Organizing Model vs. Service Model
Organizing Model | Service (or Business) Model | |||
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Attitude toward employer |
Defending members is most important. |
Good relationship with management is most important. |
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Attitude toward members |
Inclusive. Tries to reflect workforce in composition of union leadership. |
Exclusive. Little turnover in leadership. Suspicious of newcomers. |
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Grievance handling |
Tries to involve all members in the department. |
Tries to settle without involvement of members. |
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Settling grievances |
Make immediate supervisor settle by showing solidarity of workers. |
Settle at highest level with company or through arbitration. |
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Selection of stewards |
Election by co-workers. |
Appointment by union leadership. |
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Bargaining |
Large bargaining committee, constant flow of information to members. |
Small committee, negotiations often kept secret until a settlement is reached. |
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Strategy and tactics |
Encourage initiative and creativity of members. |
Reluctant to involve members in bringing pressure on employer. |
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Organizing the unorganized |
Union represents all workers - organized and unorganized. In a constant state of organizing. |
Unwilling and unable to organize. feels threatened by newly organized. |
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Members view of the union |
Take personal responsibility for success or failure of the union. |
An insurance policy or a "third party" to call on when they have a problem. |