Union Groups Across US and Canada, Essay Example

Amalgamated Transit Union

1. History of the union

A labor organization in America and Canada that was established in 1982; its original name is Amalgamated Association of Street Railway Employees of America or simply noted as ATU.

2. Membership size and type of employees

It currently has 190,000 members across the regions of Canada and America and caters to school bus drivers, paratransit operators, subway, streetcar and ferry boat operators as well as other non-driving members of the industries related to general transit operations.

3. Mission of the union

To provide protection to workers in the transit industry giving them a better sense on understanding their role while also giving them an idea on what the role of their administrators are when it comes to providing them employee benefit and work-centered protection especially during operation.

4. Structure of the union, including the major departments

The union is under a triennial convention of which delegates choose their local meets. During these times, debates are held to establish the future of the union. The hierarchy of officers of the organization specifically provides structure to the union’s administrational head.

5. National officers

International President: Lawrence Hanley

International Secretary/Treasurer: Oscar Owens

International Executive Vice President: Javier Perez Jr.

Has 18 International Vice Presidents and four international representatives

6. Names of employers with whom they have an agreement

The union has a general system that responds to their alliance with major operators and employers in the transit industry in America and Canada.

7. Special benefits they offer members

Provides banking assistance to members including cooperative loans for those individuals who may have incurred injuries due to work-related accidents and somehow cannot work within the industry anymore

8. Other interesting or pertinent information

They are recognized in a song related to working in New York City noting their role in the community as ATU leaders who are able to provide banking assistance to their members.

Bakery, confectionary, tobacco workers and grain millers union

1. History of the union

Known as the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers’ International Union or BCTGM, the organization is dedicated to providing help to members around United States and Canada. Started in 1969 as the amalgamation of two unions B&C and the American Bakery and Confectionery Workers International Union; this organization was then considered as connective merging of different unions that exist within the same track of union-operations.

2. Membership size and type of employees

It currently has 100,000 members which include workers in bakeries, treat stores and food production facilities, tobacco producers and other manufacturing establishments as well as other individuals working within the said industries.

3. Mission of the union

TO provide power to the workers in the major food and consumables-production industries in the US and Canada in relation to protecting their rights as laborers [especially to those who are members of the communities’ minor groups]

4. Structure of the union, including the major departments

The organization thrives under an international council that holds specific guidance towards the union as it tries to see through the situations of its members across the region.

5. National officers

President: David B. Durkee

Secretary-Treasurer: Steve Bertelli

6. Names of employers with whom they have an agreement

Currently, the organization holds strong ties with Dell and AT&T companies.

7. Special benefits they offer members

Provides health insurances as well as legal assistance to members whenever needed

8. Other interesting or pertinent information

The organization has been noted to have been recorded as the Union with most strikes within the past three years; considering that their faction in the industry holds members who are most often than not considered as minorities, such record is expected to happen.

Communications workers of America

1. History of the union

Noted as the largest communications and media Union across the United States and Canada, this union was a corroborated reestablishment of the union that was abolished in 1923 during the AT&T strikeout. In 1949, the union regrouped under the Congress of Industrial Organizations and was merged with the Association of Flight Attendants in 2004.

2. Membership size and type of employees

There is a current report of 550,000 members of the union which represents both private and public sectors under the communications industries including broadcasting, telephone operators [and now including flight attendants who joined the group recently]. Given the affiliations of the union, it claims to have an overall total number of members standing at 700,000.

3. Mission of the union

To see through the industry’s operators in relation to how they handle their responsibilities towards their employees especially focused upon the provision of special and necessary benefits that the legal systems constitute as something necessary for the employees to receive from their employers.

4. Structure of the union, including the major departments

The organization is lead through a hierarchy of officers and several representatives from different states and different organizations

5. National officers

President: Larry Cohen

Secretary-Treasurer: Annie Hill

6. Names of employers with whom they have an agreement

• AT&T, Verizon, General Electric
• The New York Times, Wall Street Journal
• ABC Television Network, The Canadian Broadcasting Co.
• US Airways, United Airlines and 19 other smaller Airlines operating across US and Canada
• Special benefits they offer members

Provides legislative and political action for those members of the union who seemingly are in odd positions of being listened to by their superiors

7. Other interesting or pertinent information

The organization goes to the extent of providing its members a better option for their children’s education through union funds assistance programs.

National Domestic Workers Alliance

1. History of the union

Founded in 2007, the union known as NDWA, specifically started to create a distinct protection for workers who are serving the community through domestic labor. Having 45 affiliate organizations, the union proves to stand as a stronghold for workers in the industry specifically coming from other regions of the world.

2. Membership size and type of employees

Currently having 10,000 members including nannies, housekeepers as well as caregivers, the union is existing within 28 cities and 18 states across the United States.

3. Mission of the union

The union aims to build the movement towards the improvement of human rights dedicated to domestic workers, women, immigrants including the life status of their families in the country.

4. Structure of the union, including the major departments

Each state has a representative that stands for their members within the said localities

5. National officers

NDWA Director Ai-Jen Poo

6. Names of employers with whom they have an agreement

Since the organization works with domestic helpers in general, the employers of the members are considered as an alliance as well; they are given the chance to work along with their employees in a much agreeable stance.

7. Special benefits they offer members

The programs are most often than not family-centered, allowing the domestic helpers reach their dreams and that of their family’s even when they are considered to work for other’s families. Child-assistance programs are among the most prominent work provisions that the union provides its members with.

8. Other interesting or pertinent information

In September 26, the union was proud to have been one of the reasons why the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights has been signed by Gov. Jerry Brown into a law.

Reference:

AFL-CIO. America’s Unions. http://www.aflcio.org/Multimedia/Infographics/Find-a-Union-for-You. Retrieved on December 16, 2013.