Labor Unions Essays - Labour Relations, Free Essays, Term Papers

Labor Unions Essays - Labour Relations, Free Essays, Term Papers Labor Unions Labor Unions What do you think of when you hear the phrase labor unions? Most people associate a negative connotation with labor unions. They think that labor unions are the only cause of strikes and work stoppages. Most think that people in unions are greedy and will do anything to get more money. Others swear by their unions, saying that their employers would take advantage of them if they didnt organize their unions. However as we prepare to enter the new millennium, labor unions are decreasing in size. Lets look at some of reasons. First, the numbers are unmistakable. At the end of 1997, when the most recent count was made, only 14.1% of workers belonged to unions, the lowest percentage since 1936 (Gross 23). This is a dramatic decrease from when unions were at their height at the end of World War II when 35.3% of Americans were in unions (Galenson 13). One cause of this fall of union membership is the decline of manufacturing in America and the transfer of much manufacturing work over seas (Gross 24). Because of advances in technology and labor saving innovations, fewer people are required to make steel and assembler automobiles. As a result, only 16.1% of U.S. workers now work in factories, down from 22.8% twenty years ago (Aronwitz 2). There has also been a decrease in size of the large corporations, which in the past usually signed industry-wide contracts to produce a particular item. The latest figures show that the 800 largest firms employed 17% of the total workforce, down from 25.7% twenty years ago (Aronwitz 3). Many of these companies have their work done abroad. Nike does not make a single shoe in the United States and many insurance companies are having paperwork processed over seas (Hacker 45). At home corporate jobs are frequently assigned to temporary workers, who are often classified as independent contractors and are not very likely to join unions. Indeed, there are fewer long-term jobs, something union seniority could once guarantee. Last year, among men aged forty to forty-five, only 39.1% had worked ten or more years at their current job, compared with 51.1 percent in 1983 (Galenson 27). So, one might ask, what caused this to happen? At some point in the 1980s, the balance of power shifted against labor unions. Some say the defining moment was in 1981, when then-U.S. president Ronald Reagan forced an end to the bitter air traffic controllers' strike. Others point to the 1985 victory of then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher over striking coal miners (Gross 239). Whatever the reason, unions are trying to make a comeback. There are several strategies that unions have devised to return to their former glory. Unions have adopted a more lenient attitude towards management, reducing the number of strikes to record lows in the 1980s and early 90s, and attempting to negotiate contracts providing job security for members (Gross 278). Unions have also placed greater emphasis on organizing drives for new members. Although unions have been very successful in organizing government employees, they have been less successful with recruiting office workers in the rapidly expanding services sector. However, during the last two decades, the wage advantage for unionized workers with private jobs has fallen by 44.1 percent, although the public sector has increased by 9.5 percent (Maguire 20). Currently, 41.9% of union members are from the public sector. Among the most strongly unionized occupations are firefighters (71.6%), flight attendants (69.4%), and high school teachers (56.1%). Only 28.6 percent of coal miners belong to unions and only 19.5% of truck drivers (Hacker 47). Despite all of the downsides of unions they do have their benefits. Here are a few examples of salaries secured through collective bargaining by highly trained professionals: Pilots with only fifteen years of service at Northwest, American, United, and US Airways now earn on average over $175,000 a year. Professors at New York City University can now get as much as $101,655 for twenty-eight weeks of teaching. Under the current National Basketball Association contract, first year playerssome of them right out of high schoolwill start at $300,000 (Hacker 48). The recent NBA lockout has shaped many peoples opinions on labor unions. Most people, myself included, thought that it was

Our impact on the environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Our impact on the environment - Essay Example ties includes the element of pollution, which is currently a major global threat that has been increasing in a dramatic rate due to the increase of industrialization and other human activities that involve use of energy. This essay is going to focus on the impacts of human activities on the environment, analyze how different sources of energy affect the environment as well recommend usage of the most sustainable and friendly sources of energy. Carried out studies have proven that one of the major factors contributing to the high levels of pollution to the environment is the type of sources of energy that human beings use in fueling their industrial activities (Jaccard 63). Most of these sources of energies used in almost all countries are nonrenewable and highly unsustainable, a factor that have made them a chief threat to the environment (Jaccard 65). However, some sources are known to have more adverse effects to the environment than others with oil, coal and natural gas being the main sources that environmentalists blame much for the high level of pollution in the modern world. Statistics show that oil is the most common source of energy with oil being used to fuel over 80% of all the activities undertaken on daily basis such as in factories, cooking and for transport. However, combustion of oil leads to emission of greenhouse gases that have detrimental effects to the environment (Curley 95). The main constituents of products released after burning oil, natural gas and coal are carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide that have significantly contributed to global warming or climate change. In addition, combusted fossil fuels lead to formation of other harmful gases which ends up forming acids such as carbonic acids and sulfuric acid. Carbon dioxide and suphurous gaseous produces once fossils are combusted combine with moisture or rain in the atmosphere to form acidic rainfall. Acidic rains are a major threat to plant and fish health once they get on to the ground.

Nonverbal Communication - People Watching Assignment

Nonverbal Communication - People Watching - Assignment Example One of the men was in looking quite older than the other man looks. The older man was predictably in his early sixties because of the gray hair while the other man could be in his mid-twenties. Outwardly, the two men were like a father and a son. This could be judged from the gestures of the old man. He wanted to pamper the young man like someone talking to a child. From the facial expressions, they seemed to be discussing a very emotional issue. The old man who was sitting directly opposite me was frowning his face was frowning his face as the young man was talking. Occasionally, they could talk until the young man could be too emotional to the extent that the old man gave him a tissue to wipe his tears. Unfortunately, they realized that most some of the people were looking at them; they decided to clear the bill and walked out of the restaurant. From the window, I could see the old man trying to comfort the young man and hug him before entering their car and driving away. From the discussion, the five nonverbal methods of communication are crucial. Types of nonverbal in communication gestures, body movement, facial expression, proxemics, and haptics. However, eye contact is critical in a conversation is used as an indication of how much someone is interested in the conversation. If someone is not interested in a discussion then, the eye contact would not be maintained, and very many things would be diverting the attention from the conversation. Another important type of nonverbal is body movement. The body movement can also indicate how much someone is listening and concentrated in a conversation. However, all the types of nonverbal methods of communication are very crucial but they are much dependent in the event of communicating or conversing. Docan-Morgan, Tony, Valerie Manusov, and Jessica Harvey. "When a Small Thing Means so Much: Nonverbal Cues as Turning

The report of Lenovos marketing strategy Essay Example for Free

The report of Lenovos marketing strategy Essay Lenovo, one of the successful firms of China , has been a global company. To identity the reasons and factors of success, we handled the report. Through scanning the books and references about Lenovo, we have some conclusions and opinions. With its leading-edge technology, easy to use, personalized design and wide range of solutions, the products are widely welcomed by users in China. Lenovo also has extensive product line for the Chinese market, including mobile handsets, servers,and digital products. Lenovo Groups development is broadly divided into three stages: the first stage is the start-ups and survival stages; The second stage is to solve the problem of  existence. ; the third is spending huge sums on the acquisition of IBMs PC division, and begin the development of international strategy. BRIEF INTRODUCTION Lenovo Group was established in 1984, invested 200,000 yuan by the CAS Institute of Computing, which 11 scientific and technical personnel founded. Today the company has become one of the worlds leading PC companies, combining with the former IBM Personal Computing Division. Lenovos fiscal year 2007/08 turnover of $ 16.4 billion. Since 1997 the sales of Lenovo in Chinas domestic market topped the first, and in the Asia-pacific market in successive years (except Japan) is among the best.Lenovo group was launched in 2004. In China, the market share of Lenovo PC products is nearly one-third. With its leading-edge technology, easy to use, personalized design and wide range of solutions, the products are widely welcomed by users in China. Lenovo also has extensive product line for the Chinese market, including mobile handsets, servers,and digital products. Lenovo Groups development is broadly divided into three stages: the first stage is the start-ups and survival stages; The second stage is to solve the problem of existence.; the third is spending huge sums on the acquisition of IBMs PC division, and begin the development of international strategy. FINDINGS The analysis of the marketing environment 1.The macro-marketing environment: The macro external environment for the development of the Lenovo Group has an important influence. The integration and adaptation of macroeconomic policy and social-economic environment ensures that the Lenovo Group can go better in the long-term strategic development of the road. 1.1 Political environment Lenovos political background is strong like the national support. Lenovo is founded by the Chinese academy of sciences institute of computer, with all kinds of computer professionals with technical strength, known as the birthplace of Chinese computer technology. 1.2 Economic environment: The economic environment is good. The economic crisis lead to the overall economic environment tightening, but the development of computer industry  chain to maintain good growth momentum. 1.3 Social environment: China even the whole world still has a great purchasing power. Once the enterprise enter the market, the value of the firm will show up. 1.4 Technical environment: Lenovo Group, founded by the Institute of Computer Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. And it stands for the countrys highest level in the field of computer technology. 2. The micro-marketing environment: Marketing micro environment essentially refers to the the companys own environment and the business which is directly linked to units or individuals formed environment. 2.1 The threat of new distributors to potential industry: New competitors entering a certain segments of the market, can add new production capacity and a lot of resources, and fight for market share. The key lies in wether the new competitors can easily enter the fine market. This is the mainly due to the economies of scale, channel construction, the expected revenge factors. 2.1.1Possible entrants: the first one is the digital giants abroad which have not yet entered the Chinese market, and the others is downstream products, suppliers and retailers. 2.1.2The way of entrants : the appearance of new products, and the establish of a new brand. 2.1.3Potential entry barriers to entrant: economy of scale, product different barriers, capital demand barriers, the customer conversion cost, patent and proprietary technology. 2.2 The competition in the industry The product has a specific location, the users change to the existing brand are usually based on the disappointment. Because of the industry production capability, the computer industry is highly profitable high risk. 2.3. Substitute As Chinas entry into the WTO, the competition will post the professional business enterprise the threat. 2.4 The bargaining power of suppliers  Most of the PC software is provided by the supplier, and not by the manufacturer production. PC manufacturer bargaining ability, but in foreign  suppliers, local brands has obvious advantages. The buyers bargaining power:Through the analysis, Chinas PC industry has high barriers to entry so that there is no alternative goods and the purchaser bargain ability is low. For new entrants the competitive threat is various and widely effected, but due to a variety of reasons no matter at present or in future there will be still a number of entrants. 3. Lenovos SWOT analysis: Combined with the present situation of the development of the industry Lenovo laptop exactly exist problems and should establish rational marketing decision-making plan. 3.1. Advantage: Market share: Lenovo laptop channels throughout the whole of Asia market, market share to competitors than the other, with 30.6% of the market share comes to the first in line. Local brand experience and regional advantages: Lenovo has decades of experience in the Chinese mainland which can accurately grasp the local consumer demand, which is the strength of other brands do not have the advantage. Brand advantage: In the PC market, Lenovo brand of leadership in the Chinese market has more than many rivals, is the industry leader, and promoted step by step and accumulation. 3.2 Disadvantage: In addition to the Chinese market and overseas market, especially the north American market the ability of growth is weak. International operation experience compared to the Dell and HP has a gap, form although international, but did not reach the system. A lack of international experience, especially to the international complex economic form ability, to the risk control ability is not strong, it is the financial crisis led to Lenovo losses. Although the acquisition of the IBM PC business, full integration is not yet complete. 3.3 opportunity: The development of the consumer PC market, along with the rise of the notebook market as well as the popularity of the PC provides a good opportunity to Lenovo notebook in the consumer market. And there is a sales boom as Win7 listed the individual market. so Lenovo should seize the opportunity to capture the market. The Chinese government launch home appliance countryside sports, farmers for the PC has a strong demand. Lenovo  an seize the chance to go to Chinas vast countryside market.The domestic market having the rapid development , more and more consumers to buy the computer. 3.4 threat: The consumer market, facing the threat of the Hewlett-Packard, Dell is a strong competitor. A large number of new brand computer manufacturers produce cause confusion of market.The financial crisis is still not completely eliminate and global individual market is falling which affect the Lenovo shipments greatly since commercial personal market. 4. Lenovos market segments, the choice of target customers, market positioning (STP analysis) 4.1 Market segment: despite Lenovo is an old computer, it seems that there is no market selection problem, but when profits to maximize the enterprise management of long-term highest goal appeared. Lenovo will also can not bear the temptation of diversification, attack from the Internet, a series of new business, but soon found many new business water depth in waves, therefore decided to make strategic shrinkage and adjust. Later, Lenovo will and divided into two parts, one kind is small and medium-sized enterprise and the average consumer, small and medium-sized enterprise and further divided into medium customers and scattered type customers. One kind is often tender for purchasing clients, and further divided into global big customers combined with local customers, and whether the commercial market or consumption market, desktop computer or the laptop. Lenovos market segmentation levels are quite clear, and in each segment the market established deputy brand. Through the in-depth market research, a series of specialized value recreation, make the brand to look brand-new.Thus, market segmentation for a brand the growing importance of the, Lenovo because timely see this, suit the remedy to the case. According to the growing small and medium-sized enterprise commercial computer demand, Lenovo won the unshakable market share. In the future a period of time, Lenovo brand value management and considerable ascension space, also can become more sales though driving force is strong. 4.2. The market localization: Association with the main trend products and low-priced products to the aftermarket price of brand quality one-sided pressure to the other brands. Lenovo in the past ten years, has constant innovation and introduction of  more advanced technology and electronic products, which are inextricably linked with Lenovos strong backing of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Computer Science. Lenovo has a high-quality technical team. They have a number of senior researchers and engineers with years of experience in technical strength with a large number of Hong Kong and Taiwan manufacturers. Lenovo can not be surmounted, which proves the Chinese computer market leading brand strength is immeasurable.Lenovo chooses the low level of technology, and focus on market demand with the wide range of applications.The market is large, easy-to-commercialization of microcomputer products in the product form, from the development version upgrade start, rather than to start on the development machine. This is the Lenovo Groups goal, so that companies can integrate into the community with the fastest speed, and lay a solid foundation for further development in the future. CINCLUSIONS Lenovo, a global company, has gone through many challenges and difficulties. There are much experience in the growth of Lenovo. Although there are many reasons of the success, the main and crucial one is persistence. We are, of crouse, proud of the admirable achievement of Lenovo.

Free Death of a Salesman Essays: After the Funeral :: Death of a Salesman

Death of a Salesman: After the Funeral They all return to the house. The fully paid for house. The sight of it brings back a slight sob to Linda's throat, when she reaches the cement stoop her sobbing once again becomes full. Charley looks to her but is at a loss for words. Happy puts his arms around his mother and holds her. Biff only looks on at it all. For a brief second he sees the Willy's fate in Happy's eyes as he holds Linda. Willy's death has brought Biff to know what he is more than ever. He's not a salesman and neither is Happy but Happy is just like is father and Biff fears nothing can be done to change the course of life Happy has chosen upon Willy's death. The small grieving party enters the house and each takes a seat in the living room. Linda has gained control over herself again. No one dares to say a word they each sit by themselves accompanied by their own thoughts. Biff's mind is racing now. Thoughts of how his life will not end like Willy's. Biff has no master plan for his life he just wishes to begin his life. His real life. "Construction" Biff accidentally says allowed. Everyone looks at him. What about construction. Happy says to Biff. Tomorrow I'll look for a job in construction is Biff's reply. I'll start at the bottom and I'll gradually raise my position. Someday maybe architecture or engineering. By god I'm gonna do something with my life weather it's to my families approval or not. Charley looks at Biff and says. Biff I don't know if this is the right time for this. It's sounds like a good idea to me but I honestly don't think this is the time to talk about it. I'm sorry Charley you're right I'm going to bed now I'll see you all tomorrow. Biff stands up stretches his arms and back and goes off to bed. Biff wakes up early the next morning. No one else has woken yet and Charley had gone home the night before. Despite the death of his father hanging over him like a dark, dreary cloud Biff is in an unexplainably great mood. He felt as if his life was just beginning on this day.

Jacksonian Democrats DBQ Essay

In the 1820’s and 1830’s, the Jacksonian Democrats, with Andrew Jackson as their leader, viewed themselves as the guardians of the Constitution, political democracy, individual liberty, and equality of economic opportunity. However, this view did not truly represent the actions taken by President Andrew Jackson and his followers, it was only a faà §ade put up to mask their sectionalist ideas. One of the disparities in the views and actions of the Jacksonian Democrats involved social equality. Jackson repeatedly held sectionalist views and did things that were better for the average, poor community than for the country as a whole. One such example of this is shown in Documents B and C involving the National Bank. In his National Bank veto message in Document B, Jackson says, â€Å"It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes.† Jackson singles out the wealthier class and accuses them of being selfish. Because this ridiculous comment has no intelligent purpose other than to create an enormous, nationwide class clash, it must be seen as evidence that Jackson was a sectionalist. Daniel Webster responded to this message in Document C by stating, â€Å"It manifestly seeks to inflame the poor against the rich †¦ for the purpose of turning against them [the other class] the prejudices and the resentments of the other classes.† Daniel Webster is saying what was previously mentioned. It was as though Jackson was trying to anger the poor to turn against the rich. Jackson’s actions show that his primary goal was not to help the country, but to address his own personal issues. This completely contrasts the Jacksonian Democrats view of themselves. The Jacksonians thought that they were acting in the best interest of the country, where they were truly thinking about their own needs. The Constitutional rights of the people were also violated during the Jackson presidency. In Document F, we see that South Carolina had resolved that fellow states would make it a crime to print, publish, or distribute anything that was anti-slavery. They did this because slavery was their economic backbone, and without it, their economy would plummet. South Carolina was requesting that a sectionalist opinion be enforced over a constitutional right. If Jackson was really what he claimed to be, he would  have rejected this request. However, he willingly violated the Constitution and abused his Presidential power when he told Postmaster General Amos Kendall to censor all of the mail. Next, in Document G, we see a painting that shows what happened to the Native Americans during the Trail of Tears. Earlier in Jackson’s life, he was a General for the American army. His most notable campaigns were the wars with the Seminole Indians. Jackson had a strong hatred towards the Seminoles when he was a General that carried over to his presidency. His decisions and treaties to force the Native Americans out of their land show that he only had his agenda in mind and that he was a true sectionalist. These actions violated one of the fundamental Constitutional rights that our country was founded on, freedom. The Jacksonian Democrats view of themselves was not entirely accurate because of the class issues and disregard of the Constitution during Jackson’s presidency. Jackson forced the Native Americans out of their land, repeatedly created class clashes, and held sectionalist views. The principles behind these actions were the antitheses of those that this country was founded on. This not only shows the hypocrisy of the Jacksonian Democrats, but it proves that they did not accurately view themselves.

How can the prison system rehabilitate prisoners so that...

The prison system is one that is looked upon as a part of our society that is needed yet doesn t work. Like Jim Hightower said in 1988, Do something, if it doesn t work, do something else. Since the rehabilitation process doesn t work, we must do something about it. We must change the rehabilitation process so that it actually works and prisoners that are released come out of prison as new men with pride and a feeling that they belong outside the gates. How can the prison system rehabilitate prisoners so that they will enter the society as equals? Prison inmates, are some of the most maladjusted people in society. Most of the inmates have had too little discipline or too much, come from broken homes, and have no self-esteem. They†¦show more content†¦Also, being released from prison gives the former inmates a disadvantage compared to others. For instance, members of the group might not be as open or show emotion because they want to appear tough. Also the members might not express their opinions openly because the others might see it as snitching. For the group to work it takes a dedicated counselor (Bennett, 1978). Some believe that a way to stop crime is to punish criminals much more. This was contradicted by what Mr. Resko stated. Punishment did nothing for the felon except make him warier, more cunning, and more inclined to violence. Punishment was not the answer to the financial and moral problems generated by the increasing number of prisons and prisoners. Punishment, whether it is corporal, psychological or moral...is not the answer. Not for the con or for his respectable brother. (Schneider, 1996) Another type of correctional center used for rehabilitation is halfway houses. Halfway houses are usually located in residential communities and are aimed to keep offenders in the community. The name comes from the fact that they are halfway between the community and the prison (Fox, 1977). 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