1.  What factors impact how much a worker
will make?

2.  Differences in training, education, age, and
experience
 Differences in abilities
 Differences in risk
 Geographic differences
 Job discrimination
 Union membership

3. 1. Do Now
2. Review
3. Finish and present Businesses
4. Minimum Wage
5. Labor Unions Notes
6. Taking Sides (Labor Unions)

4.  Students will be able to explain the
historical necessity of labor unions and the
role that unions play today.
 Students will be able to identify different
types of worker based upon their human
capital.

5.  What are the advantages and
disadvantages of minimum wage?
 Do you think raising the minimum wage
would hurt or help our economy? Explain

7.  Wagner Act 1935- Federal law that
protects the rights of employees to
unionize.
 Taft-Harley Act 1947- authorized states to
introduce “right- to- work” laws.
 23 states have right- to- work laws.

8.  Collective bargaining- process by which
union representatives negotiate with an
employer about wages, employee benefits,
and working conditions.
 Binding arbitration- when labor
negotiations break down and the public
interest is involved, a neutral 3rd party is
brought in to impose a settlement that both
sides must accept.

9.  Major source of union
power= threat of strike
 Attempt to force firm to
accept union’s position.
 Threat of strike can
encourage agreement.
 Some industries are
more susceptible to
strikes.

10. REDUCE THE SUPPLY OF INCREASE THE DEMAND
LABOR FOR UNION LABOR
 Restrict membership (high  Increase for union made
initiation fees, long products
apprenticeships, difficult  Restrict supply of products
qualification exams, that compete with union
restrictive licensing…) made products
 Force all employers to hire  Increase productivity of
only union workers. (difficult Union labor
especially in right-to –work
states.)

11.  Union workers earn on average 15% more
than non-union workers
 Unions have great impact on wages in
government, transportation, and
construction.

13.  Improvements in work conditions
 Some states allow workers to enjoy union
benefits and wages without being members
 Changes in the economy- US produces more
services than goods.
 Competition from nonunion firms
 Strikes are fewer and less effective- only
about 20 strikes a year and many end in
companies hiring permanent replacements

14.  http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=
50136831n

15.  Why are union members in Michigan so
upset about the right-to-work law passing
in their state?

16.  Fillout debate worksheet. Answer the
question: Do unions or right to work laws
better protect workers?