Employment Books

"Negotiating a Labor Contract" by Charles S. Loughran is an outstanding how-to book. It breaks down a highly complex subject in an easily understood manner. There is no legal mumbo-jumbo in this book - just a practical, to the point, step-by-step overview of the entire labor contract negotiating process. The book benefits not only the labor relations professional. Operations people will gain a strong understanding of the negotiating process, including the preparation required prior to beginnning bargaining. It will allow management to position themselves to get the best deal possible. The book's appendix includes detailed checklists on, among other items, negotiations and strike contingency preparation. It also includes a succinct overview of the law controlling labor negotiations. The book was indispensable for me as a member of the negotiating team during a protracted nine-month negotiation that included a union reneg, a tie ratification vote, elimination of dues check-off and declaration of impasse. With each twist and turn in the road, there are people who gladly will offer advice. Throughout it all, Charles Loughran was there to keep me pointed in the right direction. I also found the book invaluable when I was assigned to be chief spokesperson for several small bargaining unit negotiations. I recommend the book strongly to anyone who is involved, in any way, in labor contract negotiations. I must include in this group, members of Union negotiating committees. Union reps who read this book would benefit greatly (and so would their members). It has been three years since I read the book, but I refer back to it frequently. I also recommend it to others whenever possible. My hope is that the author is able to keep the book up-to-date. The second edition is now six years old. At least one line of his advice, that "management negotiators should seek to include a 'zipper' clause" (p. 465) appears to be a concept no longer in vogue among labor attorneys. Nevertheless, to me, Charles Loughran's work will always be a classic of business books. Don't negotiate a labor contract without it.

This is a beautifully written account, written by a Nigerian woman, about the gendered academic and socio-economic situation in Igboland, with implications for all of Nigeria, even Africa and the world. An important study for anyone trying to understand the needs and struggles of historically repressed people-groups. It is open-ended, as well - no simplistic conclusions - so it really makes you think!

The Black as a laborer and not simply as a slave was a novel concept in1927 when Charles H. Wesley wrote his treatise. Beginning with the Compromise of 1850, which highlights American sectionalism, he compares the plantation system in the South utilizing cheap human labor to the industrial North and West which relied on cheap mechanical labor.

According to Wesley slavery and industrialism were fundamentally incompatible. It was not because Blacks could not learn new industrial skills, but because slavery bound both races inextricably in a system that could not successfully industrialize. Wesley shows how plantation and freed individuals learned specialized skills prior to the Civil War. He then proceeds to answer contemporary perceptions about Black labor, such as whether Blacks would be willing to work with emancipation. During the Civil War Blacks served as laborers and soldiers. After the war antebellum opinion that Blacks would not work was disproved during reconstruction.

Another theme is the difficulty black laborers had in attempting to organize with white workers. Still from 1900-1910, Wesley notes that in the competition for skilled jobs and economic progress, Blacks advanced into manufacturing, mechanical, trade and transportation jobs. Wesley concludes by optimistically noting that by 1927 the door was opening to larger industrial opportunity. In his analytic essay Wesley shows how Black laborers as slaves and freedmen struggling and evolved as workers to surmount obstacles in order to improve their economic position in industry.

A key first point of Wesley's argument is whether black workers were willing and had the capacity to learn skilled industrial jobs. To prove his point, first of all Wesley must elevate Blacks from simply slave workers to that of laborers capable of attaining specialized skills. He proves that it was the system, not the race, that was holding back southern industrialization. Wesley's evidence is the advertisements placed in the New York Tribune, August 16, 1855 and January 9, 1855; Columbia South Carolinian January 2, 1855 and other papers calling for slave carpenters, blacksmiths, coopers, mechanics, machinery repairers, etc. Attainment of these skills proves that Black laborers were capable of industrial work.

In 1927 Wesley made the argument that slavery was incompatible with industrialism. The problem was not that the race was incapable of attaining the necessary skills, but that the economic system based on slavery was incompatible.

The New Professional should be required reading for every college graduate - traditional or non-traditional age. If you are a traditional age student, or one who does not have significant experience in the workforce, you will learn the facts about life in organizations. Mr. Holton points out the types of behaviors and attitudes most likely to enhance your long-term success, and those that will short-circuit it. His advice is solid and will truly help the new professional make the most of the transition period between college and successful professional.

This is an excellent book and one which receives my highest recommendation for military spouses. It is absolutely packed with information, and contains hundreds of valuable references. It is an outstanding resource, one you shouldn't be without! It gives full importance and attention to the spouse's career. Although it was published 5 years ago, it is more current than many others published since in terms of its assessment of the job market, and coverage of innovative strategies for career development (not just jobs.)

Everybody knows that the US economy is generating a lot of low-wage, dead-end service jobs. Now there's a book that knows what to do about it. This book is chock full of cheap, practical, useful ways of turning dead-end jobs into careers, linking jobs to training, facilitating employee organization. Should be part of the platform for Republicans and Democrats.

The thrust of this work is a compendium on retirement options
for people both prior to and subsequent to a formal retirement.
Generally speaking, people retire due to incentives, health issues, different interests or mid-life career changes. The mode
of work includes flextime, P/T, job sharing or Rent an Exec.
Temporary work provides quick money, no long term commitment,
flexible work, varied jobs, new people, new skills, greater
industrial exposure etc. The criticisms of part-time work are
that the employee does not vest pension, there is no job
stabilization and that the arrangement is an employment at will.

A strength of this work is that it provides practical advice
on how to secure temporary employment to supplement pension
income. It will be helpful to anyone-at any age- seeking to
make money on a P/T basis. The work is easy to read and the
cost is modest for the tremendous value of the information
content.

The book is a thoughtful, balanced and readable review of the changes taking place in the workplace under "fast capitalism." It provides much-needed balance to the uncritical promotion of change by promoters of "fast capitalism" like Peter Drucker and Tom Peters. Two excellent case studies show some limitations to the ways in which change is being promoted and underpinned.

Definitely book to read a day before the interview. This book will remind you of all the good things discussed in the career development center and some more in an hour or less. You will learn how to prepare for the inteview, how to present your skills: adaptive, transferrable and job skills. You will find reference matials on how to learn more about your prospective employer on the web and hwat the industry standard for salaries in one's field is. Finally thank you notes -- not just for the granted interview but also for referral letters and networking efforts from your friends, professional contracts and family. Take this book with you for an interview. If you get there early, skim thru the pages and you will be ready to impress the potential employer no matter what questions they ask you.

Power, Sexuality and Success in the Workplace with realistic strategies for dealing with personal, professional, and structural sexism.