Organizing Model
Service (for Business) Model
Attitude toward employer
Defending members is most important.
Good relationship with management is most important.
Attitude toward members
Inclusive. Tries to reflect workforce in composition of union leadership.
Exclusive. Little turnover in leadership. Suspicious of newcomers.
Grievance handling
Tries to involve all members in the department.
Tries to settle without involvement of members.
Settling grievances
Make immediate supervisor settle by showing solidarity of workers.
Settle at highest level with company or through arbitration.
Selection of stewards
Election by co-workers.
Appointment by union leadership.
Bargaining
Large bargaining committee, constant flow of information to members.
Small committee, negotiations often kept secret until a settlement is reached.
Strategy and tactics
Encourage initiative and creativity of members.
Reluctant to involve members in bringing pressure on employer.
Organizing the unorganized
Union represents all workers – organized and unorganized. In a constant state of organizing.
Unwilling and unable to organize. feels threatened by newly organized.
Members view of the union
Take personal responsibility for success or failure of the union.
An insurance policy or a “third party” to call on when they have a problem.
