1) To what extent aspects of labor relations in other countries should be adopted in the United States?
Labor relations have always concerned issues of negotiations, formation of different types of organizations of workers and employees and development of rules for their activities. In France, control over the daily management of a company is performed by the management. Its activity is regulated by the Supervisory Board. Labor relations in France also provide for the presence of the observer who is assigned to the categories of employees responsible for the payroll of the company's employees and collective agreements. This category of workers takes place between workers and personnel engaged in production management. A board of directors is of great importance for the implementation of labor relations in France. The legitimacy of the representatives of the workers and employees and their organizations is established by the Labor Law which was adopted on August 4, 1982. Thanks to this law, workers were given the right to freedom of expression meaning that they are authorized to express their views directly to the administration about the content and organization of work and to propose measures to improve working conditions. Particularly these features of labor relations in France could be adopted in the Unites States as well. This would allow US employees have their working rights safeguarded and would require companies` employers be more responsible before their subordinates.
2) Where in the world are labor unions gaining strength? Why do you think that is?
In Brazil, the labor union movement has been reborn from the ashes in recent years and continues strengthening. After the fall of the military regime, its scope has significantly enhanced. It now includes in its ranks representatives of various layers of society, including agricultural workers, doctors and teachers. Modern Brazilian labor union movement relies on three main forces: employees of advanced industries (automotive, metallurgy, etc.), representatives of liberal education and health systems, and agricultural workers. The Brazilian Constitution declares a number of liberal provisions, including the freedom to create new labor unions. The main law of Brazil canceled the subordination of labor unions to the Ministry of Labor. All these changes have a positive impact on relations of workers and employers. Brazilian labor unions are gradually moving away from the role of implacable opposition through establishing a dialogue with the government and the business community.
3) What do you believe the future of Unions in the U.S. will be like?
Currently, the relationship between US government and the labor relations movement continues deteriorating. US government has been carrying out a deliberate policy to encourage competition aimed at reducing the influence of labor unions and limiting of the scope of activities of the latter. In my opinion, the USA will retain a regulatory role over labor relations in the future. Today, the central task of American government in the field of labor relations is the establishment of effective mechanisms for the participation of workers in working process. Labor unions and collective agreements will not disappear completely, but their importance as the primary mechanism for managing labor relations will be unlikely to dominate. In the context of rapid economic and political pressure, labor unions will be forced to adapt their traditional strategy to changes in the business.
Responses
1st student
The response of this student was an informative one with perfect examples (for instance, appropriate example of labor relations in Australia and application of this experience in the US). This student gave a decent projection on what might happen in France with labor unions in the nearest future and analyzed current status of labor relations in France. Despite the fact that I have a completely opposite opinion about the future of labor unions in the United States, I enjoyed student`s answer about future of unions in the USA and found it quite reasonable.
2nd student
This student made a decent comparison of two systems of labor relations in Germany and the USA which is required for better understanding of the current situation in both countries. Student`s second answer about Chinese labor unions was quite convincing thanks to numerous examples. With regard to the last, third, question, the student gave an informative characteristic of the current state of labor unions in the USA, but has not provided his opinion about the future status of labor unions in the USA.
