Strategic Compensation: A Human Resource Management Approach, 9/e

Unions’ Reactions to Contingent Workers and Flexible Work Schedules

1. 5 Describe unions’ reactions to contingent work and flexible work schedule arrangements.

Unions generally do not support companies’ use of contingent workers and flexible work schedules. Most union leaders believe that alternative work arrangements threaten members’ job security and are prone to unfair and inequitable treatment. The most common concerns include:

• Employers exploit contingent workers by paying them lower wages and benefits than core employees.

• Employers’ efforts to get cheap labor will lead to a poorly trained and less skilled workforce that will hamper competitiveness.

• Part-time employees are difficult to organize because their interests are centered on activities ...