Membership of Unions and Employers’ Organizations, and Bargaining Coverage:
Standing, but Losing Ground – Case Analysis
Write an analysis on the case study: Membership of unions and employers’ organizations,
and bargaining coverage: Standing, but losing ground. This analysis should utilize
material from the textbook, 'Labor Relations: Development, Structure, Process' by John
Fossum, to answer the appropriate questions. Your case study should include:
Introduction
A brief overview of the case (short paragraph of 2-3 sentences only)
Use evidence from the literature to answer the questions:
How does the decline in trade union membership and coverage rates impact workers’
ability to negotiate wages, job quality, and workplace protections individually?
In what ways can collective bargaining and trade unions complement public policy to
address challenges such as technological change, wage inequality, and demographic
transitions?
Conclusion (critical thinking)
Reference page
The case study should be double-spaced, APA formatted and cited.
, Introduction
The case study 'Standing, but Losing Ground' explores the persistent yet declining role of
unions and employers’ organizations in global labor relations. Despite retaining formal
structures, unions across developed and developing economies are witnessing reduced
membership and bargaining coverage. This decline reflects broader socioeconomic
changes, including technological advancement, labor market flexibility, and employer
strategies aimed at minimizing collective representation. Drawing upon Fossum’s 'Labor
Relations: Development, Structure, Process' (2021) and contemporary literature, this
analysis examines how the erosion of union membership affects workers’ bargaining
capacity, and how collective bargaining and policy collaboration can strengthen labor
resilience amid modern challenges.
Case Overview
The case highlights the paradox that while unions and employers’ organizations still exist
('standing'), their influence in shaping employment conditions is declining ('losing
ground'). Globalization, automation, and neoliberal reforms have fragmented labor
markets, reduced collective coverage, and weakened traditional mechanisms of worker
protection. As union density falls, individual workers face diminished power in
negotiating wages, job quality, and employment terms.
Impact of the Decline in Union Membership and Coverage Rates
According to Fossum (2021), the foundation of collective bargaining rests on strength in
numbers; as membership declines, so does collective influence. Union density has been
decreasing steadily in OECD countries for decades—from over 30% in 1979 to less than
Standing, but Losing Ground – Case Analysis
Write an analysis on the case study: Membership of unions and employers’ organizations,
and bargaining coverage: Standing, but losing ground. This analysis should utilize
material from the textbook, 'Labor Relations: Development, Structure, Process' by John
Fossum, to answer the appropriate questions. Your case study should include:
Introduction
A brief overview of the case (short paragraph of 2-3 sentences only)
Use evidence from the literature to answer the questions:
How does the decline in trade union membership and coverage rates impact workers’
ability to negotiate wages, job quality, and workplace protections individually?
In what ways can collective bargaining and trade unions complement public policy to
address challenges such as technological change, wage inequality, and demographic
transitions?
Conclusion (critical thinking)
Reference page
The case study should be double-spaced, APA formatted and cited.
, Introduction
The case study 'Standing, but Losing Ground' explores the persistent yet declining role of
unions and employers’ organizations in global labor relations. Despite retaining formal
structures, unions across developed and developing economies are witnessing reduced
membership and bargaining coverage. This decline reflects broader socioeconomic
changes, including technological advancement, labor market flexibility, and employer
strategies aimed at minimizing collective representation. Drawing upon Fossum’s 'Labor
Relations: Development, Structure, Process' (2021) and contemporary literature, this
analysis examines how the erosion of union membership affects workers’ bargaining
capacity, and how collective bargaining and policy collaboration can strengthen labor
resilience amid modern challenges.
Case Overview
The case highlights the paradox that while unions and employers’ organizations still exist
('standing'), their influence in shaping employment conditions is declining ('losing
ground'). Globalization, automation, and neoliberal reforms have fragmented labor
markets, reduced collective coverage, and weakened traditional mechanisms of worker
protection. As union density falls, individual workers face diminished power in
negotiating wages, job quality, and employment terms.
Impact of the Decline in Union Membership and Coverage Rates
According to Fossum (2021), the foundation of collective bargaining rests on strength in
numbers; as membership declines, so does collective influence. Union density has been
decreasing steadily in OECD countries for decades—from over 30% in 1979 to less than
