Union Terminology

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

FLSA:

See Fair Labor Standards Act.

FMCS:

See Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

FMLA:

See Family and Medical Leave Act.

Free Riders:

Used in an open shop to refer to non-union members who receive all the benefits derived from collective bargaining without paying union dues or equivalent fees.

Front Loading:

The concentration of wage and benefit increases in the beginning of a contract.

Garnishment:

Deductions made by an employer from an employee's wages and rendered to a creditor of the employee.

General Strike:

A strike by all or most organized workers in a community or nation.

Geographic Wage Differentials:

Differences in wage rates based upon locations of plants or industries.

Good Faith Bargaining:

Negotiations in which two parties meet and confer at reasonable times with open minds and the intention of reaching agreement over a new contract.

Grandfather Clause:

A contract provision specifying that employees on the payroll before a specified time will retain certain rights and benefits even though newer employees are not entitled to these rights.

Grievance:

Any type of worker dissatisfaction including violations of the collective bargaining agreement, violations of law, violations of employer policies, violations of fair treatment, and violations of past practices. The definition of a grievance is usually part of the contract, and therefore may vary from one contract to another.

Grievance Procedure:

A procedure usually established by a collective bargaining agreement to resolve disputes, problems or misunderstandings associated with the interpretation or application of the collective bargaining agreement. It consists of several steps with the last step of the procedure, usually being arbitration.

Group Grievance:

A grievance signed by many people in a workplace in order to show management that members as one in their opposition to a management's action.

Hiring Hall:

The process of the union dispatching workers to employers as needed. A hiring hall may be operated by a union alone or by an employer and union jointly. Hiring halls are monitored by the government to help prevent favoritism.

Homework:

Work by workers who produce goods for an employer in their home, from materials furnished directly or indirectly by the employer.