Labor-Management (or Capitalist-Working Class) Relations and Class Term Paper

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Labor-management (or capitalist-working class) relations and class conflicts were central elements of Marx's analysis of capitalism. Conflict between the classes characterized the 19th and early 20th century by and large, yet when one conducts a web search using the key words "labor-management relations" a diverse range of images of labor and management today arise. On one hand, the union that represents federal employees posts a memo on its website (http://www.opm.gov/lmr/LMR_memo.asp) that emphasizes "the shared obligation of labor and management to ensure that official time is authorized and used appropriately." (James, 2005) The union leader and director Kay Cole James writes of "the equally important responsibility of labor and management to work together to deliver the best possible service to the American people ... Much is being asked of government today, and it has never been more important for labor and management to find common ground," rather than to seek out avenues of conflict. (James, 2005)

However, beneath the idealism of James' words, there is also specific reference to a negative event for labor unions within the federal government. She notes: "when the President signed Executive Order 13203, there was speculation that it meant the end of labor-management cooperation and communication in the Federal Government. I think that is wrong. The President was motivated by his conviction that partnership is not something that should be mandated for every agency in every situation." James' rhetoric belies the fact that a blow has been dealt to government unions, namely government "agencies are no longer required to form partnerships with their unions, they are strongly encouraged to establish cooperative labor-management relations.
" (James, 2005)

In private industry, General Motors Corp.'s negotiations with its main labor union are likely to intensify as the automaker plans to close many of its American plants and cut 25,000 U.S. jobs in the process, over the next three years. Its unions are partly to blame, according to many labor analysts, as GM was forced, based upon pre-set agreements, to spend $5.2 billion on health care for its 1.1 million workers, dependents and retirees last year. It is expects to spend about $5.6 billion for those beneficiaries this year. To cut costs, it is likely to attempt to cut benefits paid to its retirees. (http://www.gm.com/) But although this may be pleasing to shareholders, the United Autoworkers Association opposes such a move. Yet even the UAA states publicly some concessions must be made, else the company will surely fold.

Also, today, unions such as the AFL-CIO remain active and strong, but even press releases by individuals such as the leader of the nation's most powerful labor union conglomerate indicate that it is shifting from pure corporate hostility, to a focus more on the benefits of unionization to workers. Hostility to openly….....

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