Labor - Management Relations 367
to grow and the salaries for many of the paraprofessional and service posi-
tions remain stagnant, unions probably will be aggressive in attempting to
recruit new members. Not only is the American Nurse Association actively
organizing health care employees; so are unions not typically associated with
health care, such as the United Automobile Workers; United Food and
Commercial Workers; Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Unions;
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees ’ Inter-
national Union; SEIU; and the American Federation of Teachers. For
example, eleven different unions within the AFL - CIO represent nurses.
The increasing privatization of social and human services will also
affect the growth of unions in nonprofit organizations. As more and
more public services become privatized and former public employees
enter nonprofi t agencies, nonprofi t managers can expect to see an increase
in union activities.
Former state and local government employees such as social workers,
case managers, mental health therapists, psychologists, and juvenile justice
workers are attractive targets for union organizing activities. Workers in
these positions often are responsible for caseloads that exceed the recom-
mended maximums stated in professional standards, confront stressful
situations daily, are required to work overtime on a regular basis, and often
lack adequate health and retirement benefi ts.
Conclusion
Union contracts with public and nonprofi t agencies recognize that new
issues have emerged and that labor - management understanding and coop-
eration are important. The uncertainty of many workplace changes has
shaken the confi dence of many employees that their jobs are secure and
their wages will remain competitive. Uncertain economic times, decreases
in health care benefi ts for many workers, an increase in the temporary
workforce, and reduced or lost pensions have contributed to increased
insecurity in the labor market that is now affecting many public and non-
profi t organizations. Changes in the labor market coupled with ineffective
and sometimes arbitrary and unfair management often lead employees to
unionize when they feel threatened.
The future of the labor movement will hinge on its ability to reach out
to new constituencies and collectively develop a new agenda for political
action. Women, persons of color, and new immigrants typically work in the
service sector and might benefi t by joining a union. The AFL - CIO, SEIU,
