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What Is the Future of “Alt‐Labor” Groups?
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
management report for nonunion organizations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1530-8286
pISSN - 0745-4880
DOI - 10.1002/mare.30272
Subject(s) - labor relations , service (business) , citation , politics , labor union , political science , business , public relations , labour economics , marketing , economics , law
Worker advocacy groups that aren't unions are often called alt‐labor. They have the goal of improving working conditions, but more often through political and community pressure rather than through the usual path of National Labor Relations Board elections. Although their names and specific issues change, these groups are continuing to develop. Management views the so‐called “independent” alt‐labor groups as proxies for Big Labor, as a way for unions to gain information that can be used for more traditional organizing in industries such as food service, retail, and other largely nonunionized workforces. The largest and best known of these alt‐labor groups, OUR Walmart and Fight for $15, were, in fact, funded by the nation's largest union, the Service Employees International Union. It has said it no longer funds OUR Walmart but is active in Fight for $15.