Feedback Form
Home Features Mastermind Forums About Advertise Blog Network Contact Be An Author

What You Should Learn From Union Organizing

What You Should Learn From Union Organizing

It is hard to imagine an organization with an unwarranted union. Scratch the surface of glossy, smiling faces on the annual reports and far different pictures of what is going on are often found.

Once again, Wal-Mart is crying foul about organizing at their company1. This has been occurring at Wal-Mart for a very long time. It seems as though Wal-Mart should have learned a lesson or two along the way, but it appears that they have not. Their approach continues to be to fight the union.

“And if I were a leader in that company, I might fight as well,” says Rick Maurer, President of Maurer and Associates, Inc. and bestselling business book author. “But I would be missing a far more important point if I did. People just are not happy.”

Managers in organizations often wrongly say, “All those gripes happened a long time ago.”  Workers do not stupidly risk losing their jobs over issues that have already been resolved. They are motivated by self-interest, just like leaders.

Maurer’s experience suggests that unions exist due to repeated failures of management to listen and respond to the voices of workers and lower-level managers over a span of many years. Leaders who have the courage to listen to complaints and seriously try to make things better can begin to build a workplace that matches the PR-spin of their annual reports.

Without discrediting Wal-Mart, the size of the company and the repeated public disputes against organizing provide a valuable object-lesson for the rest of us. Consider yourself fortunate if you currently work in a union environment, as union leadership is often willing to speak the truth to those in positions of power on your behalf.

_____________

References

1Maher, Kris; Zimmerman, Ann. “Union Intensifies Efforts to Organize Workers at Wal-Mart.” The Wall Street Journal. 17 April 2009. Page A4.





What You Should Learn From Union Organizing - To learn more about this author, visit Rick Maurer's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Article Feedback
 Article Feedback No article feedback found.
  Leave Your Feedback
article feedback

Article Feedback
Joe Dager
Joe Dager is President of Business901, a progressive coaching company providing no-nonsense direction in areas such as Lean Six Sigma Marketing and organized referral marketing. What others say: In the past 20 years, Joe and I have collaborated on many difficult issues. Joe’s ability to combine his expertise with “out of the box” thinking is unsurpassed. He has always delivered quickly, cost effectively and with ingenuity. A brilliant mind that is always a pleasure to work with.” - James R. If you want to learn more about Business901, start a conversation with us. We can be found @ Web/Blog: Business901.com Web/Blog: FundingYourNonprofit.com LinkedIn Profile Follow me on Twitter - Visit Joe Dager's Website

Linda Richardson
Linda Richardson is the Founder and Executive Chairwoman of Richardson, a global sales training and performance improvement company. As a recognized leader in the industry, she has won the coveted Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sales Excellence and she was identified by Training Industry, Inc. as one of the “Top 20 Most Influential Training Professionals.” Ms. Richardson is credited with the movement to Consultative Selling and is the author of ten books on selling and sales management, including Sales Coaching — Making the Great Leap from Sales Manager to Sales Coach, and Stop Telling, Start Selling. She teaches sales and management at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton Executive Development Center. Linda is a frequent speaker at industry and client conferences, has been published extensively in industry and training journals, and has been featured in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Nation’s Business, Selling Power, Success, and The Conference Board Magazine. Learn more about Richardson's sales training and performance improvement solutions at http://www.richardson.com web - Visit Linda Richardson's Website


To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

About The Author


Rick Maurer
(Visit Rick's Website) Rick helps people lead Change without Migraines™. Many organizations including telecoms, healthcare, aerospace, non-profts, and government have applied Rick's unique approach to managing change. His opinion has been sought by NBC Nightly News, CNBC, BBC, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Industry Week, The Economist, New York Times, Fast Company, The Washington Post, and Investor's Business Daily. He has written many books including Beyond the Wall of Resistance and Why Don't You Want What I Want? You can access many free tips for leading change at his website: www.rickmaurer.com

Rick Maurer is a Silver author on EvanCarmichael.com
About The Author

View Author Blog
View Author Blog

View Author Video
View Author Video

Free Downloads


Rick Maurer's

Complete
List Of
Management
Articles

Name
Email
If you enjoyed this article, get Rick Maurer's Complete List of Management Articles For FREE!

More Rick Maurer
What You Should Learn From Union Organizing
Survey Shows Business Leaders More Successful at Major Change During the Recession
Losing Focus and Clarity of Vision
Free Downloads

Referred by: http://www.888fulcrum.com



 
 
 


Evan Elite Authors
Kim Castle  
John Power  
Jeff Foster  
Evan Elite Authors

Become An Author
Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details.
Become An Author

Evan's Latest Video
Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media
Evan's Latest Video

Business Opportunities
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"

How to Start An Online Business

Click Here To Learn More
Business Opportunities



Evan's Newsletter
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Evan`s Newsletter

Free Downloads
Increase Performance Leadership Icon Increase Performance Leadership
Start eTutoring Business Icon Start eTutoring Business
3 Networking Skills Icon 3 Networking Skills
Is your branding on the nose? Icon Is your branding on the nose?
4 QuickBooks Blunders Icon 4 QuickBooks Blunders
Free Downloads - Complete List

Entrepreneur Tools and Guides
The Top 10 Guy Kawasaki Posts - Best Posts for Entrepreneurs
The Top 10 Guy Kawasaki Posts
Best Posts for Entrepreneurs
 
Top 50 Productivity Blogs To Watch In 2008
Top 50 Productivity Blogs
Top Blogs To Watch In 2008
 
Entrepreneur Tools and Guides

SEO For Africa
SEO For Africa
Roukéya Adam Agoe, Togo,
Roukéya Adam
Agoe, Togo
SEO For Africa

If I Were A Startup...
Catherine Daw, > $4 Mil in revenues
Catherine Daw
> $4 Mil in revenues
Julie Mitchell, $470k to $1.1 Mil in 2 years
Julie Mitchell
$470k to $1.1 Mil in 2 years
If I Were A Startup... - Complete List

Famous Entrepreneurs
Rachael Ray, Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray
Robert Johnson, B.E.T.
Famous Entrepreneurs - Complete List

Entrepreneur Advice
Ask Michael Gerber, Reader Questions
Ask Michael Gerber
Reader Questions
Keith Ferrazzi, Never Eat Alone
Keith Ferrazzi
Never Eat Alone
Entrepreneur Advice - Complete List

Popular Articles
(Premium Authors)

     Marketing Blogs - What You Should Know
By Gene Sower
     HOW TO USE KEYWORDS FOR EFFECTIVE SEO
By Gene Sower
     Why You Need To Use A Professional Email Marketing Tool For Your Business
By Gene Sower

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

More Evan Carmichael
More Information