Unions & Recruitment

Posted on July 30, 2007
Filed Under Online Recruiting, Construction, Union, Job Growth, War for Talent |

Over the years I have learned that each union operates differently, based on their relationship with management. One of the biggest variances is “Ultimately, who is responsible for the recruiting function?”

Let me give you some examples:

Nurses (SEIU) - Does not assist in any level of recruiting nurses for the hospitals. Recruiting is a pure function and responsibility of management. After a nurse accepts a job, he/she is expected to join the union.

Teachers (CCEA) - Just as with the SEIU, does not assist in any level of the recruiting function. They simply are the recipient of dues after management recruits.

Electricians (IBEW) - Is 100% responsible for the recruitment of electricians. All must go through the apprenticeship (NJATC) program prior to joining.

Food Servers/Bartenders, etc. (Culinary) - The largest union in Nevada was once responsible for 100% of the recruiting function, using the union hall as the labor pool that management was required to draw from. Throughout the 1990s that responsibility shifted more to management as the union halls ran dry and casinos needed new wells of human capital.

So what impact does this have on a labor-management relationship?

Considering we are all facing a war for talent in the very near future, the cost of talent acquisition and the immediate demand will be the determining factor. Using construction as an example - when the union halls run dry of talent, will management assume the recruiting function because they have construction deadlines that need to be met, regardless of the cost? Or will they just succumb to the mandatory overtime at above prevailing wages driving up the cost of construction even further?

I am anxious to see.