This Week's Herman Trend Alert The Consequences of Virtual Meetings

The Herman Trend Alert January 27, 1999 The Future of Labor Unions For years, labor unions have focused on issues like pensions and job security. The workforce is changing. The interests and desires of today's workers are significantly different than those that fueled the organized labor movement. Tomorrow's workers will move even further away from the motivations that were the very foundation of unions. So, what does this say about the future of organized labor? We predict the movement will wane. Unions will have a difficult time adjusting to the new conditions, so their influence and membership will shrink. Unfortunately, some unions will push employers to the wall with their last gasp, desperately struggling to assert themselves. Result: some employers will be forced to negotiate with unions that refuse to shift from adversarial to collaborative relationships. Both parties will lose as companies are forced out of business because they can't compete. Workers will lose, to--temporarily. They'll find other employment quickly, though probably at a reduced income level. These workers may be bitter. Accustomed to an artificially high standard of living, they won't be happy earning less money. Many of them won't understand . . . and may hear negative self-serving messages from disempowered union leadership. WARNING: Expect some workplace violence as workers, feeling cheated, seek some sort of revenge. Anticipate some family difficulties, too. Most workers will do all right; people who have been union members have a resilience that will see them through once they're on their own. Some unions will simply shrink. Others may implode under their own weight. But, there are some interesting alternative possibilities. Unions can provide a guild-like training and placement service for members. They'll have to aggressively add value for their members to hold them when unions no longer negotiate for better jobs or working conditions. Union leadership and staff will have to learn customer [member] service-not something they've been known for in the past. Unions may also become third party administrators of benefit plans. As we move to an era of portable benefits, there could be a bountiful opportunity for unions in the future. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: RETENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAM A growing number of people have expressed an interest in attending our Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program. We'd like to schedule on that's convenient for those who want to attend, but need your feedback to do so. Please place RETENTION SPECIALIST in the subject line and Joyce will personally call you back to schedule the workshop. Or you can call Joyce directly at 336-210-3548 (PDT this and next week). BUSINESS IS PICKING UP Most employers are unprepared. The recovery will bring a new set of challenges for employers that have been in prolonged contracted mode. They will need more skilled workers or will need now to begin to upskill their current staffs. But organizations can not engage in Strategic Workforce Planning, when they don't know how. That's where The Herman Group can help. We can help you with your "People Review"----large or small---so that you will know who you will need and when you will need them. . . and we can also guide you to the best sources for the people you will need. For more information, call Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail joyce@hermangroup.com. FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL Discover what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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