Human Resource Management
CHAPTER
14 Managing In A Non-Unionized
Environment
Contents
1
At the end of this chapter, the students are expected to:
1. describe the reasons for decline of unions;
2. describe the Philippine labor situation;
3. examine the reasons for maintaining no-Union status;
4. develop a proactive labor relations;
5. distinguish non-Union with anti-Union condition;
6. assess strategies in avoiding Union formation; and
7. identify ways to detect signs of union agitation.
Learning Objectives Suggested Instructional Strategies
Advanced Reading Assignment – In preparation
for the discussion of the topic, ask the students
LO 1: describe the to visit the website
reasons for decline of http://www.newschannel9.com/news/top-
unions stories/stories/a-look-at-union-decline-7518.shtml
Discuss reasons for union decline.
Advanced Reading Assignment – In preparation
for the discussion of the topic, ask the students
to visit the website
http://bulatlat.com/main/2008/08/31/the-
philippine-labor-situation/
LO 2: describe the
Philippine labor
Present a statistical report on the current
situation
Philippine labor situation and ask the students to
write their evaluation on it.
Writing Assignment – Reflection
(Refer to Experiential Learning Activity #3)
LO 3: examine the Advanced Reading Assignment – In preparation
reasons for for the discussion of the topic, ask the students
maintaining no-Union to visit the website
status http://www.hr.com/SITEFORUM?&t=/Default/gat
eway&i=1116423256281&application=story&acti
2
ve=no&ParentID=1119278060437&StoryID=11196
42393796&xref=https%3A//www.google.com.ph/
Rounds
Call as many students from the class to give as
many answers as possible.
Advanced Reading Assignment – In preparation
for the discussion of the topic, ask the students
to visit the website
LO 4: develop a http://laborrelationsexpert.com/library-
proactive labor articles/indexphp/category/a-pro-active-
relations employee-relations-program
Creation of Labor Relations Scheme (Refer to
Experiential Learning Activity #4)
Think Pair Share
LO 5: distinguish non- Form pairs of students who will individually think
Union with anti-Union of answers, then ask them to merge the ideas,
condition which shall be presented to class.
Advanced Reading Assignment – In preparation
for the discussion of the topic, ask the students
to visit the website
http://www.butzel.com/union-avoidance-
strategies-practice-teams/
LO 6: assess strategies
in avoiding Union
Break out Group
formation
(Refer to Experiential Learning Activity #1)
Writing Assignment – Reflection
(Refer to Experiential Learning Activity #3)
Rounds
Call as many students from the class to give as
LO 7: identify ways to many answers as possible.
detect signs of union
agitation Article Search and Reporting
(Refer to Experiential Learning Activity #2)
*All links accessed last March 6, 2014.
3
Learning Slide
Lesson
Objective Presentation
LO 1 Union Decline Slide 3
LO 2 The Philippine Labor Situation Slide 4
Reasons for Maintaining No-Union
LO 3 Slide 5
Status
LO 4 Proactive Labor Relations Slide 6
LO 5 Non-Union versus Anti-Union Slides 7 and 8
LO 6 Union Avoidance Strategies Slide 9
LO 7 Company Early Warning Systems Slide 10
Ask the students to go to the following sites for related topics. Ask them
to write a synthesis or a reflection after reading the content of these
sites:
Union Decline
http://www.newschannel9.com/news/top-stories/stories/a-look-at-
union-decline-7518.shtml
http://ideas.time.com/2013/01/29/viewpoint-why-the-decline-of-unions-
is-your-problem-too/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-
cage/wp/2013/10/24/the-decline-of-union-membership-and-what-it-
means-for-politics/
The Philippine Labor Situation
http://www.laborrights.org/end-violence-against-trade-
unions/philippines/news/11831
http://bulatlat.com/main/2008/08/31/the-philippine-labor-situation/
Reasons for Maintaining No-Union Status
http://www.sah.com/NewsAndEvents/View/25512DEA-5056-965B-
E8EDDB18881908B9/
4
http://www.thompson.com/images/thompson/reports/hr052007_union.p
df
http://www.hr.com/SITEFORUM?&t=/Default/gateway&i=1116423256281
&application=story&active=no&ParentID=1119278060437&StoryID=11196
42393796&xref=https%3A//www.google.com.ph/
Proactive Labor Relations
http://www.ecop.org.ph/training201304-proactive-labor-relations-non-
unionized-environment.php
http://www.district287.org/clientuploads/Internal/Program_Resources/H
R/Guides/Supervisors_GuidetoLabor_%20Relations_Summer07.pdf
http://laborrelationsexpert.com/library-articles/indexphp/category/a-
pro-active-employee-relations-program
Non-Union versus Anti-Union
http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=fd228c4a-8d70-4540-
82cd-5f31701ef943
http://laborrelationsexpert.com/union-avoidance/
http://www.butzel.com/union-avoidance-strategies-practice-teams/
http://www.greensfelder.com/union-avoidance-strategies.aspx
http://www.projectionsinc.com/article_worst_union_avoidance.html
http://hr.blr.com/HR-news/Unions/Unions/Legal-Union-Avoidance-
Strategies
http://www.reedsmith.com/files/Uploads/Documents/Union%20Avoidan
ce%20Tips%20%20Strategies_%20Dos%20and%20Don_ts.pdf
*All links accessed last March 6, 2014.
1. Divide the class into small groups composed of 3-4 members and ask
them to prepare synthesis on the topic. Assign a group moderator, a
secretary, and a rapporteur who shall report to the class the output
of the group.
Option 1: Assign each group with different topics, if the coverage of
the subject matter is too long.
Option 2: All groups shall discuss and assess common questions or
expected outcomes.
5
2. Article Search and Reporting
Require the students to look for an article from the newspapers,
journals, or websites that is related to the topic with corresponding
references.
The students shall summarize the article by just getting “excerpts”
from the whole article. The article shall be shared in the class as to
how it will answer the problem or it can support the topic on hand.
3. Writing Assignment
Ask the students to write a reflection on the concepts they have
learned from the topic discussed.
Require the students to submit on the following meeting a summary
of not more than 100 words on the topic discussed by relating it to
recent or similar real-life situation.
4. Creation of Labor Relations Scheme
Using the same assumptions derived from the previous outputs like,
sample recruitment plan and sample training plan, prepare a
sample Labor Relations plan using the format below.
Labor Relations Plan for: (Company Name)
Means/ Methods of Frequency
Communication
with Employees
Quarterly Dialogue with
Employees
Annual Christmas Party
Local Area Network
Messaging
Social Network and others
Note: If there will be no included plan for formation of a Labor Union,
discuss the reasons why.
6
I. True or False: Write T if the statement is true; otherwise, write F if
the statement is false.
____ 1. Exit interviews enable detection of union agitation.
____ 2. Quality Circles is a substitute for not having union in the
company.
____ 3. A no-union environment promotes a “not my job” attitude from
workers.
____ 4. An organization’s efforts to maintain a non-union status is an anti-
union act.
____ 5. Companies that do not want unions are very systematic in their
communication system.
____ 6. The State guarantees freedom of association but it does not
compel workers to unionize.
____ 7. A no-union environment minimizes the chance to experience
slowdown, work stoppage, or strikes.
____ 8. Companies that is non-union oriented are reluctant to terminate
employees unless extremely justified.
____ 9. Unusual gathering of employee who does not belong to the
same group is indicative of union distress.
____ 10. Non-unionized companies gain freedom to manage its business
since there will be no restrictions on some management decisions that
would involve its workers.
1. T
2. T
3. F
4. F
5. T
6. T
7. T
8. T
9. T
10. T
7
1. Break-out Group
The instructor may use the following to assess the output of each
group (scores may vary).
Very
Excellent (4) satisfactory Satisfactory (2) Fair (1)
(3)
The The The synthesis
The synthesis
synthesis synthesis did not
Content complied with
complied complied comply with
30% the main parts
with all parts with most the main
of the
of the parts of the parts of the
assignment
assignment assignment assignment
Members of
the group Most Members of
Some
worked and members of the group
members of
contributed the group did not
the group
Collaboration consistently contributed contribute in
contributed
15% and equally positively to any positive
positively to
in a positive the group way to the
the group work
way to the work group work
group work
Presentation Presentation
Presentation is Presentation
is extremely is organized
somewhat lacks
well with
organized; organization;
organized , synthesis,
Organization ideas are not ideas are
synthesis, detail and
25% presented in limited and
detail, and coherence
sequence difficult to
coherence are very
follow
are superior good
Presentation
is engaging
and Presentation is Presentation
insightful; Presentation straightforward is simple and
Presentation
with is clear and and at times little
(30%)
thoughts thoughtful clearly creativity is
and presented used
supporting
details
8
2. Article Search and Reporting (Total of 15 points)
Rating Guide:
0-10 points – Accurateness of the article in relation to the topic
0-5 points – Presentation of thoughts about the article
3. Writing Assignment – Reflection
Assess the completeness, substance of inputs, and organization of
thoughts. Assume a perfect score of 100% and a deduction of 2
points for every incomplete content or irrelevant thought.
4. Creation of Labor Relations Scheme
Assess the appropriateness of the scheme developed by students.
Check its viability and practicability. Assume a perfect score of 100%
and a deduction of 5 points for every irrelevant or inappropriate
means to promote good labor relations.
