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49-849: One of the earliest forerunners of the National Civic Federation was the Chicago Civic Federation (CCF), which was also known as the Civic Federation of Chicago, established in 1893. Ralph M. Easley , the CCF's gregarious head who wanted the NCF to "serve as a medium of sympathy and acquaintance between persons and societies who pursue various and differing vocations and objects, who differ in nationality, creed, and surrounding [and] who are unknown to each other." This federation of civic and reform leaders community took as its primary goal "to focus

98-449: A crucial role in the collective bargaining process, representing workers in negotiations with employers. 3. Bargaining Representative: Employees can appoint a bargaining agent, such as a union representative, to negotiate on their behalf. 4. Good Faith Bargaining: Parties involved in collective bargaining are required to meet good faith bargaining requirements, which include attending meetings, considering proposals, and responding in

147-586: A founder of the field of industrial relations in Britain. It refers to the sort of collective negotiations and agreements that had existed since the rise of trade unions during the 18th century. In the United States, the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 made it illegal for any employer to deny union rights to an employee. The issue of unionizing government employees in a public-sector trade union

196-400: A larger organization drawing in the participation of top economic leaders from around the country. In June 1900 Easley reestablished his civic federation idea on a broader basis with the formation of the National Civic Federation (NCF). The organization drew its membership in equal parts from the camps of business, labor, and members of the unaffiliated public. Easley would serve as chairman of

245-412: A number of foundations including: Collective bargaining Collective bargaining is a process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees aimed at agreements to regulate working salaries, working conditions, benefits, and other aspects of workers' compensation and rights for workers . The interests of the employees are commonly presented by representatives of a trade union to which

294-498: A single employer (who is typically representing a company's shareholders) or may negotiate with a group of businesses, depending on the country, to reach an industry-wide agreement. Collective bargaining consists of the process of negotiation between representatives of a union and employers (generally represented by management, or, in some countries such as Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands, by an employers' organization ) in respect of

343-532: A solution to the work stoppage. Employers backing the NCF's approach to the labor problem envisioned a mutually beneficial social peace springing from collective bargaining , a position sharply criticized by other employers organized in the National Association of Manufacturers , which sought a crushing of trade unions and the establishment of an open shop in American industry. The National Civic Federation

392-413: A technical resource to public officials and opinion leaders through non-partisan tax and fiscal research." The Federation was founded to fight corruption, government subsidies, high taxes, and unneeded public enterprise. However it also wanted government to solve the problems of the metropolis. The newspapers adopted Mugwumpery as a way of building support for municipal reform among working-class voters in

441-464: A timely manner. 5. Industrial Action: Industrial action , including strikes and lockouts, can be a part of the bargaining process but is subject to strict regulations, including protected action ballots. ...where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Ronald Reagan , Labor Day Speech at Liberty State Park, 1980 In the United States, the National Labor Relations Act (1935) covers most collective agreements in

490-507: A trustee. Chicago-area merchants, educators, bankers, ministers and labor officials joined them as charter members. In its early years, the Civic Federation advocated for social and political reform. It led efforts to improve sanitation and education, as well as improve Chicago-area government efficiency. Steel magnate Clayton Mark , who built Marktown , the planned worker community in Northwest Indiana, served several terms as President of

539-472: A union as a condition of employment. Unions are also able to secure safe work conditions and equitable pay for their labor. At a workplace where a majority of workers have voted for union representation, a committee of employees and union representatives negotiate a contract with the management regarding wages, hours, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment, such as protection from termination of employment without just cause. Individual negotiation

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588-445: A union security clause in their contract with management. Dues are generally 1–2% of pay. However, union members and other workers covered by collective agreements get, on average, a 5–10% wage markup over their nonunionized (or uncovered) counterparts. Some states, especially in the south-central and south-eastern regions of the U.S., have outlawed union security clauses; this can cause controversy, as it allows some net beneficiaries of

637-442: A union workplace. These then go to arbitration , which is similar to an informal court hearing; a neutral arbitrator then rules whether the termination or other contract breach is extant, and if it is, orders that it be corrected. In 24 U.S. states, employees who are working in a unionized shop may be required to contribute towards the cost of representation (such as at disciplinary hearings) if their fellow employees have negotiated

686-565: A way to ensure that the falling unemployment also leads to higher wages. In June 2007 the Supreme Court of Canada extensively reviewed the rationale for regarding collective bargaining as a human right. In the case of Facilities Subsector Bargaining Association v. British Columbia , the Court made the following observations: The right to bargain collectively with an employer enhances the human dignity, liberty and autonomy of workers by giving them

735-426: Is prohibited. Once the workers' committee and management have agreed on a contract, it is then put to a vote of all workers at the workplace. If approved, the contract is usually in force for a fixed term of years, and when that term is up, it is then renegotiated between employees and management. Sometimes there are disputes over the union contract; this particularly occurs in cases of workers fired without just cause in

784-651: The First Amendment establishment of freedom of religion and the separation of church of state. The right to collectively bargain is recognized in international human rights conventions. Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights identifies the ability to organize trade unions as a fundamental human right. Article 2(a) of the International Labour Organization 's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work defines

833-493: The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation . The Institute has published numerous studies of Illinois' finances, including: IIFS also publishes a blog that provides additional information and commentary on state finance issues. The Civic Federation was founded in 1893 as a reform organization by several of Chicago's most prominent citizens, including Jane Addams , Bertha Honore Palmer and Lyman J. Gage . The group united around

882-745: The " freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining" as an essential right of workers. The Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention , 1948 (C087) and several other conventions specifically protect collective bargaining through the creation of international labour standards that discourage countries from violating workers' rights to associate and collectively bargain. Only one in three OECD employees have wages which were agreed on through collective bargaining. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, with its 36 members, has become an outspoken proponent for collective bargaining as

931-474: The 367 American corporations with a capitalization of more than $ 10 million were represented in the NCF, as were 16 of the 67 biggest railroads in the country. During its first years of existence the NCF mediated several labor disputes and helped to broker agreements between capital and labor . The organization became active behind the scenes in a major strike of the coal industry in 1902, attempting to bring together coal operators and unionized miners to forge

980-563: The CCF’s two-time president; social worker Jane Addams ; and social scientist and civic commissioner Edward Bemis . The federation's first president was wealthy businessman-turned- United States Senator Mark Hanna , while its original vice-president was American Federation of Labor leader Samuel Gompers . Other NCF founding members from trade unions included Daniel Keefe ( International Longshoremen's Association ), John Mitchell ( United Mine Workers ) and J. J. Sullivan ( Typographers ). Over

1029-735: The Civic Federation Collection, which contains reports, memoranda, correspondence, press releases, photographs, and other documents relating to the Civic Federation's foundation and operation from 1893, on. The Civic Federation is classified as a 501(c)(3) public charity under U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The Civic Federation focuses on educational outreach and policy work, consistent with its tax-exempt status. It accepts no government support. The Federation receives funding from its members, which include many Chicago area corporations and service firms. The Civic Federation and Institute for Illinois' Fiscal Sustainability are also supported by

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1078-502: The Civic Federation. In the 1930s, the Civic Federation transitioned to an organization chiefly interested in improving government efficiency and tax reform. The work of the Federation continues to evolve in the 21st century as a greater emphasis is placed on working with government officials to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of Chicago-area governments. DePaul University Special Collections and Archives holds

1127-451: The Federation established the Institute for Illinois' Fiscal Sustainability (IIFS), which examines fiscal issues relating to the state of Illinois. Its mission is to "improve the state's decision making process by providing timely fiscal policy analysis and recommendations to state officials, the media, and the public through education and digital outreach." Major funding for IIFS is provided by

1176-516: The NCF’s executive council throughout the federation’s forty-five-year history. Easley, a former teacher and journalist, was himself a staunch supporter of the Republican Party and conservative who sought social peace and the preservation of the current social system through cooperation between the various social classes. Easley believed that such collaboration between the leaders of industry and labor

1225-941: The accumulated liabilities of the systems and suggests reforms that could improve the fiscal health of the systems. The issue of property tax assessments, collections and appeals is another major focus of the Civic Federation. The Federation has published a number of issue briefs on property tax issues in the Chicago area. The Federation has also taken on special initiatives in addition to its regular government finance research. Some of those projects include: The Civic Federation also discusses government finance and policy issues on its blog, updated weekly. The Federation blog has researched topics such as Cook County township government , privatization and tax increment financing or TIF. Federation blog posts accompany its publications and help provide additional commentary and context on those topics as well as provide reactions to current events. In 2008

1274-491: The aim of reaching an agreement. This framework facilitates several key aspects of the collective bargaining process: 1. Enterprise Bargaining: The focus of collective bargaining in Australia is on enterprise bargaining, which allows for more flexible working conditions tailored to the specific needs of an enterprise and its employees. 2. Role of Unions: While union membership has declined in recent decades, unions still play

1323-469: The anti-union conservatives of the National Association of Manufacturers, who opposed acknowledgement of any right of collective bargaining, as well as from socialists and syndicalists on the left, who saw in the NCF a concrete example of class collaborationism which would dull the desire of the masses for radical change. One of the rivals to Samuel Gompers' American Federation of Labor (AFL)

1372-648: The captains of industry." Fully aware that lieutenants take orders from captains, more militant union leaders saw Gompers' participation in the NCF as a "sellout." Chicago Civic Federation The Civic Federation is a Chicago-based non-partisan research organization focused on governments in the Chicago area and the state of Illinois. The Civic Federation's mission is to help local and state governments reduce their costs and improve public services by "Promoting opportunities to reform local tax structures; guarding against wasteful expenditure of public funds; and serving as

1421-546: The employees belong. A collective agreement reached by these negotiations functions as a labour contract between an employer and one or more unions, and typically establishes terms regarding wage scales, working hours, training, health and safety, overtime , grievance mechanisms, and rights to participate in workplace or company affairs. Such agreements can also include 'productivity bargaining' in which workers agree to changes to working practices in return for higher pay or greater job security . The union may negotiate with

1470-464: The late 19th century and the Progressive Era. The Civic Federation publishes reports and commentary about government tax policies, government services and public expenditures in the Chicago region. Its annual analyses of local government operating budgets evaluate the governments' fiscal policy decisions and provide recommendations for effective financial management. These reports are often cited by

1519-483: The miners saw the purpose of the NCF as, ...to housebreak unionism, to confine its growth to those fields where management could use it, and to emasculate it by a united front of labor leaders and captains of industry against all socialistic and insurgent elements. According to this view, the NCF stood for "responsible unionism," in which union members were expected to follow the dictates of conservative union leaders whom Mark Hanna referred to as "the labor lieutenants of

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1568-595: The need to address concerns about Chicago's economic, political and moral climate at the end of the 19th century. The group's formation was catalyzed by a book by a visiting journalist, William T. Stead , who appealed to the Social Gospel sensibilities of Protestant activists. Gage, president of the First National Bank, and the prominent socialite Bertha Honore Palmer were elected President and First Vice President. The Director of Hull House , Jane Addams, served as

1617-422: The new ideals of civic cooperation and social efficiency on the task of renovating Chicago society." Easley was thrust into the public spotlight in 1899 when the CCF held a conference in Chicago on problems presented by the various monopolistic Trusts which dominated most of the key sections of the American economy. This gathering was met by widespread acclaim in the press and provided the gravitas necessary for

1666-404: The opportunity to influence the establishment of workplace rules and thereby gain some control over a major aspect of their lives, namely their work... Collective bargaining is not simply an instrument for pursuing external ends... rather [it] is intrinsically valuable as an experience in self-government... Collective bargaining permits workers to achieve a form of workplace democracy and to ensure

1715-490: The press and have helped guide lawmakers' decisions, as detailed on the Federation’s website. The Federation focuses on the following governments: Of major interest to the Civic Federation is the impact that public employee pension systems have on government budgets and finance . In standalone pension status reports and government budget analyses, the Civic Federation provides a look at pension funding trends, estimates

1764-437: The private sector. This act makes it illegal for employers to discriminate, spy on, harass, or terminate the employment of workers because of their union membership or to retaliate against them for engaging in organizing campaigns or other "concerted activities", to form company unions , or to refuse to engage in collective bargaining with the union that represents their employees. It is also illegal to require any employee to join

1813-428: The rule of law in the workplace. Workers gain a voice to influence the establishment of rules that control a major aspect of their lives. In Sweden the coverage of collective agreements is very high despite the absence of legal mechanisms to extend agreements to whole industries. In 2018, 83% of all private-sector employees were covered by collective agreements, 100% of public sector employees and in all 90% (referring to

1862-413: The slogan of "Preparedness," the National Civic Federation began to take on the character of a patriotic organization, agitating against pacifists , socialists, and sundry others characterized in the words of Theodore Roosevelt as "undesirable citizens." The death of Gompers in 1924 largely ended its relationship to the labor movement, and business leaders, too, withdrew their financial backing. Easley

1911-412: The terms and conditions of employment of employees, such as wages, hours of work, working conditions, grievance procedures, and about the rights and responsibilities of trade unions. The parties often refer to the result of the negotiation as a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) or as a collective employment agreement (CEA). The term "collective bargaining" was first used in 1891 by Beatrice Webb ,

1960-554: The union contract to avoid paying their portion of the costs of contract negotiation. Regardless of state, the Supreme Court has held that the Act prevents a person's union dues from being used without consent to fund political causes that may be opposed to the individual's personal politics. Instead, in states where union security clauses are permitted, such dissenters may elect to pay only the proportion of dues which go directly toward representation of workers. The American Federation of Labor

2009-541: The whole labor market). This reflects the dominance of self-regulation (regulation by the labour market parties themselves) over state regulation in Swedish industrial relations. Collective bargaining in Australia has its roots in the early 20th century, with the introduction of the conciliation and arbitration system. This system was established to resolve industrial disputes through the intervention of an independent third party, which could make legally binding decisions. Over

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2058-501: The years, the federation's Executive Council included representatives of employers such as Vincent Astor , Jeremiah Jenks , Seth Low , and George W. Perkins . From the outset the NCF was dominated by the leaders of big business. In addition to Mark Hanna, leading roles were played by utilities magnates Samuel Insull and George B. Cortelyou , banker Franklin MacVeagh , and industrialist Andrew Carnegie .< By 1903 nearly one-third of

2107-430: The years, this system underwent significant transformations, reflecting the changing priorities of different governments and the shifting balance of power between employers and unions. Legislative Framework The Fair Work Act 2009 is the cornerstone of contemporary collective bargaining in Australia. The Act provides for "good faith bargaining" requirements, ensuring that parties engage in negotiations sincerely with

2156-551: Was consumed by anti-communism , and in the 1930s attacked Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the New Deal . Plagued by financial difficulties, hobbled by Easley's anti-Communism and pushed aside by a rising national consensus in favor of liberalism, the NCF — nearly bankrupt —shut down operations in 1950. The NCF's approach of bringing representatives of business and the labor movement together for negotiations drew criticism both from

2205-523: Was formed in 1886, providing unprecedented bargaining powers for a variety of workers. The Railway Labor Act (1926) required employers to bargain collectively with unions. In 1931 the Supreme Court , in the case of Texas & N.O.R. Co. v. Brotherhood of Railway Clerks , upheld the act's prohibition of employer interference in the selection of bargaining representatives. In 1962, President Kennedy signed an executive order giving public-employee unions

2254-594: Was instrumental in expanding and helping make uniform state laws regarding child labor , workmen's compensation , and factory safety. The NCF is credited with the passage in 1913 of the Newlands Labor Act for mediation of railroad disputes. The group also helped pave the way for the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914. With the coming of war in Europe and a drive for the armament of America under

2303-515: Was much more controversial until the 1950s. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy issued an executive order granting federal employees the right to unionize. An issue of jurisdiction surfaced in National Labor Relations Board v. Catholic Bishop of Chicago (1979) when the Supreme Court held that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) could not assert jurisdiction over a church-operated school because such jurisdiction would violate

2352-417: Was necessary to mitigate potential dangers associated with a continuation and expansion of the class struggle between these social groups.> The NCF's work was conducted through special subcommittees and in national conferences. The group also produced publications, authored draft legislation, and engaged in lobbying of government officials. Early activists included U.S. Treasury Secretary Lyman Gage ,

2401-651: Was the Western Federation of Miners (WFM). Formed on the western frontier of the United States, the WFM was "not yet 'broken in' to the discipline of business management" practiced by eastern labor leaders. The WFM formed the Western Labor Union (WLU) as a rival to the AFL, because the miners feared that the AFL wanted to crush the anti-capitalist spirit of their organization. Fred W. Thompson and Patrick Murfin have written that

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