased in the skills used, total training required and the number of incidents they attend . It has been noted that their jobs have been classified as "professionals", however their pay does not reflect this. The fire fighters want a fair deal. Throughout this assignment I will be linking issues of the industrial dispute to with topics discussed in lectures. These include trade unions, collective bargaining and strikes & industrial action. Why does the FBU want 40%? Unions say the present pay scheme - which was agreed after the last national strike in 1977 - is outdated and members are losing out. Governments reason for not giving in to the 40% Tony Blair stated that if they were to give the increase that the Fire Brigade union is asking for they will have to give to all public services which are not possible in practice. Trade unions There are many different organizations that are able to represent the employers and the employees, for the fire brigade their
I have been asked to inform you, as secretary at Cooper & Courtney Solicitors about union membership.Throughout the report I will be examining the nature of unions (what they are,who can join and how they work), I will also examine and evaluate th...
I have been asked to inform you, a secretary at Cooper & Courtney Solicitors about union membership. Throughout the report I will be examining the nature of unions (what they are, who can join and how they work), I will also examine and evaluate the responses from your work colleagues and make a recommendation as to whether or not you should join a union. Trade Unions originally formed for the purpose of protecting the rights of employees. In addition, today they provide support for individual employees who find themselves in a conflict situation or any other difficulty. They aim to protect and advance the economic, social and political interest of their member. Union membership is a legal right that is open to all workers and it is against the law (both Federal and State) to avert an employee from joining a union. It is also against the law to force an employee to join a union. On of your colleagues state that "unions and unionists in Australia are troublemakers." We are made to believe that unionists are troublemakers due to the way in which the media portrays them. It is portrayed in a negative way as they are inconveniencing people and the public are being brainwashed. They are made to believe that unionists really are troublemakers; they never do good things, instead they choose to do bad things. Trade unions represent the employee. Their main goals are to better
Describe and analyse the key developments in British industrial relations over the past 20 years. How do you account for these changes?
Describe and analyse the key developments in British industrial relations over the past 20 years. How do you account for these changes? In Britain, the past two decades have witnessed a key change in industrial relationships, resulting from a stream of legislation, massive restructuring of industry, commerce and the public services, and many changes of policy and practice by those involved. The behaviour of employers is a major factor shaping the nature of employment. When the twentieth century came to a close, unions faced major challenges over issues which they thought they had laid to rest in earlier years. They are not as powerful as they used to be. Decline was linked to deep-seated changes in industrial relations and worker's attitudes from collectivism to individualism, conflict to co-operation. (Basset 1986.) Nevertheless, trade unions still form significant and powerful bodies in today's workforce, and there is an ongoing debate about the nature and extent of change. As mentioned legislation in the last twenty years has restricted union activity and since 1979, membership has declined every year. In 1979 Margaret Thatcher took over from James Callaghan as Prime Minister. This is seen by many as being the major key development in industrial relations. Throughout the 1970s Britain had been subjected to a series of damaging strikes and terrific inflation. There
"Management strategy towards collective bargaining is now characterised by decentralisation and flexibility" Discuss.
"Management strategy towards collective bargaining is now characterised by decentralisation and flexibility." Discuss. The 1980's brought with it a major shift in traditional industrial relations. In the 1970's there was a trend in management towards greater acceptance of pluralism and collectivism in response to the power of trade unions and government corporatist strategies. Industry wide agreements on pay were the main feature of collective bargaining. The aim of collective bargaining was to create a political institution to provide a means of bringing together at least temporary reconciliation of the divergent interests of employers and employees. In this way a socially stable working environment could be achieved through this wide spread consensus, facilitating the employer's aim of eliciting labour productivity and the macroeconomic objectives of the country (if the government involved). However the changing political and economic environment of the late 70's and early 80's brought with it a more unitarist and individualistic approach. Features of this was an emphasis on human resource management, decentralisation of pay determination and the de-recognition of trade unions in order to create greater flexibility. The neo-liberalist stance of the Conservative government meant that it was anti-trade union and in subsequent years eroded the power of trade unions. The
Employment relationship
Introduction Employment relationship is a new term that broadens the study of industrial relationships, referring to the formal and informal interrelationships between managers and workers. As shown by figure 1, there are different perspectives involved, which will inherently provide ample scope for conflicts to arise. The basis of the employment relationship is one of divergent interests; therefore conflict is inevitable at the workplace. In the process of obtaining the desired values, one party may attempt to neutralize its oppositions. Nevertheless, there can also be substantial amount of common interests, which can be turned to mutual advantage. Communication Communication is a two-way process allowing for a mutual interchange of ideas, feelings and opinions. Thus provisions should be made for upwards as well as downward communication. Communication is very important as it keeps employees informed about general matters affecting their work-role. It increases the understanding of management's actions, reduces misunderstanding arising from daily activity and improves trust between employers and employees. Written methods are ideal as it is less liable to misinterpretation by providing detailed visible information. It includes newssheets, discussion documents, and leaflets in pay packets, posters and booklets. The employee's handbook is a particular important mean, as it