9th Earl Spencer - Eulogy for Princess Diana of Wales free essay sample

9th Earl Spencer - Eulogy for Princess Diana of Wales free essay sample

Pros and Cons of a Closed Shop in the Workplace

Pros and Cons of a Closed Shop in the Workplace If you decide to go to work for a company that tells you it operates under a â€Å"closed shop† arrangement, what does that mean to you and how might it affect your future employment? The term closed shop refers to a business that requires all workers to join a particular labor union as a precondition of being hired and to remain a member of that union during the entire term of their employment. The purpose of a closed shop agreement is to guarantee that all workers observe the union rules, such as paying monthly dues, taking part in strikes and work-stoppages, and accepting the terms of wage and working conditions approved by the union leaders in collective bargaining agreements with company management. Key Takeaways: Closed Shop â€Å"Closed shops† are businesses that require all of their workers to join a labor union as a precondition of employment and to remain members of the union in order to keep their jobs. The opposite of a closed shop is an â€Å"open shop.†Closed shops are allowed under the 1935 National Labor Relations Act, intended to prevent businesses from engaging in labor practices that harm workers.  While union membership offers workers advantages, such as the power to negotiate for higher wages and better working conditions, it also has potential  drawbacks. Similar to a closed shop, a â€Å"union shop,† refers to a business that requires all workers to join the union within a specified length of time after they are hired as a condition of their continued employment. At the other end of the labor spectrum is the â€Å"open shop,† which does not require its workers to join or financially support a union as a condition of hiring or continued employment. History of the Closed Shop Arrangement The ability of companies to enter into closed shop arrangements was one of the many workers’ rights provided by the federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) - popularly called the Wagner Act - signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on July 5, 1935. The NLRA protects the rights of workers to organize, bargain collectively, and prevent management from taking part in labor practices that might interfere with those rights. To the benefit of businesses, the NLRA prohibits certain private sector labor and management practices, which could harm workers, businesses, and ultimately the U.S. economy. Immediately after enactment of the NLRA, the practice of collective bargaining was not viewed favorably  by businesses or the courts, which considered the practice to be illegal and anti-competitive. As courts began to accept the legality of labor unions, the unions began to assert greater influence over hiring practices, including the requirement for closed shop union membership.   The surging economy and growth of new businesses following World War II spurred a backlash against union practices. In reaction, Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, which banned closed and union shop arrangements unless authorized by a majority of the workers in a secret vote. In 1951, however, this provision of Taft-Hartley was amended to allow union shops without a vote of the majority of the workers.   Today, 28 states have enacted so-called â€Å"Right to Work† laws, under which employees in unionized workplaces may not be required to either join the union or pay union dues in order to receive the same benefits as dues-paying union members. However, state-level Right to Work laws do not apply to industries that operate in interstate commerce such as trucking, railroads and airlines. Pros and Cons of Closed Shop Arrangements Justification of the closed shop arrangement is built on the unions’ belief that only through unanimous participation and â€Å"united we stand† solidarity can they ensure the fair treatment of workers by company management. Despite its promised benefits to workers, union membership has decreased notably since the late 1990s. This is largely attributable to the fact that while closed shop union membership offers workers several advantages such as higher wages and better benefits, the unavoidably complex nature of the unionized employer-employee relationship means that those advantages can be largely wiped out by their potential negative impact. Wages, Benefits, and Working Conditions Pros: The process of collective bargaining empowers unions to negotiate higher wages, improved benefits and better working conditions for their members. Cons: The higher wages and enhanced benefits that often won in union collective bargaining negations can drive a business’s costs to dangerously high levels. Companies that become unable to pay the costs associated with union labor are left with options that can harm both consumers and workers. They may raise the prices of their goods or services to consumers. They may also outsource jobs to lower-paid contract workers or stop hiring new union employees, resulting in a workforce that is unable to handle the workload.   By forcing even unwilling workers to pay union dues, leaving their only option being to work somewhere else, the closed shop requirement can be viewed as an infringement of their rights. When a union’s initiation fees become so high that they effectively bar new members from joining, employers lose their privilege of hiring competent new workers or firing incompetent ones. Job Security Pros: Union employees are guaranteed a voice - and a vote - in the affairs of their workplace. The union represents and advocates for the employee in disciplinary actions, including terminations. Unions typically fight to prevent worker layoffs, hiring freezes, and permanent staff reductions, thus resulting in greater job security. Cons: The protection of union intervention often makes it hard for companies to discipline, terminate or even promote employees. Union membership can be influenced by cronyism, or a â€Å"good-old-boy† mentality. Unions ultimately decide who does and who does not become a member. Particularly in unions that accept new members only through union-approved apprenticeship programs, gaining membership can become more about â€Å"who† you know and less about ​â€Å"what† you know. Power In the Workplace Pros: Drawing from the old adage of â€Å"power in numbers,† union employees have a collective voice. In order to remain productive and profitable, companies are compelled to negotiate with employees on workplace-related issues. Of course, the ultimate example of the power of union workers is their right to halt all production through strikes. Cons: The potentially adversarial relationship between the union and management - us vs. them - creates a counterproductive environment. The combative nature of the relationship, spiked by constant threats of strikes or work slowdowns, promotes hostility and disloyalty in the workplace rather than cooperation and collaboration. Unlike their non-union counterparts, all union workers are forced to take part in strikes called by a majority vote of the membership. The result is lost income for the workers and lost profit for the company. In addition, strikes rarely enjoy public support. Especially if striking union members are already better paid than non-union workers, striking can make them appear to the public as greedy and self-serving. Finally, strikes in critical public sector agencies such as law enforcement, emergency services, and sanitation can create dangerous threats to public health and safety.

Chinese economic developments in the nineteenth century Essay

Chinese economic developments in the nineteenth century - Essay Example The paper will also look at China’s scope in foreign trade and the changing trends occasioned by a variety of trading empires from the west and in particular the period of treaty port which opened up china’s ports to the world. On focus is china’s conflict with a growing west of the 19th century especially England which was confrontational. Another consideration is the crises being experienced then in China due to rebellion and other natural and social issues that opened her market to the west. China in the 19th century Just as the emergence of China in the 21st century has had a drastic effect on the Western economies today, the same can be said, but in reverse, of China two centuries ago when European countries took over as the world economic power houses rendering China as a client state. China’s volume of foreign exchange continued to be low and restricted but later a remarkable increase was witnessed as product from different corners especially Europe and neighboring Far East countries started flowing into the Chinese market (Keller, Li and Shiue 2010, p. 1). Below is a graphical illustration showing China’s foreign trade with the leading economies between 1865 and 1900. Source: Keller, Li and Shiue (2010, P.42). Chinese ports became the conduit by which foreign goods were transited through. During this period China was still prosperous with a great endowment of natural resources; a colossal though contented populace that boasted of a prestigious royal dynasty domestically and overseas (Asia for Educators 2004, p. 1). China’s dynastic empire was the leading economy in the world at the start of 19th century and her Gross Domestic Product (GDP) surpassed the combined GDPs of Western Europe, the North America, Japan and...This essay offers a retrospective comprehensive review of the economic developments in China during the nineteenth century. The paper explores Chinese scope in foreign trade in that period and the ch anging trends, which were occasioned by a variety of trading empires from the west and in particular the period of treaty port which opened up china’s ports to the world. Just as the emergence of China in the twenty first century has had a drastic effect on the Western economies today, the same can be said, but in reverse, of China two centuries ago when European countries took over as the world economic power houses rendering China as a client state. The entry into China by the Europeans and the subsequent forced opening of Chinese port and eventual setting up of treaty ports that favored the West over the Chinese culminated into an influx of a variety of products range and goods as well, as we saw above the smuggling of opium an item that led to the opium wars. This resulted into China increasingly turning to a client state during the period of nineteenth century as imported rate of imported new goods grew yearly Two centuries ago China suffered humiliation from the west when her territory was defiled and their culture trampled upon. From the rich history of China it is evident that though the West forcefully entered China and imposed its agenda selfishly by compelling the Chinese leadership to enter into biased treaties, a thing the Chinese detested, in the long run it is the Chinese who have benefited.

Case analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Case analysis - Essay Example This is not the case in other countries such as the U.S. and the European markets, where there seem to have a relatively sluggish economic growth consequently resulting to decreasing disposable income. The levels of disposable income in any particular country will affect the demand of the motorcycles. Most people will tend to determine whether a motorcycle is a luxurious good or an alternatively cheaper means of transport. If for instance the motorcycle is considered a luxurious good, any sort of an increase in the level of disposable income would lead to increase in demand of the motorcycle and vice versa. On the contrary, if a motorcycle is widely considered as a cheaper option for transport, decrease in the level of disposable income will increase the demand for the motorcycle and vice versa. The company scenario planners take the varying levels of income into consideration. They plan to establish market segments where different motorcycles would be sold depending on the needs of the market. In addition, scenario planning has led to developing strategies that ensure that motorcycles are developed to meet the different economic conditions (Fred, 2011). The company will thus be in a better position to compete well in the market. Other influences such as trade barriers in terms of tariffs are highly affecting the number of motorcycles imported within any particular country. This excludes the countries that are engaged in agreement of free trade and reduction of trade barrier. The free trade agreement has also increased the opportunity of international trade of motorcycle. Legislations regarding noise and emission levels have set the standards within certain countries. Thus, the motorcycles have to be made to comply with such standards (Fred, 2011). Harley Davidson Company continuously monitors the changes of laws and regulations in the market and other political issues that might hamper the sales efforts such as war. Over the

Their Eyes Were Watching God Quotes Essay Example for Free

Their Eyes Were Watching God Quotes Essay 1) Janie, on her gossiping neighbors, stressing the importance of storytelling and oral tradition: Ah dont mean to bother wid tellin em nothin, Pheoby. Taint worth de trouble. You can tell em what Ah say if you wants to. Dats just de same as me cause mah tongue is in mah friends mouf (6). 2) Janie, to the men of Eatonville: Sometimes God gits familiar wid us womenfolks too and talks His inside business. He told me.how surprised yall is goin tuh be if you ever find out you dont know half as much bout us as you think yo do. Its so easy to make yoself out God Almighty when you aint got nothin tuh strain against but women and chickens (70-71). 3) On Janie: She was a rut in the road. Plenty of life beneath the surface but it was kept beaten down by the wheels (72). 4) Janie, after Joes death: To my thinkin mourning oughtnt tuh last no longern grief (89). 5) Eatonville habitants, on Janie: It was hard to love a woman that always made you feel so wishful (111). 6) On Tea Cake: Janie looked down on him and felt a self-crushing love. So her soul crawled out from its hiding place (122). 7) On waiting for the mighty hurricane: They sat in company with the others in other shanties, their eyes straining against crude walls and their souls asking if He meant to measure their puny might against His. They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God (151). 8) Tea Cake, on Janie: .dont say youse ole. Youse uh lil girl baby all de time. God made it so you spent yo ole age first wid somebody else, and saved up yo young girl days to spend wid me (172). 9) Janie, on love: .love aint somethin lak uh grindstone dats de same thing everywhere and do de same thing tuh everything it touch. Love is lak de sea. Its uh movin thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from de shore it meets, and its different with every shore (182). 10) Janie: Its uh known fact, Pheoby, you got tuh go there tuh know there..Two things everybodys got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin fuh theyselves (183). Put me down easy Janie Ah’m a cracked plate.† -20- In this quote Janie’s grandmother â€Å"Nanny† is talking to Janie about letting her the rest of life easy. Janie’s grandmother is planning to send Janie off to get married because she is no longer able to care for her. Before this quote you learn that Janie was raised by her nanny and never really knew her parents. Janie’s nanny was a hard working woman that worked her whole life to right the wrong she did raising Janie’s mother. Janie’s nanny worked hard to provide for Janie and once she found Janie outside flirting with Johnny Taylor she was sure that it was time to marry Janie off. I felt this quote was important because it shows one of the aspects of the relationship between Janie and her nanny. It plays a role in the book because the after facts of this quote starts Janie on a search for true love. â€Å"What need has death for a cover, and winds can blow against him.† -84- At this point in the book when you come across this quote Janie’s second husband Joe Starks is very sick and dying. Even though Janie knows he is dying Joe thinks that he will get better. Joe is an insecure man who refuses to let Janie come into his sick room and visit him. I thought this quote was important because it comes from Janie. It shows how she feels about death. Death, a topic that no one wants to discuss yet Janie sums up what we all want to say in this one quote. To me this quote says that no one has protection from death and no one can stop death. I think it is important to the book because later on the book it shows a relationship between poeple connected to Janie and how no matter how she feels about the death will come. † They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God.† -161- This quote comes into play while Janie and Tea Cake are in the Glades getting ready to leave because of a hurricane. At this point Janie and Tea Cake have waited to late to leave and are trying to decide if they want to try and beat the water or just stay there. I found this quote important because it ties the title of the book in with the situations that occur in the book. They are sitting there and despite the situation around them they can still find security within each other and God. â€Å"So Ah’m back home agin and Ah’m satisfied tuh be heah. Ah done been tuh de horizon and back and now Ah Kin set heah in mah house and live by comparisons.† -191- As you read this quote Janie is talking to Phoeby after she has returned from the Glades. Jane has been acquitted of Tea Cakes murder, because it was self defense. In this quote Janie says that she has lived her life to her satisfication. By her saying she has been to the horizon and back and she can live by comparisons now I thought she meant that she had lived to one extreme to another. By the time she got with Tea Cake she had, had two husbands. One who felt she could work just as anybody else and another who put her up so high on a pedestal that her hair couldn’t even be worn down. But then she found Tea Cake the man who was the median between them both. This quote is important because it tells how Janie felt after going through she had been through throughout her life and she felt that with it all she had accomplished what she wanted to and that was all that counted. â€Å"She called in her soul to come and see.† -193- Once you finish this quote you have finished the book! To me this quote is deeper that it reads, because you read it, then you have to think about what it means. Some quotes are self explanatory while others require more thought. As i read the words around this quote I thought she was reflecting on the day her love died and the day she was in court yet that day in court her lover was very much alive within her. And he flew around her ans carried away the pain. However, she called herself in, her inner self to see everything she had become. â€Å"She called in her soul to come and see†, she reflected on her life and realized how life could change a person without even knowing.

Time Management Action Plan Essay -- essays research papers

For me it seems like there is too many tasks to complete and seldom enough time. Effective and efficient time management is something that I have room for improvement on and have great use of. I started by taking a time management survey. #1 Accept Problem My results from this diagnostic survey on time management assured me that my time management skills are low. The survey revealed that I am on the bottom of the scale of time management. There were two sections of the survey. One section measured your time management skills in an office setting and the other section measured your time management skill in your personal life. By having two sections you can compare your time management skills for the two different settings. The total score measures your overall time management skills and it also puts the score in a category. My scores of 27 points for personal life and 31 points for office settings combines to a 58 point total score. My combined score falls in to the lowest category that suggests that training is necessary and will considerably enhance my effectiveness. The first step of solving a problem is identifying it. After taking this survey I have proof that my time management skills are low. Time management has been a long time problem for me. I have always found excuses for not doing things on time or running late. My main excuse is being involved in so many things as a college student. All of this is true, but it shouldn’t be an excuse. I currently work as a lifeguard between classes, tutor nights and weekends, work at a bar weekends, I hold a vice president position in American Marketing Association, I am a member of Society for Human Resource Management, team captain for Cleveland State’s division I swim team, and I am co-president for Student Athletic Advisory Board. Good time management is needed for all these extras. If I could improve my time management skills I think I would get better in most things that I do. I would be able to enhance my grades in school and be better in the workforce. I would be more relaxed and have a feel of control. #2, Goals and Priorities The first step in effectively managing time is to develop a statement of long-range goals. This statement of goals will allow you to set short range goals and to prioritize specific activities according to how much they contribute to your goals. Setting these long-range goals ma... ...t already have the software required or a hand held organizer. For me I am using this as a last step also as a goal. When I reach this point I will allow my self to buy a hand held computer. This would be my reward for reaching this far. This step should take 1-3 weeks. Implementing   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I have many times tried to improve my time management. Every semester I start with a calendar, but about half way through I usually do not use it anymore. This semester I decided that I needed to use it all the time and I am still using it. I think that if I had used this action plan the first time I wanted to start using a calendar I would have been successful at first. Now when I will start using this action plan I am sure that I will keep using my calendar and also be able to live a less stressful life. It will stop me from my last minute studying for tests and forgetting about meetings. I will be able to live a well-balanced, goal-oriented life without unnecessary stress.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   References: Poser, B. (2003) Time Management for Students http://www.yorku.ca/cdc/lsp/tmonline/time.htm Whetten, D., Cameron, K. (2002) Developing Management Skills

Pretty Little Liars Essay

Pretty Little Liars is the story of four teen girls—Aria, Hanna, Spencer, and Emily— whose world is turned upside down when their ringleader Alison goes missing. The book begins a year after Alison’s disappearance. Aria has been abroad for a year with her family, and the other three girls have drifted apart. When Aria returns from Iceland, Alison’s body is finally found, and the four girls start receiving creepy and threatening text messages from an untraceable number. The texts are signed â€Å"A. A’s texts indicate she knows everything about the girls, which is dangerous because each of the girls has a secret she doesn’t want to expose. The liars also have a collective secret: They were involved in an accident that left one of their peers blind. Jenna, the blind girl, comes back for Alison’s funeral. Jenna doesn’t know that Alison was the one who set off the stink bomb that caused an explosion and blinded her. The liars feel guilty for not talking Alison out of the dangerous prank. Alison blackmailed Jenna’s step-brother Toby, and he was forced to take the blame for the explosion. He too returns to Rosewood after a year of being away. When it’s discovered that Alison was wearing Toby’s sweater when she died, Toby is arrested for murder. Through all of this, the mysterious A meddles with the girls’ lives: Photos of Emily’s same-sex kiss are sent to Emily’s mother, and Aria’s mom gets a letter detailing her husband’s infidelities, which Aria knew about. Via text, â€Å"A† taunts the girls to find out his/her identity during a birthday party in the woods for Mona, Hanna’s social-climbing best friend. Hanna succeeds at discovering A’s identity, but gets hit by a car before she can reveal it to anyone.