American Rights at Work releases The Labor Day List: Partnerships that Work each year to recognize successful partnerships between employers and their employees’ labor unions that are working well in the global economy.  While many companies profess that they must implement massive layoffs, slash benefits, employ temporary and cheap labor, and hire unionbusters to prevent workers from forming unions in order to remain profitable in today’s marketplace, the practices of businesses profiled in this publication suggest there is another way.

Defining New Standards for 21st Century Labor Relations

The list, a current snapshot of some of the nation’s most innovative partnerships, includes a cross-section of national and regional, private and public employers of various sizes, locations, and industries.  The featured trendsetters are bucking the current “race-to-the-bottom” trend while defining new standards for 21st century labor relations that balance profitability with workers’ needs and rights.

By fairly compensating employees and sharing decision-making responsibility with them through unions, these employers prove that embracing such a forward-thinking business model is a smart,ethical, and successful strategy.

Criteria

All Labor Day List employers have demonstrated a commitment to respecting workers’ freedom to choose union representation, and have negotiated good contracts with their employees’ unions.

Furthermore, profiled employers excel in at least one of the following key labor standards:

• Collaborating as equal partners with workers and their unions to craft innovative strategies on compensation, performance, and productivity to meet business goals and address challenges.
• Providing sustainable wages or progressive increases and worker-friendly benefits
• Creating new jobs and implementing employee-retention strategies
• Protecting workers’ safety and health
• Fostering diversity and inclusion in the workforce
• Offering training and professional development opportunities
• Contributing positively to the broader community

Socially Responsible Business Program

Launched in the summer of 2005, American Rights at Work’s Socially Responsible Business Program promotes awareness of socially responsible and ethical corporate labor practices. The Program engages forward-thinking business and labor leaders to develop and encourage sound policies and collaborative efforts that sustain workers, businesses, and society at large.  The Labor Day List: Partnerships that Work is a project of American Rights at Work’s Socially Responsible Business Program.

Nominations

Each Labor Day, American Rights at Work will profile a new list of employers that partner with their employees’ labor unions to empower their workforce.  To nominate an employer for the 2009 Labor Day List, contact:

American Rights at Work - Socially Responsible Business Program
1100 17th Street NW, Suite 950
Washington, DC 20036
srbprogram [at] americanrightsatwork.org

Please be sure to include your name, contact information, name of nominated employer, and the reason this employer should be considered. Submission deadline is April 1, 2009.