...Business Ethics across cultures The first of the two articles that will be reviewed for this paper is by Tamar Lewin of the New York Times. In August of 2001 thirty Nigerian families sued the large drug company Pfizer in the Federal Court of the United States. The families alleged that Pfizer conducted an unethical trial on their children during the meningitis epidemic of 1996 The Pfizer Company sent a research team to the Infectious Disease Hospital in Kano, Nigerian in 1996 to test an experimental antibiotic, Trovan, on 100 children that had come down with meningitis. Pfizer want to ascertain whether this drug would be effective on the disease; until this point the drug had never been tested on children. For their control group Pfizer administered the very best treatment, ceftriaxone, too 100 other children. The suit states that Pfizer did not even administer the full dose of the ceftriaxone. The results from this trial left 11 children dead and many others brain damaged, paralyzed, or deaf. Pfizer’s only comment on the suit was that the fatality rate was less from the trial, than the overall fatality rate from the epidemic. Their spokeswoman also said that the trial had been a humanitarian mission and not a self-serving action. The suit against the company however, states that the company took opportunity from the chaos caused by the crises. They were able to quickly test a potentially dangerous drug without proper approval. The suit also claims that Pfizer also falsified...
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...Good morning ladies and gentleman. Today I am going to talk about some of the challenges facing labor unions today and how we can rise to meet them. Government policies may vary from province to province but we are fortunate enough to have some of the strongest labor legislation out there. The economic recession has been hard on everyone and unions are no exception, with the lay-offs or closures of plants and businesses, the union faces the challenge of ensuring we stay strong and effective. In the workplace there are many challenges relating to diversity, changing human resource management and organizing one of the largest sectors of workers in Canada, the service and retail industry. (Very good introduction!) Economic and political change, globalization and restructuring have made people question the effectiveness or need for unions. With the changes in the workplace and workforce, such as shrinking public sector and primary industries and the growth of the private sector coupled with the changes in work arrangements, unions are faced with challenges relating to their survival and vitality. (McQuarrie, 2003) Traditionally unions were structured to represent employees in industries with a fairly stable workforce and hierarchical relationship with management. Today unions face the necessity of “having to adapt to new realities of work and proving their relevance to a new generation of workers in a variety of workplaces.” (McQuarrie, 2003) Workforce demographics are changing,...
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...Patron Jones September 25, 2014 Human Diversity Immersion Paper I chose to interview a good friend of mines father named Hector. He is forty-two years old and is of Mexican decent. He came to America for better job opportunities. In the interview, we discussed his beliefs, traditions, and mainly his story of how he began a life for his family in America. In Meigs County, Ohio, the produce fields hired Mexican laborers on worker permits. Hector started out working in produce fields then he became the boss about five years ago and received his green card. He moved to America over 10 years ago. Now he is an American and can speak very good English Hector believes in the Christianity faith. He beliefs that all people should be treated the same regardless of race and ethnicity. Hector said he came to realize that America wasn’t a place of equal opportunity. In Mexico, people are more willing to help each other out in difficult situation. Hector went on to explain in Mexico men were paid pretty much the same pay, which was very low. Hector explains that Mexicans will live in packs because it was easier and much affordable, but America was much different people didn’t look out for one another like they do in Mexico. “Americans are very selfish”, said Hector. During the Interview, he explained to me that in Mexico there is no age requirement for males to start working, so there are young boys working at six to ten years old to help support their family He also stated that women...
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...History of the Labor Movement “It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country” (United States Department of Labor). This quotation is referring to one of our national holidays, Labor Day. Ultimately, the labor movement in the United States formed this holiday celebrated every September. Labor day is a day to celebrate how far American workers have come since before the 19th century. During the 1800s American workers could be found at their job for most of the day almost everyday. It was a hard time for families to make ends meet forcing even their children to work. On average, an individual would work twelve hours a day, seven days a week. Easy jobs, such as working in a factory or mill, children as young as five would be working to help their families pay bills and even eat a meal (History, 2010). Soon times got tougher for Americans by having wage cuts and needing them to work more hours. Several different strikes occurred starting in 1768 over these wage reductions. Workers fought for several years to be treated differently by getting paid more and working less hours; to fight for these rights strikes were happening more frequently. Soon reform efforts were popping up to fight against the social inequality occurring; Knights of Labor and National Union Labor were the most popular. However, their efforts were not changing the economic conditions the workers faced; therefore...
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...The Future for U.S. labor The United States is facing a challenge in finding work for workers who have been unemployed since the recent recession. After many years of leading the manufacturing industry, the recent economic crisis, as well as the growth of the competitive global market, has caused many U.S. factories to shut down, and in turn caused a rapid decline in employment of U.S. workers (Baily, Manyika, & Gupta, 2013). However, simply employing the U.S. workers will not solve the high unemployment problem the country is facing. In this global marketplace, the United States will not only need to make improvement in the economy to create jobs that are robust and sustainable, but will also need to build a workforce that is strong and trained with the right skills (Baily & Bosworth, 2014). This paper will first look at the significant events of the history of U.S. labor to understand the current situation of the U.S. economy and how it has affected the workers. In this paper, U.S. labor, workforce or labor force refers to a pool of people who are employed in the United States. Since manufacturing is a significant source of employment for U.S. workers, the government has made advanced manufacturing as the center of its economic agenda to help with recovering the U.S. economy. Advanced manufacturing, as described in the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) report, is an effort to improve the U.S. industry in systems engineering using...
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...main founder of steel was Andrew Carnegie. He was the one who invented steel and led the way for all of the other railroad companies to start advancing their rails and stretching them across America. “Steel mills are perhaps the quintessential example of late nineteenth century industrialization because of their importance to the American economy and because of their dependence upon mechanization.” This Statement backs up everything that was previously stated. This one sentence shows how steel was the number one material in that time. It also shows how important steel was to the advancement of everything else. The second chapter speaks about labor unions and their effects on the industry. It speaks about the way that the unions started and what their ultimate goal for workers in America was. It also speaks about the many different unions and how their approaches were similar and...
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...vast new areas to commercial farming and creating truly national market for manufactured goods. The growing population formed an ever-expanding market for the mass production, mass distribution, and mass marketing of goods, essential elements of a modern industrial economy. The railroads created 5 transcontinental lines and 4 times zones throughout the nation. 3. Why did organized efforts of farmers, workers, and local reformers largely fail to achieve substantive change in the Gilded Age? In order to achieve substantive change in the Gilded Age, farmers, workers, and local reformers sought to bring up protests and strikes; however, the government would respond with force in attempt to prevent further labor difficulties and keep the focus on local corporations. Unions were crushed by big industrialists with force rather than to seek compromise, which effected the efforts of...
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...United States[edit] Main articles: Labor unions in the United States and Labor history of the United States Labor unions are legally recognized as representatives of workers in many industries in the United States. Their activity today centers on collective bargaining over wages, benefits, and working conditions for their membership, and on representing their members in disputes with management over violations of contract provisions. Larger unions also typically engage in lobbying activities and supporting endorsed candidates at the state and federal level. Most unions in America are aligned with one of two larger umbrella organizations: the AFL-CIO created in 1955, and the Change to Win Federation which split from the AFL-CIO in 2005. Both advocate policies and legislation on behalf of workers in the United States and Canada, and take an active role in politics. The AFL-CIO is especially concerned with global trade issues. Child laborers in an Indiana glass works. Trade unions have an objective interest in combating child labor. In 2010, the percentage of workers belonging to a union in the United States (or total labor union "density") was 11.4%, compared to 18.3% in Japan, 27.5% in Canada, and 70% in Finland.[20] Union membership in the private sector has fallen under 7%[21] – levels not seen since 1932. Unions allege that employer-incited opposition has contributed to this decline in membership. The most prominent unions are amongpublic sector employees such as teachers...
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...lSTU L201 | The American Labor Union | A Dying Institution | | Steve Scarlett | 11/28/2013 | | There is no question that the once strong and powerful American labor unions are now in a slow but steady decline and have been so consistently since the 1960’s (See chart below). Today union membership is at an all-time low. According to a National Review article dated January 28, 2013 “the unionization rate is now 11.2 percent of all workers. Private-sector unionization fell from 6.9 percent to 6.6 percent, and the government unionization rate dropped from 37 percent to 35.9 percent.” Sources: W. Craig Riddell, “Unionization in Canada and the United States: A Tale of Two Countries”; ICTWSS Database A major factor in the weakness of the current labor legislation can be seen in Section 8(b) of the National Labor Relations Act Contributing factors: According to a National Review article dated Jan 28, 2013: by John Fund entitled The Decline of Unions “the unionization rate is now 11.2 percent of all workers. Private-sector unionization fell from 6.9 percent to 6.6 percent, and the government unionization rate dropped from 37 percent to 35.9 percent.” “The last time union membership in the private sector was below the 7 percent it is today was before FDR’s New Deal entrenched mandatory collective bargaining into law through the Wagner Act.” “Unions are in an “inexorable decline,” Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer said on Fox News this...
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...Good evening everyone, I came here tonight prepared to speak with you all about American Labor Union History going back to the Eighteenth Century. Due to time restraints, I am now being asked to give you the top three most important events in American Labor Union History. There have been so many significant events, picking the three most important is a very difficult task. However, I will rise to the occasion and give you lovely folks what I believe to be the three most important events in American Labor Union History. The three I will speak briefly about are; the formation of The Knights of Labor in 1885, The Wagner Act of 1935, and the merger between AFL and the CIO creating the AFL-CIO in 1955. The foundation of The Knights of Labor is especially significant because this was the first time in American Labor Union History that there was an attempt to form one large general union. The early years of The Knights of Labor were very successful. This union offered membership to skilled and non-skilled workers as well as women and African Americans. Between 1885 and 1886 nearly 600,000 members joined under leader Terence Powderly seeking eight hour work days, equal pay, and to do away with child labor. The Knights won a major strike against the Wabash Railroad which led to the quick increase in membership. However, by the late 1880’s the organization was practically extinct due to lack of leadership for such an overwhelming quick increase in membership . The Wagner Act...
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...Labor Unions in Sports Willie C Williams Webster University Labor Unions in Sports Labor unions can trace its roots to the mid-19th century during the industrial revolution. Around the end of the Civil War national unions began to form beginning with the American Federation of Labor in 1886. These unions were created to protect and collectively bargain with employers on things such as wages, benefits, and working conditions for its members. Prior to labor unions, employee rights were nonexistent. Unions progressively began to get stronger and stronger through passed legislation and also through the increased amount of participation. In 1954 union membership hit an all-time high 35% of overall employees in America. Since the passing of bills such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 1991 union participation as steadily declined. These Acts gave greater protection to employees and therefore nullifying the need for unions. The one place were unions are thriving is in the world of professional sports. Currently National Football League (NFL, and Major League Baseball (MLB) have player unions and each one has worked to help create better opportunities for players in their prospective leagues. MLB Major league baseball players were the first players to organize as a union. In 1965 several baseball players hired Marvin Miller, a respected economist from United Steelworkers Association to mold the players into a union. Mr. Miller helped the players negotiate their first...
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...Football Conference. These conferences consist of 32 teams are divided into four divisions. The NFL players union was first formed as a result of poor conditions involving health care and threats to a player’s livelihood in the event of injury. Over time several events were instrumental in establishing the essential benefits that players have today. This paper will outline background information on the NFL while identifying some legal issues that the organization may encounter while determining which federal, state, or local laws could be affected as a result of these legal issues. Recommendations to minimize possible litigation will be provided along with addressing the organizations benefits of joining a union along with detailing the unionization and bargaining process and the effects this has on the organization. Professional football has become the most prevalent sport in America and the NFL has become the most prized sports enterprise in the world. The league sold more than 17 million game tickets in 2008 and an estimated three-quarters of the American population watched at least one NFL game on television (Shmoop Editorial Team, 2008). The NFL season culminates with a championship game; The Super Bowl held in February and has become one of the most popular happenings in American pop culture history. This has not been always the case. During its inception in the 1920s, the NFL struggled to find acceptance and stability for several years and did not become popular until...
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...| LABOR RELATIONSBYGERALD HODGESLABOR RELATIONS FALB10 Sec ADEVRY UNIVERSITY14 JAN 20111. From the beginning labor relations has an issue for the United States. Labor Relations is the area that organizations have to deal with between employees and management. Union leaders can use to minimize conflicts between employers and employees (such as strikes) and seek agreements. Unions are organizations formed for the purpose of representing their members' such as employees to deal with their issues. In this paper, I will identify how unions and labor relations impact organizations. I have interview Clinton Harris a labor officer for his organization from Computer company in Virginia. He is in the Nation guard and is currently deployed here with me in Afghanistan. The typical functions of Clinton Harris the labor officer are to manage labor relations program of organization. He analyzes collective bargaining agreement to make sure both sides are fair in terms wages, hours of work, work environment, and health care by contracts. | Clinton Harris advice management about labor relation laws and also interpretation of labor relations policies and practices within the organization. He prepares reports, using records of actions taken concerning grievances, and identifies problem areas. He also monitors implementation of policies concerning wages, hours, and working conditions, to ensure compliance with terms of labor contract. Clint has to research information about additional...
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...National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) A few days ago, there was a vote on a controversial policy to permit changing workplace election rules regarding votes on union representation. The proposed rule at issue was the shortening of the amount of time between a union filing a petition to hold an election for union representation and the actual vote. While the vote was heavily favored by union and labor lobbyists, it was opposed by most business groups. Because most employers do not hear about the vote until they are notified by the NLRB, the shortening of the amount of time between the petition and the actual vote is very important. Each side has many important actions to take prior to an election. In terms of the union organizers, there is much that they need to do prior to the election. Before the vote can even happen, the union must collect authorization cards from 30 percent of the employees (saying they agree to be in a union). The union must then file a petition with the NLRB who becomes the referee in the process. Once this is done, the employer is notified to address any issues raised by the petition, such as the legitimacy of the petition signatures, which employees to include in the proposed bargaining unit, and so forth. The union must then prove there is an adequate showing of interest for the union (usually done with authorization cards). This is the most important thing the union must do before an election. If the union cannot gather enough interest from employees...
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...Negotiations of the 2011 NFL Lockout MSM 9019-Emmanuel College Joshua Rosenbaum December 14, 2011 The National Football League (NFL) with the highest revenue, income, and value is considered the leader in the American professional sports business. The last NFL work stoppage occurred in 1987 and the NFL has continued to gain in popularity since while the three other major sports have all experienced work stoppages since that time. The 1987 work stoppage resulted in the players striking for twenty-four days and replacement players being used. After this strike and union decertification the NFL entered a new era of collective bargaining between the NFL owners and athletes in 1993. Both parties agreed to enter into a new collective bargaining agreement outlining the wage scale and rights of both parties involved. This agreement had been extended five times since 1993 but it was May 20, 2008 where the NFL owners voted unanimously to opt of their collective bargaining agreement, which without action would expire March 3, 2011. There were several issues that caused the lockout, but for the owners the largest issue involved the revenue. The issue of revenue was a difficult one for the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) to address since 31 out of the 32 teams were private entities and did not have to show the union their books. However, one team the Green Bay Packers are publically owned and therefore the union was able to get a...
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