As a Plant manager, what steps will you take to deal with the union?
It can be seen in the floor mess case study that the Plant Manager, Oscar Burger is antiunion.
It is also seen that Industrial Relations Manager, Ralph Coggin is sympathetic to employees
and relies on human relations techniques in dealing with the union workers and that’s why Shop
Steward, Andy Patella relies on him for union matters and reports him directly if there is any
problem with union members. It is also inferred from the given case that the Shop Steward,
Patella has convinced all the workers except those who work under line number 3 Supervisor,
Dawson on his anticompany tactics. Patella can be seen taking advantage of the fact that
contract negotiations are coming up next month by spreading the rumour that the company will
abandon this plant if the union does not accept the local package of benefit management that
will be offered in the negotiations. Patella also tries to threaten Coggin that if the management
doesn’t respect the rights of the union then he will convince everyone including Dawson’s crew
to walk out. Coggin informs Production Chief, Robert Polk that the union workers are sore
since line number 2 Supervisor, Farrell suspended Joe Valenti and if they don’t reinstate Valenti
back the union might propose strike vote and he is positive that the men will go out. Production
chief, Polk alleges that Valenti is in collusion with Shop Steward, Patella and he suggests that
they should charge union for wrongfully framing Farrell. Plant Manager, Burger says that he
would rather get union off his back and is thinking about giving them 10 minutes of extra wash–
up time.