Preview

Kroger: the Impact of Unions

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
807 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Kroger: the Impact of Unions
Kroger: The Impact of Unions Devin Mixon HRM 531 January 21, 2013 Tiffany Mytty-Klein

Background of Kroger Kroger is the leading grocery retailer in the United State and the biggest conventional supermarket operator in the U.S. There are more than 1300 supermarkets in 24 states across the U.S. with more than 1050 in the Kroger name. The company’s sales center on the operations of its grocery area ("History Of The Kroger Company," n.d.) Kroger is a part of the United Food and Commercial Worker’s International Union. There are many benefits to joining a union. The unionization process, union bargaining, legal issues, and the effects of unions and union bargaining are also discussed. Union Benefits The National Labor Relations Act states that “Employees have the right to organize, form, join or assist in labor organizations and use collective bargaining through representation” (Vitez, n.d.). The NLRA encourages the establishment of labors unions. Employees can be represented fairly. This also discourages dishonest practices by the employer. A union aids in helping improve the work environment at an organization. Kroger Co. employees enjoy the benefits of higher rates of pay. The wages for union workers are better than those of non- unionized workers (SPFPA, n.d.). Other benefits of joining a union include better health benefits and pension. Union workers are also more likely to have health benefits and pension than nonunion workers as well.

The Unionization Process When a group of workers decide they want to form a union, there is a basic eight- step process. They seek out the help of unions to improve working conditions. The first step requires a



References: Batten, D. (2011). Collective Bargaining. Gale Encyclopedia of American Law, 2 (3rd ed), 516-517

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Unionization Process. The organization employees entered the union upon its inception. The organization collected signatures of the employees calling for union representation and willing to pay union dues to Sheet Metal Workers (SMW) Local 68. According to HR Hero (2011), a minimum requirement of 30% of employees must propose induction prior to an election process (HR Hero, 2011, para. 2).…

    • 715 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Your Decide Activity

    • 1461 Words
    • 5 Pages

    A union is used to improve the pay conditions and hours of the employees. The employers would select others to represent them to the employers to talk to them on their behalf.…

    • 1461 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Labor Laws and Unions

    • 778 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Lee Smith, M. (2011). Labor Union Organizing in the United States Workplace. Retrieved from http://www.hrhero.com/topics/union.html…

    • 778 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    “A union attempts to organize the employees of an employer and to get the employer to recognize it as the employees’ bargaining representative; (2) a union seeks to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with an employer; or (3) a union and employer disagree on the interpretation and application of an existing contract between the two. Within these three situations, specific rules have been created to deal with rights of employees and employers.” (Labor Law, 2005)…

    • 900 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Unions In The Workplace

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The government over time has put tighter restrictions on business practices that have put unions under the microscope. Congress established the National Labor Relations Act in 1935 that protected workers’ rights to form a union. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) led the way for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to be formed as the governing body to oversee union’s activities and…

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Unions and organizations have had a disagreeable relationship from the very beginning; which dates back to the mid 1800s when unionization started. The reason being, they both had very different beliefs and perspectives on laborers, working conditions and benefits. In this paper, we will briefly discuss the start of unionization, the roles that both management and unions play in an organization and some strategies that can help management and unions create a better working relationship with one another.…

    • 1557 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Future Unions History

    • 174 Words
    • 1 Page

    At the present day, unions continue to serve in the same purpose for which they were originally organized at the start, over the years unions have long been an important element of every nation’s history, unions aren’t a subject of the past they are an essential part of every nation’s social affair and business related matter in the future. In the past, present and in the future unions are a living system who appear to come together to be able to enhance and continue to play a significant aspect in a country’s labor force and improve the quality of life for working families.…

    • 174 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Labor unions are organized association of workers. They were first formed to protect and further their rights and interests. Labor unions were first organized in 1842 in Commonwealth v. Hunt, the Massachusetts Supreme Court states that labor unions are not illegal conspiracies. Labor unions usually indicate a stress or stain in the economy. Today centers on collective bargaining over wages , benefits, and working condition for the members.…

    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Labor unions, popularly known as trade unions refer to a strategic setup formed by a group of workers or a company to protect the workers. Issues such as wages, discrimination, working conditions, and hours required to work are some of the aspects which necessitate unions to come in and assist if a problem arises (Daud and Tumin 126). The unions are beneficial because they protect the interests of the employees. In this case, they ensure workers are given fair compensation for the work done. This is because workers in a union can negotiate for higher wages or safe working environment through the union (ETI member briefing 2). Unions are helpful to a firm because they ensure satisfaction of the employees. When workers’ demands are addressed,…

    • 299 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    During the Great Depression, U.S. Congress passed the Wagner Act which guaranteed workers the right to unionize. Throughout that time to present day, there has been a lot of controversy over whether or not unions are necessary. A union is an organization of workers that protects wages, hours and working conditions for all. Many individuals believe that unions are essential for workers and that unions are vital for U.S. democracy. Many citizens think otherwise, those people believe unions are unnecessary. While the issue of unions may seem simple, each side presents a compelling argument.…

    • 609 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    To sum up, the grocery retail industry is highly competitive and profit margin is narrow. Each company in this market provides almost identical products. Companies have to compete on price. Strict cost disciplined approach, technology improvements, customer engagements, and low prices have enabled Kroger to become the market leader, holding the second position. According to the Nielsen Data Service, Kroger’s overall market share increased by 60 bps in fiscal 2015 (Market Realist, 2015). Kroger should continue carrying out its strategy to gain competitive advantages in order to increase more market share.…

    • 91 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Unions and Management

    • 15236 Words
    • 61 Pages

    Unions, like other service industry and/or nonprofit employers, are uniquely dependent upon the performance of their human resources to ensure organizational success. Consequently, unions have much to gain from adopting a more strategic focus in the management of their vital human talent. While some unions are moving toward greater sophistication in their internal HR practices (Clark and Gray, 2005), as a whole unions have been slow to embrace a strategic outlook on human resources and adopt HR practices that could improve union effectiveness and rejuvenate the union movement. In this paper, I identify and discuss internal organizational characteristics and external environmental factors that may influence the adoption of more sophisticated HR practices by labor unions. It is hoped that the framework that is suggested here can be used to launch research directed at understanding and improving the diffusion of good HR practices among unions that could subsequently improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of unions as institutions. Published by Elsevier Inc.…

    • 15236 Words
    • 61 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Benefit of Unions

    • 938 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Unions are designed to protects the rights of the workers. People have been coming together since the 1800s to improve employees working conditions and rights. The first labor unions was put together in 1820s due to grueling working conditions. It was expected by the people to work 12 hour days. People banded together to reduce the hours from 12 to a more manageable 10. It is evident the unions were put together for the people to benefit and will continue to strive for their rights. Workers who are part of a union are more informed and they are more likely to benefit from social insurance programs such as unemployment insurance and workers compensation.…

    • 938 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Unions essay

    • 438 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Historically, unions have always been there to ensure that conditions are optimal for employees. Because our nation is made up of mostly workers, this should then be of benefit to the entire economy and country. If our workers are making a living wage, then they are able to support their families, pay their taxes and contribute to the welfare of their communities and country. It is unions that stand in the way of big business and its tendency to abuse workers.…

    • 438 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This is a strategy that is believed to give an employee a voice, to participate in the business and the mechanics that make it run. Employees believing there is equality and their voice is being heard, employers are hopeful that there is loyalty and efficiency in their employees productivity because these very employees are now satisfied with their jobs and the company. (Budd, 2017) Why is this important to the importance of a Union? If Unions were no longer in existence, employers would not strategize so diligently to keep their employees satisfied. Employers would not make sure that a Union is not an option their labor force would consider because that threat would no longer be a thought. The Labor Relations goals are a final example of why Unions do matter to this…

    • 719 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays