Monica Bielski Boris
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Abstract
This paper explores the relationship between engineers and unionism. Based on intensive interviews and archival analysis, I present a case study examining the efforts of unionized engineers at a large utility company in the western U.S. to impact an employerinitiated business transformation process through collective bargaining. While union representation addressed the engineers’ economic concerns and provided job security, enabling them to provide honest input regarding their company’s transformation process, the engineers were not able to influence the implementation of the process. This case highlights a limitation of U.S. industrial relations, the lack of influence unions have in impacting business strategy.
