Requirements
1. Using resources available to you, learn about working people and work-related
concerns. List and briefly describe or give examples of at least EIGHT concerns
of American workers. These may include, but are not limited to, working conditions,
workplace safety, hours, wages, seniority, job security, equal-opportunity
employment and discrimination, guest workers, automation and technologies
that replace workers, unemployment, layoffs, outsourcing, and employee benefits
such as health care, child care, profit sharing, continuing education, and
retirement benefits.
2. With your counselor’s and parent’s approval and permission, visit the office
or attend a meeting of a local union, a central labor council, or an employee
organization, or contact one of these organizations via the internet. Then do
EACH of the following:
(a) Find out what the organization does.
(b) Share the list of issues and concerns you made for requirement 1. Ask the
people you communicate with which issues are of greatest interest or concern
to them and why.
(c) Draw a diagram showing how the organization is structured, from the
local to the national level, if applicable.
3. Explain to your counselor what labor unions are, what they do, and what
services they provide to members. In your discussion, show that you understand
the concepts of labor, management, collective bargaining, negotiation,
union shops, open shops, grievance procedures, mediation, arbitration, work
stoppages, strikes, and lockouts.
4. Explain what is meant by the adversarial model of labor-management relations,
compared with a cooperative-bargaining style.
5. Do ONE of the following:
(a) Develop a time line of significant events in the history of the American
labor movement from the 1770s to the present.
(b) Prepare an exhibit, a scrapbook, or a computer presentation, such as
a slide show, illustrating three major achievements of the American labor
movement and how those achievements affect American workers.
(c) With your counselor’s and parent’s approval and permission, watch
a movie that addresses organized labor in the United States. Afterward,
discuss the movie with your counselor and explain what you learned.
(d) Read a biography (with your counselor’s approval) of someone who
has made a contribution to the American labor movement. Explain what
contribution this person has made to the American labor movement.
6. Explain the term globalization. Discuss with your counselor some effects of
globalization on the workforce in the United States. Explain how this global
workforce fits into the economic system of this country.
7. Choose a labor issue of widespread interest to American workers—an issue in
the news currently or known to you from your work on this merit badge.
Before your counselor, or in writing, argue both sides of the issue, first taking
management’s side, then presenting labor’s or the employee’s point of view.
In your presentation, summarize the basic rights and responsibilities of employers
and employees, including union members and nonunion members.
8. Discuss with your counselor the different goals that may motivate the owners
of a business, its stockholders, its customers, its employees, the employees’
representatives, the community, and public officials. Explain why agreements
and compromises are made and how they affect each group in achieving
its goals.
9. Learn about opportunities in the field of labor relations. Choose one career in
which you are interested and discuss with your counselor the major responsibilities
of that position and the qualifications, education, and training such a
position requires.
Resources:
Scouting.org Merit Badges - Requirements
boyscouttrail.com Merit Badges