Chapter 15 - The future of . labor policy and industrial relations. The main contents of the chapter consist of the following: The history of government-promoted labor management dialogue, alternative directions for future national labor policy, collective bargaining agreement, . | Chapter 15 The Future of . Labor Policy and Industrial Relations McGraw Hill Irwin An Introduction to Collective Bargaining amp Industrial Relations 4e Copyright 2008 The McGraw Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved. 1 3 15 3 The History of Government Promoted Labor Management Dialogue National Level Committees There have been very few successful efforts at national level dialogue over labor policies in the . A number of national labor management committees have tried to change industrial relations practices Industrial relations commissions issued reports in 1880 1902 and 1915 The 1915 commission cited the absence of industrial democracy and inadequate working conditions as two of the most serious social problems of the time This was used as background for New Deal legislation Presidents Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt created war labor boards in WWI and WWII respectively The record shows little effect of national forums on collective bargaining due in part to the decentralized structure and deep seated ideological differences 1 4 15 4 Local and Regional Government Dialogue Efforts There have been a number of efforts to promote labor management dialogue at the local and regional levels These committees usually include labor and management as well as key community politicians Area committees have tended to grow out of economic crisis Such as plant closings The committees mobilized resources to attract new business and encourage educational institutions to better respond to industrial needs 1 5 15 5 The Common Failure of National and Area Labor Management Committees Our participation in a variety of national and area labor management committees has left us with an uneasy feeling None of the efforts has produced sufficient reforms to stem job losses or slow declines in union membership None have changed the attitudes of employers ideologically opposed to unionization None have produced a new coherent strategy to foster employee participation None have produced
