Uneasy Terrain: The Impact of Capital Mobility on Workers, Wages, and Union Organizing

Bronfenbrenner, Kate

Uneasy Terrain: The Impact of Capital Mobility on Workers, Wages, and Union Organizing

Abstract

In May 2000, the United States Trade Deficit Review Commission contracted with Cornell University to conduct a study updating Cornell’s previous research on the impact of plant closings and threats of plant closings on union organizing campaigns in the U.S. private sector. Through surveys, personal interviews, documentary evidence, and the use of electronic databases, the Cornell researchers were able to collect detailed data on the extent, nature, and impact of plant closings and plant closing threats for a random sample of more than 400 NLRP certification campaigns that took place between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 1999. By examining the relationship between capital mobility and union organizing, this study conclusively demonstrates that capital mobility and the threat of capital mobility have had a profound impact on the ability of American workers to exercise their rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Date Issued

2000-09-06

Keywords

collective bargaining; ILR; labor; industrial relations; worker; wages; union; capital mobility; labor market; unemployment; employer; employee; United States; plant closing; private sector; Cornell; union organizing; American

Rights

Required Publisher Statement: Submitted to the U.S. Trade Deficit Review Commission. Copyright by the author.

Types

article