Texas A&M University-Texarkana MGT 326
Labor Relations
http://www.tamut.edu/~bowen/

Spring 2013

• CONTACT INFO • MEETING TIME & PLACE • TEXTBOOK • COURSE INFO • COURSE OBJECTIVES • SCHEDULE • COURSE PROJECTS • ATTENDANCE • EVALUATION METHODS • GRADING SYSTEM • ACADEMIC HONESTY • ACCOMMODATIONS • UNIVERSITY EMAIL POLICY • UNIVERSITY DROP POLICY • BLACKBOARD TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE •  
ANNOUNCEMENTS: No class 30 JAN; syllabus ammended with the Hostess case.
  1. FACULTY :

    Instructor : Dr. Robert S. Owen
    Office : UC 321F
    Office phone : (903) 223-3010
    Department phone : (903) 223-3020 (Sue Hughes)
    Fax : (903) 223-3121
    Email : robert(dot)owen(at)tamut(dot)edu
    Web site : www.tamut.edu/~bowen/
    Office Hours : M 8:20-10:50
    T 8:30-11:30, 1:00-2:30, 3:30-5:00
    W 8:20-10:50
    check twitter.com/robertowenphd for additional availability
  2. COURSE :

    1. Meeting Time and Place :
      W, 6:00-8:45, UC 214

    2. Course Materials :
      Textbook: Fossum (2012), Labor Relations: Development, Structure, Process, eleventh edition, ISBN: 9780078029158.  McGraw-Hill. 
      Other :

    3. Catalog Description :
      "Labor in the United States with emphasis on the historical development of unionism labor legislation, union structure, bargaining issues, contract negotiations and administration, and labor-management relations."


    4. Course Objectives :
      Throughout this course, students should be able to demonstrate:
      • knowledge and understanding of concepts and terminology which form the foundation for coursework and practice in business
      • knowledge and understanding of the history and legal protections arising from the labor lovement in the US
      • knowledge and understanding of the role of the Labor Movement in public sector organizations, as compared to private sector business
      • knowledge and understanding of the role of mediation, arbitration, and other dispute resolution techniques in collective bargaining and grievance consideration


    5. Major Topics :

      Week 1
      23 JAN
      • course overview
      • Chapter 1 Introduction

       
      Week 2
      30 JAN
      • Chapter 2 The Evolution of American Labor
      • Chapter 3 Employment Law and Federal Agencies

       
      Week 3
      6 FEB
      • Chapter 4 Union Structure and Government
      • Chapter 5 Unions: Member and Leader Attitudes, Behaviors, and Political Activities

       
      Week 4
      13 FEB
      • case discussion: TBA
      • catch up, review

       
      Week 5
      20 FEB
      • EXAM 1, chapters 1-5
      • Chapter 6 Union Organizing Campaigns

       
      Week 6
      27 FEB
      • Chapter 7 Union Avoidance: Rational, Strategies, and Practices
      • Chapter 8 The Environment for Bargaining

       
      Week 7
      6 MAR
      • Chapter 9 Wage and Benefit Issues in Bargaining
      • Chapter 10 Non-wage Issues in Bargaining

       
      12-16 MAR
      • SPRING BREAK - no classes
      Week 8
      20 MAR
      • Chapter 11 Contract Negotiations

       
      Week 9
      27 MAR
      • case discussion: TBA
      • catch up, review

       
      Week 10
      3 APR
      • EXAM 2, chapters 7-11
      • Chapter 12 Impasses and Their Resolution

       
      Week 11
      10 APR
      • Chapter 13 Union-Management Cooperation
      • Chapter 14 Contract Administration

       
      Week 12
      17 APR
      • Chapter 15 Grievance Arbitration
      • Chapter 16 Public-Sector Labor Relations

       
      Week 13
      24 APR
      • Chapter 17 A Survey of Labor Relations in Developed Market Economies

       
      Week 14
      1 MAY
      • case discussion: TBA
      • catch up, review

       
      Week 15
      8 MAY
      • EXAM 3, chapters 12-17

       

    6. Attendance :
      Students are expected to attend and participate in all class sessions.  Excessive absence may result in a student being dropped from the course.

    7. Evaluation Methods :
      Students will be evaluated on the basis of performance on three in-class exams (75%), and three case analyses (25%).

    8. Grading System :
      Final grades will be based on the following totals in points:
       
       A=360-400 points
       B=320-359
       C=280-319
       D=240-279
       E=000-239
      Where:
       100=Exam 1
       100=Exam 2
       100=Exam 3
       100=case analyses (30/30/40)
       400 TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE
    9. Academic Integrity :
      "Academic honesty is expected of students enrolled in this course. Cheating on examinations, unauthorized collaboration, falsification of research data, plagiarism, and undocumented use of materials from any source constitute academic dishonesty and may be grounds for a grade of 'F' in the course and/or disciplinary actions.  For additional information, see the university catalog."

    10. Disability Accommodations :
      "Students with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations through the A&M-Texarkana Disability Services Office by calling 903-223-3062."

    11. A&M-Texarkana Email Address :
      "Upon application to Texas A&M University-Texarkana an individual will be assigned an A&M-Texarkana email account.  This email account will be used to deliver official university correspondence.  Each individual is responsible for information sent and received via the university email account and is expected to check the official A&M-Texarkana email account on a frequent and consistent basis.  Faculty and students are required to utilize the university email account when communicating about coursework."

    12. Drop Policy :
      "To drop this course after the 12th class day, a student must complete the Drop/Withdrawal Request Form, located on the University website tamut.edu/Registrar/droppingwithdrawing-from-classes.html or obtained in the Registrar's Office.  The student must submit the signed and completed form to the instructor of each course indicated on the form to be dropped for his/her signature.  The signature is not an 'approval' to drop, but rather confirmation that the student has discussed the drop/withdrawal with the faculty member.  The form must be submitted to the Registrar's office for processing in person, email Registrar@tamut.edu, mail (7101 University Avenue, Texarkana, TX 75503) or fax (903-223-3140).  Drop/withdraw forms missing any of the required information will not be accepted by the Registrar's Office for processing.  It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the form is completed properly before submission.  If a student stops participating in class (attending and submitting assignments) but does not complete and submit the drop/withdrawal form, a final grade based on work completed as outlined in the syllabus will be assigned."

    13. Student Technical Assistance :

    14. "At the completion of your degree our BBA graduates should be proficient in the following areas:
      Goal 1: Our graduates will be competent in the broad business disciplines that underlie the BBA degree.
      Goal 2: Our graduates will be competent in the discipline of their chosen major or concentration.
      Goal 3: Our graduates will demonstrate critical thinking skills.
      Goal 4: Our graduates will be able to communicate effectively in writing and in front of a group.
      Goal 5: Our graduates will be competent in the use of analytical tools via business software tools.
      Goal 6: Our graduates will be able to properly integrate business disciplines in developing holistic, multi-functional solutions.
      Goal 7: Our graduates will be able to correctly analyze financial statements."