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  Trends and Challenges for Work in the 21st Century
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Opinions and views in these papers are those expressed by the author(s). They are not to be taken as expressions of support for particular positions by the Department of Labor. Please do not cite these papers without prior permission of the author(s).

What Do Nonunions Do?
What Should We Do About Them?

by
Daphne Gottlieb Taras University of Calgary and Bruce E. Kaufman Georgia State University
Task Force Working Paper #WP14
Prepared for the May 25-26, 1999, conference
“Symposium on Changing Employment Relations and New Institutions of Representation”

September 1, 1999

Draft in Circulation

This paper was presented at a symposium that was funded under a grant from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Labor. Opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Table of Contents


PDF Version (154 K) Foreword

Abstract

I. Introduction

II. Research Findings About Nonunion Employee Representation (NER)

Forms, Functions, and Effects

The Pet Bear Metaphor: NERPs Are Not Easy to Manage

Why Is Consensus Difficult to Achieve?

Two Taken-for-Granted Topics: A Lack of Representation, and Worker Views

III. Compliance Analysis: What Are American Firms Doing?

IV. Policy Implications

References

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

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