Main Content
Syllabus
LER 434: Collective Bargaining and Contract Administration (3): Theory, practice, economic impact of collective bargaining, including administration of the collective bargaining agreement. Prerequisite: LER 100.
Overview
In the capitalist, free-enterprise economic system, the interests of employees and their employers often come into conflict. The employer’s main goal is to maximize profits. One way to do this is to keep labor costs as low as possible. The main interest of employees, on the other hand, is to maximize the amount they are paid for their labor. In essence, they want to keep labor costs as high as possible.
As this conflict plays out, individual employees usually find they have very little power in the employee-employer relationship and the employer’s interest (to keep labor costs as low as possible) usually prevails. Employees who are dissatisfied with the compensation they receive for their work quickly realize they are at a disadvantage vis à vis their employer. Often, they come to the conclusion that the only way they can match the power of the employer is to band together with other employees. The collective power they gain by doing so enables them to have some influence on what the employer pays them for their labor.
The collective organization employees form when they band together is usually called a labor union. And the process of using the collective power of the union to influence wages, benefits, and working conditions is called collective bargaining.
This course will examine the process of collective bargaining that millions of American employees and employers engage in every year. It will look in detail at the "players” in this process--employees and their unions, employers (whether they be multinational corporations or small family-owned businesses), and the government agencies which regulate the process. It will also examine the stages of the collective bargaining process, including the organizing of unions, the bargaining of labor agreements, and the resolution of disputes and disagreements (often referred to as contract administration). In the course of this discussion, the issues that are the subjects of bargaining will also be identified and discussed, including wages, benefits, working conditions, union security arrangements, and disciplinary processes. The course will conclude with a discussion of some of the newest developments and latest trends in collective bargaining.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, you should have a good understanding of:
- the reasons why collective bargaining arose in the American economic system
- the major parties involved in the collective bargaining and contract administration process
- the legal framework that regulates collective bargaining in the private sector
- the reasons why employees organize unions and the process for doing so
- the process, strategies, and issues involved in collective bargaining and the manner in which collective bargaining disputes between the parties are resolved
- the process through which the parties work out their disagreements about the interpretation and administration of collective bargaining agreements
- the manner in which collective bargaining is changing and evolving
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
NOTE: The Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations does not view Wikipedia as a valid source for information cited in academic work. It can be a useful tool for quickly finding general information on subjects or as a starting point for research. However, students should not cite Wikipedia as a source in papers, reports, assignments, etc.
Using the Library
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Software
One of the benefits of being a registered Penn State student is that you are eligible to receive educational discounts on many software titles. If you are interested in learning more about purchasing software through our affiliate vendor, please visit the Buying Software section of the Course Materials page.
Technical Requirements
For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
One of the benefits of being a registered Penn State student is that you are eligible to receive educational discounts on many software titles. If you are interested in learning more about purchasing software through our affiliate vendor, please visit the Buying Software section of the Course Materials page.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
All activities are due by 11:59pm (ET) on the day indicated in the Course Schedule.
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NOTE: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please see "Graduation" on the World Campus Student Policies website.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Grades
Grades in this course are calculated based on the following:
Due Dates and Late Assignments
All assignments are due on the dates noted in the syllabus. Any assignment posted later than the date given will lose 10 percentage points per calendar day and will not be accepted later than 3 calendar days after the due date. Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis. Consideration for late assignments will only be entertained IN ADVANCE of the due date. Assignments are always accepted earlier than the due date.
For this course, grades will be assigned on the following basis:
|
Points
|
Grade
|
| 1000–931 | A |
| 930-900 | A- |
| 899-880 | B+ |
| 879-821 | B |
| 820-800 | B- |
| 799-781 | C+ |
| 780-700 | C |
| 699-600 | D |
| 599-below | F |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
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In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.