Case Study #4

Case #4 – Union Organizing at SGA Industries

Provide an executive summary of your analysis of the HR-related issues in the case, and your recommendations for SGA in moving forward (see question #5).

Based on the reasons articulated in our text relative to “why employees unionize,” assess the situation at SGA. What are the drivers of the unionization effort?

According to the unionization steps outlined by the NLRA and delineated in our text, what are the steps that need to take place for the ACTWU to be officially elected as the collective bargaining agent of SGA’s manufacturing employees? Which key step has apparently already occurred?  Which steps have yet to be completed?

1. Assess the steps taken by SGA to combat the unionization effort according to the “behavior during organizing campaigns” content in our text and related table attached to the case. Which of SGA’s actions are legal and strategically sound, and which are potentially illegal and strategically unsound?

Assume that you are in White’s position, and assume that the election has occurred and the union has lost. How do you move forward to “heal” from the unionization effort and improve the strategic HR practices of SGA as a means of avoiding yet another unionization effort in the future?