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Virginia Labor Studies Center
2001-2002 Annual Report
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VCU-School of Business
1015 Floyd Avenue, Suite 1113
Richmond, Virginia 23284-4000
(804) 828-7484 / 1-(800)-793-VLSC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF
SUMMARY REPORT
APPENDICES APPENDIX A - EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS APPENDIX
B – RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS Calvin Jamison,
C. Ray Davenport
Linda Derr The past year and the
foreseeable future will be difficult financial times for the Commonwealth of
Virginia. This has a direct impact on the Virginia Labor Studies Center (VLSC)
because the bulk of its budget comes from the State, with the support of the
State Legislature and the Governor. At the same time that labor/management
relations are strained by the downturn in the economy, the State must reduce
its support for programs that strengthen these relationships. Last year our
budget was reduced and the coming year the budget will be cut twenty-five
percent. This is typical of virtually all university related centers in the
state. The VLSC understands that when state revenues decline we must all
share the burden but it is unfortunate that it comes at the time that our
services are most needed. In spite of the financial difficulties, we have
still had an excellent year, as reflected in the following highlights.
However, the big cuts are just now being made. We will operate with fewer
students and consultants, less travel, and materials.
Dr. Robert Trumble, Director We will continue to work closely
with the Department of Labor and Industry, the Virginia Employment Commission
(VEC), labor and management organizations, and individual companies and
unions. More than ever, we will embark on joint efforts with those who are
engaged in strengthening labor/management relations. In particular, we will
assist those who wish to apply for grants and contracts from the State,
localities, foundations, non-profits, and the Federal Government. The VLSC
continues to seek partners in education, training and research in areas that
will enhance labor/management relations. In the coming
year we expect to conduct research for the Virginia Office of Commerce and
Trade, conduct educational programs with the Department of Labor and Industry
and the VEC, and hold collaborative training programs throughout the state.
In addition, we will complete research on health care benefits (the movement
from defined benefits to defined contributions), the temporary work sector,
and labor/management cooperation. Last year eight articles were either
published or accepted for journal publication. This year it is likely that
the volume will be reduced but the quality will continue. In this, our ninth-year of operations, we continued to
provide education, research and service activities in labor-management relations
throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. We expanded our visibility throughout
the Commonwealth through the enhancement of marketing materials and increased
marketing activities. Our goals of maintaining high quality educational
programs and research have remained consistent throughout our tenure. An
indication of quality programs is evident by organizations that invite us to
provide additional programs and recommend our services to others. It is also
evident when academic and trade publications continually publish our papers.
This year was no exception. The sections that follow describe the activities of the Center for the 2000-2001 fiscal year. These
activities were developed in response to discussions with members of our
advisory board, human resources and labor relations representatives, and the
Virginia Commonwealth University administration. We continue to focus on marketing the Center as a vehicle for
quality training and research in labor/management relations. This year we
extended our marketing efforts with the numerous group and individual
presentations with management and labor representatives throughout Virginia. We
also released a vibrant new brochure that highlights the center’s mission and
experience. An informational newsletter was published semi-annually this year.
This publication summarizes the activities of the center and highlights upcoming
workshops and research projects. Special attention is given to ongoing projects
and collaborative activities with other organizations.
We participated in the 2001 Virginia State SHRM Conference. Many sessions were
attended covering training and development and employment law. Attorneys and
human resource professionals discussed recent developments in federal and state
employment law, alternative dispute resolution, training, and employee
terminations. Annual EEO Day Conference sponsored by
the Urban League of Greater Richmond. The theme of the conference was the
changing workforce and featured presentations on managing multiple generations,
compensation issues during uncertain times and diversity. The Honorable Viola Baskerville of the Virginia House of Delegates, discussed diversity during a
keynote address. Our staff participated in the Governor’s Workforce Leadership Conference,
sponsored by the Virginia Workforce Council. The theme of the conference was
linking economic and workforce development to meet the challenges of Virginia’s
changing economy. Many workshops focused on high-tech recruitment,
telecommuting, apprenticeship programs, industry clusters and the local
workforce investment boards.
We attended a seminar sponsored by the University of Richmond on “Organizing
Women Workers” a discussion by Doris Crouse-Mays, State Director of Virginia
AFL-CIO. One topic of discussion was the unionization of service industries and
organizations that predominantly employ women. Additionally, the ratio of women
to men workers in the United States as well as the continued gender disparities
in areas such as workplace advancement and compensation and benefits were
presented. Emphasis was given on steps that labor organizers focus on to
include more women workers in collective action. Our staff attended the 2001 Conference on Virginias’ Future sponsored by the
Coalition for Virginia’s Future. The Commonwealth’s budget issues overshadowed
this years’ conference. There were however, some bright spots. Some of
which were present in the panel presentation on Uniting for a Common Goal which explored a range of solutions for
addressing Virginia’s strategic needs, and during Governor Mark Warner’s remarks. Our staff participated in the “Educating Virginia’s Workforce” seminar
sponsored by the Virginia Department of Business Assistance. Panel discussions
included presentations by representatives of public and private educational
institutions, as well as individuals from Infineon Technologies and Northrop
Grumman Newport News. Michael Schewel, Virginia’s Secretary of Commerce and
Trade gave the keynote address, which focused on the administration’s commitment
to developing a high-skilled workforce. He also expressed a greater emphasis
for vocational and technical education, including apprenticeship programs
through the Department of Labor and Industry. In an effort to become more integrated in current labor/management concerns and
be able to offer the most timely assistance possible, we attended several
monthly Central Labor Council meetings across the Commonwealth. Additionally,
we setup an information table at the Virginia State AFL-CIO Legislative
Conference. Labor representatives from across the Commonwealth received
materials on the Center’s activities and asked questions regarding future
programs.
The Center facilitated several education programs during the 2001-2002 fiscal
year. Our staff worked with various organizations throughout the year, including the
Communications Workers of America Local 2260, Dan River Industries, Goodyear
Tire and Rubber Company and the Virginia State AFL-CIO. A summary of these
programs is listed in Appendix A. Our staff continues to conduct research that
focuses on significant issues which human resources and labor relations
professionals encounter every day. As in the past, many of our papers are
published in leading professional trade and academic journals. This year our
research focused on CEO performance, employee stock ownership plans and
retirement benefits education. This year we have experienced a growth in our research. Angela DeLowell and Bob Trumble
authored two articles on connecting CEO performance to corporate performance.
One of these articles examines the issue on a national level while the second
addresses international organizations. Greg Lawson and Bob Trumble authored an
article that looks at the significance of behavioral finance and employee
financial education for retirement. A detailed list of our research activities
is located in Appendix B. Our staff continued
to work on three major projects this past fiscal year. They were the Department
of Labor and Industry’s annual VOSH conference, a co-sponsored symposium with
the University of Richmond that focused on the FTAA, and a joint venture with
Solomon Smith Barney on retirement planning. We assisted with the
coordination of the annual Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Conference.
John serves on the planning committee for this conference, which provides safety
and health education for Virginia’s employers, employees, and safety and health
professionals. This year’s session topics included: Virginia labor laws, job
safety analysis and voluntary protection program applications.
The Center co-sponsored “The Changing Labor Markets of the Western Hemisphere”
symposium with the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond.
This forum focused on the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas and was attended
by over 250 individuals and provided opportunity The keynote speaker was Mr. Richard W. Fisher former Trade Ambassador to Asia, Latin America
and Canada. Mr. Fisher discussed the benefits of the FTAA focusing on the
benefits of a free trade society. There were also two, four-member panels
consisting primarily of professors and attorneys. Some topics covered were, the
benefits of a free trade society, environmental integrity, and possible
alternatives to the FTAA. Considerable discussion was given to seasonal workers and ongoing litigation to oppose the
current draft of the FTAA on several points, as well as the debate over the
“success” of NAFTA. One such point raised was the issue of labor rights.
Mr. Palley, Assistant Director of Public Policy at the AFL-CIO spoke of four
issues that must be addressed by any trade agreement. They are: child
labor laws, workers’ right to freedom of association, forced labor and
discrimination in employment. The Center also co-sponsored the Mid-Atlantic Taft-Hartley Investment Conference with Salomon
Smith Barney. Dr. Trumble participated as a keynote speaker for this event.
One topic he covered was the importance of education for workers in managing
their retirement plans, thus providing the worker an adequate retirement fund
and the corporation with the knowledge that dedicated employees are cared for in
retirement.
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Kemper W. Baker, Jr.
Vice
President
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
City Manager
Edwin E. Blanks
Vice-Provost
Academic Administration
Virginia Commonwealth University
James R. Leaman
Secretary-Treasurer
VA State AFL-CIO
Commissioner
VA Dept. of
Labor and Industry
Oscar Giles
President
BCTGM, Local 203T
Phillip Morris USA
Ed Price
Director – Labor Relations
Dominion Resources Services, Inc.
Michael R. Earman
Vice President
United Food & Commercial Workers
Union Local 400
David L. Rineer
Director of Labor Relations & Human Resources
Northrop
Grumman Newport News
Dr. Robert R. Trumble, Director
Tracy A. Jolley, Program Coordinator
John T. Hutton, Program Manager
Angela DeLowell, Research Associate
Greg Lawson,
Coordinator, VEES
Cicily Marshall, Research Associate
Virginia Labor Studies Center
GOALS AND RESULTS
Our programs consisted of both open-enrollment and organization-tailored
programs. The emphases on these sessions were improving labor/management
relations through communication, occupational safety and health issues, and
employment law. 
for discussion with representatives on both sides of the issue.
Appendix
A: Education Programs
Weingarten Rights: Investigatory Interviews and Beyond. Ann C. Hodges, Esq., Professor of Law, University of Richmond facilitated three seminars that emphasized the National Labor Relations Act as it relates to protected ‘concerted activities’. In addition to the open-enrollment class offered, we provided classes for both the Communication Workers of America, Local 2201 and the United Auto Workers, Local 919. Ann discussed the recent DC Court of Appeals decision that upheld the National Labor Relations Board’s decision that nonunion employees, like union employees, have the right to request a representative at an investigatory interview which they reasonably believe might lead to disciplinary action. These rights are known as Weingarten Rights and were reviewed in both the union and non-union settings.
Professor Hodges went on to define and discuss concerted activity as outlined in the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). In most private sector organizations, whether union or nonunion, the NLRA covers certain concerted activities and is governed by the National Labor Relations Board. Section 7 of the act outlines the rights of employees, which include: the right to organize; to form, join or assist labor organizations; to bargain collectively; to engage in concerted activities…for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid and protection; and to refrain from any or all these activities.
Workplace Violence - General Awareness: Dr. Jan Thomas, CSP, EMT-B of Circle Safety & Health Consultants, LLC, discussed risk factors, crime prevention through environmental design, early warning signs and diffusion of violent behavior for the United Steelworkers Union, Local 831 at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Danville.
Improving Labor/Management Relations: Dr. Trumble served as facilitator to Dan River Industries and the United Food & Commercial Workers Union, Local 400 for meetings to improve labor/management relations. Some of the items covered include grievance procedures, building trust and improved communication.
Appendix B: Research and Publications
“The Complexities in Creating Career Ladders for Secretaries” Trumble, Robert R. and Eure, Shauniquea R. HR Advisor, Vol. 8 (no.1). This article focuses on the drawback within many organizations regarding the continued lack of advancement opportunities provided to office support staff, especially secretaries. With the increase in office automation and technological advancement in office support functions, the outlook of the secretarial and administrative staff should have improved.
“Connecting CEO Performance to Corporate Performance: Examining Intangible Metrics of Shareholder Value.” Trumble, Robert R. and DeLowell, Angela N. Journal of Compensation and Benefits, Vol.17, (no.6). This report outlines the conditions necessary to quantify, measure, and report performance on relevant tangible and intangible criteria and, perhaps, to draw a more substantial connection between executive compensation, corporate performance, and CEO influence.
“Employee Stock Ownership Plans: International Variations”, Trumble, Robert R. and Hawkridge, Karen. International HR Journal, Vol. 10 (no.1). This report examines the four points that can guide the decision of whether an ESOP will be successful. Those four points are: individualism vs. collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, quantity vs. quality, and power distance.
“Financial Valuation Techniques and Strategies: ESOP Complexities”, Trumble, Robert R. and Knight, David L. Valuation Strategies, Vol. 4 (no. 5). This article looks at the complexities of valuation of ESOP shares and discusses methods that could be applied to ensure fairness.
“Global CEO Compensation Analysis: Applying the CEO- Corporate Performance Model.” Trumble, Robert R. and DeLowell Angela N. International HR Journal, Vol. 11 (no. 2). This report discusses applying the CEO-Corporate Performance Model introduced in “Connecting CEO Performance to Corporate Performance” to international organizations.
"Retirement Benefits: Educational Complexities and Options" Trumble, Robert R. and Lawson, Gregory. Journal of Compensation and Benefits, May/June 2002. This article has been developed from research of area retirement benefits. It looks at the significance of behavioral finance, current employee financial education for retirement, and external tools and guides to facilitate this education.
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Virginia Labor Studies Center
1015 Floyd Avenue, Suite 1113 Richmond, VA 23284-4000 |
OFFICE: (804) 828-7484
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© 1999,
2000 School of Business, Virginia Commonwealth
University. All Rights Reserved |
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