5. Do ONE of the following:

2. With your counselor's and parent or guardian's approval and permission, visit the office or attend a meeting of a local union, a central labor council, or an employee organization, or contact one of these organizations via the internet. Then do the following:

1. Using resources available to you, learn about working people and work-related concerns. List and briefly describe or give examples of at least EIGHT concerns of American workers. These may include, but are not limited to, working conditions, workplace safety, hours, wages, seniority, job security, equal-opportunity employment and discrimination, guest workers, automation and technologies that replace workers, unemployment, layoffs, outsourcing, and employee benefits such as health care, child care, profit sharing, continuing education, and retirement benefits.
Resources: Job Insecurity Is Having a Significant Impact on a Majority of U.S. Workers' (54%) Stress Levels, (website)
The Biggest Worries and Concerns of Workers (website)
AI Reshapes the Future of Work: Who's Safe, Who's Not? (video)
Why Childcare Has Become So Unaffordable (video)
Burnout (website)
Robots Replace Humans—So, What Jobs Are Left for Us?(video)
Job Alert: New Study Highlights Increased Safety, Mental Health Concerns Among Workers (video)

3. Explain to your counselor what labor unions are, what they do, and what services they provide to members. In your discussion, show that you understand the concepts of labor, management, collective bargaining, negotiation, union shops, open shops, grievance procedures, mediation, arbitration, work stoppages, strikes, and lockouts.
Resource: Trade Unions (video)

4. Explain what is meant by the adversarial model of labor-management relations, compared with a cooperative-bargaining style.
Resources: Collective Bargaining: Meaning, Working, Objectives, Types and Examples (website)
Adversarial Bargaining (website)

6. Explain the term globalization. Discuss with your counselor some effects of globalization on the workforce in the United States. Explain how this global workforce fits into the economic system of this country.
Resources: The Impact of Gloalization on Labor Markets (website)
What Is Globalization? (video)
What Is Globalization? Understand Our Interconnected World (video)

7. Choose a labor issue of widespread interest to American workers—an issue in the news currently or known to you from your work on this merit badge. Before your counselor, or in writing, argue both sides of the issue, first taking management's side, then presenting labor's or the employee's point of view. In your presentation, summarize the basic rights and responsibilities of employers and employees, including union members and nonunion members.

8. Discuss with your counselor the different goals that may motivate the owners of a business, its stockholders, its customers, its employees, the employees' representatives, the community, and public officials. Explain why agreements and compromises are made and how they affect each group in achieving its goals.
Resource: Stakeholder Theory (website)

9. Learn about opportunities in the field of labor relations. Choose one career in which you are interested and discuss with your counselor the major responsibilities of that position and the qualifications, education, and training such a position requires.
Resources: Careers in Labor and Employment Relations (website)
What is Employee Relations? (video)

NOTE: The official merit badge pamphlets are now free and downloadable HERE or can be purchased at the Scout Shop.