Imminent Hanging Is the Title

¶ … Imminent Hanging

Is the title and author of the Journal Article listed in the Introduction paragraph?

In this essay, "An imminent hanging" by M. Crain published in the ABA Journal of Labor & Employment Law, 26(2), 151-160, the author provides a compelling argument in support of his thesis that current public and private sector efforts to minimize the role of collective bargaining in the 21st century workplace are eroding the hard-won gains that unions have managed to exact from skinflint employers who have an eye on profit and little regard for their workers' needs or wants. By creating an adversarial environment, controlling legislation such as the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) have only served to further exacerbate the "we-them" nature of management-labor relations today.

2.

Does the Introduction include a brief explanation of the article's topics, as well as a brief statement of the writer's opinion concerning the article?

In his introductory sections, the author cites several examples of how both legislative reform as well as a proactive approach by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) could help ensure that employees continue to have some voice in how their day-to-day lives are structured in the workplace. The author, though, also insists that most of the alternatives that have been advanced to date have been rejected by Congress or have met with resistance from other stakeholders. The situation in the United States stands in sharp contrast to countries such as Australia that have not experienced the same level of labor-management hostilities and Crain argues that unions have a "bad rap" because of some rare instances of violence rather than the actual nature of their efforts. For instance, Crain emphasizes that, "Unions' reputations as confrontational and adversarial organizations out to destroy the employer are part of the reason that many workers shun unions. It is human nature to align ourselves psychologically with the institutions in which we invest our time, sweat, and blood" (p. 152).

3.

Does the writer clearly convey the main points and conclusions listed in the Journal Article?

In reality, given the exhaustive background and sometimes-abstruse reasoning presented by the author, it is tempting to readily agree with his analysis that workers in the United States are in jeopardy of losing all say in how they are treated in the workplace without ongoing oversight by a benign federal government that is only concerned about everyone's best interests. For example, Crain writes, "No . . . law affords workers a direct voice in how their day-to-day work lives are structured" (p. 153).

4.

Is the summary clear and easy to follow?

To his credit, Crain provides counter-arguments and examples of how both labor unions and businesses have exploited the employment climate to their advantage, but his primary thesis remains that workers will continue to need some type of voice in their daily workplace lives, and that there continues to be a need for collective bargaining rights and legal remedies for their violation.