Series 900: Maintenance Management
Course 908: Improving Labor Relations
Covers importance of good labor relations. Identifies characteristics of successful leadership. Explains the functions of labor unions and company management. Examines necessary skills for handling grievances, arbitration, and the basics of labor law.
Lesson 1 - The Supervisor's Role in Employee Relations
Topics:
Relationships and productivity; Your role; Your leadership style; Relations with a union; The grievance procedure
Learning Objectives:
- Explain how good labor relations affect productivity.
- List several characteristics of a successful leader.
- Explain why it is important for a supervisor to be directly involved with employees.
- Give examples of different leadership styles.
- Identify the functions of labor unions and company management.
- Tell what to expect and what not to expect from union representatives.
Lesson 2 - Leading Your Employees
Topics:
Conduct for employment; Enforcing rules; Union training techniques; Building a team
Learning Objectives:
- Tell how to handle the orientation of a new employee.
- Explain how a supervisor can win the respect of his or her employees.
- List several things to consider when determining corrective action measures.
- Summarize the way in which union representatives are trained and the things in which they are trained.
- Compare the leadership roles of the supervisor and the union representative.
Lesson 3 - Handling Grievances
Topics:
The grievance procedure; The supervisor's responsibilities; Steps in the procedure; Avoiding problems leading to grievances
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the purpose of a grievance procedure.
- Define the work grievance.
- List four common exclusions from a grievance procedure.
- Explain a supervisor's responsibilities with regard to a grievance procedure.
- Describe the various steps involved in a grievance procedure.
- Discuss ways to avoid problems leading to grievances.
Lesson 4 - Understanding Arbitration
Topics:
What should be arbitrated; Selecting an arbitrator; Company representative; Preparation; Presentation; The award
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the role of the arbitrator at an arbitration hearing.
- Explain the importance of a no-strike/no-lockout clause.
- Describe the processes used to select arbitrators.
- Name the steps involved in an arbitration hearing.
- List ways a supervisor can help a company prepare for an arbitration hearing.
- Tell why it is important to rehearse testimony before a hearing.
Lesson 5 - Labor Law Basics
Topics:
EEO and the supervisor; Labor/management legislation; The Wagner, Taft-Hartley, and Landrum-Griffin Acts; Unfair labor practices; OSHA
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the supervisor's responsibilities in relation to equal employment opportunity.
- Name the basic labor law of the United States and two Acts that amended it.
- List the functions of the National Labor Relations Board.
- Give examples of unfair labor practices.
- Explain how an unfair labor practice charge is handled.
- State an employer's basic responsibility under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
- Explain what happens if an employer fails to comply with OSHA standards.
