- In moments of frustration, some U.S. labor leaders have claimed that U.S. unions would be better off with a deregulation of labor law and a return to the “law of the jungle.” How would a return to voluntarism affect U.S. unions? Workers? Employers?
- What might be the pros and cons of adopting the German system of mandatory works councils in the United States?
- Employers commonly try to portray unions in a negative light by characterizing them as outside third-party organizations. Is this accurate if unions are composed of employees? Describe how the pluralist industrial relations school of thought sees value in having a union as both an outsider and an insider. In what direction(s) should U.S. labor unions go to serve these roles in the 21st century?
- What is a corporation’s social responsibility? Are there corporate labor relations practices that should be unacceptable? If so, how should these standards be enforced?