The Impact Of Special Role Quilts On The Underground Railroad

To understand the special role quilts may have played in the Underground Railroad, we first have to understand the life and times of the people who lived during the years the railroad was running, approximately 1830-1862. These times were politically turbulent and impossible to summarize in a few brief paragraphs. This article should be considered an overview only. In the first year of the US Census, 1790, the United States of America consisted of 3.8 million people including 694,000 slaves scattered along the 16 states of the east coast. The issue of slavery was a thorny one for the new government. The 40,000 slaves in the northern states of CT, NJ, NY, PA and RI worked alongside free white men in cutting, burning, and clearing bush for cultivation. Southern slaves were vitally important to the economy of the southern states, which depended on the production of labor-intensive crops such as sugar, coffee, cacao, tobacco and rice. Southern states agreed to join the United States of America only on the provision that they were allowed to keep their slaves. Congress was well aware of the both the importance of southern crops to the economy of the United States and the importance of slave labor to the production of these crops. As the country expanded westward, provisions were made for slavery to continue. Yet as each new area was opened to slavery, the voices of abolitionists (anti-slavery proponents) got louder. As a compromise, An Act to Prohibit the Importation of Slaves

The Federal Program for Labor Management Free Essays

Employment has changed in the past decades because the world has changed. We’ve entered a new era, an era where the work ethic of employees, and more often the thinking and ethics of employers are many times questioned. The Federal Program for Labor Management has started as a way to provide for employees’ representation through chosen representatives, in collective bargaining with respect to personnel policies, practices and matters affecting working conditions. We will write a custom essay sample on The Federal Program for Labor Management or any similar topic only for you Order Now Also, it was created to ensure that employees who want to exercise this right and take an active part in this process have the chance to do so. The contemporary challenges in labor relations and human resources management include the care for employee rights, disciplinary policies and procedures, alternative dispute-resolution procedures, organizational ethics in employee relations or governmental regulation of labor relations. Not less important issues regard the labor relations process, structures, functions, and leadership of labor unions, the bargaining process and trends in collective bargaining, the labor agreement and administration of the labor agreement. All these form a complex discipline with the sole aim to make work relations more efficient and satisfactory for both parts. Labor relations are an important topic of human resources management. The labor agreement is a contract between a organization’s management structures and the its labor force, represented by unions, concerning aspects like wages, benefits and working conditions. Is comes in the form of written policies and procedures. The goal of this document is to create equitable work relations, in order to assure the workers’ social protection, preventing or diminishing the conflicts of interests and avoiding strikes. All aspects of the labor-management relationship are dynamic. The agreement has the role to bridge the gap between the interests of both sides. The terms of the contract are enforced by the steward (a representative of the union), acting like a policeman, constantly on the lookout. The labor agreements can be conceived at different levels: a single plant, a branch, a company or even nationally, each with its own pro’s and con’s. A master agreement is conceived for an entire company or branch, covering multiple site locations. There are several stages of a labor agreement to be discussed. First of all, the contract has to be negotiated. This is usually done once a year. Once a settlement has been made, the document has to be well understood by both parties. These requires detailed analysis of the clauses on both sides. The next step is administration. This is also the process of getting ready to renegotiate. The management must do everything in its powers to assure a reasonable and accurate administration of the contract, showing flexibility at the same time. Last but not least is the evaluation process, upon any renewal of the terms. Since most people are routine-oriented and tend to do in the future the same things they have been doing in the past, it is particularly important to look backward. Learning from history, in other words. This may guarantee successful planning of future actions. In the following, I will analyze each stage, individualizing the for and against arguments to having a master labor contract. The agreement is the written image of a give-and-take relationship. Within a company, the management faces the workers in a confrontation for the most benefits. The management has to satisfy diverse needs of the various audiences it must serve: the executive branch, the shareholders, the labor force, the public at large etc. The union’s major interest is to represent the employees. There are also dissimilarities between management goals and management structure and the aims and methods adopted by the unions, resulting in labor-management differences. Management usually wants to provide for a flexible work force that can respond quickly to mission needs. Labor, on the other hand, wants stability, security, and job protection for the worker. Management strives to stimulate competition among the workers and to identify the most efficient workers while the union works for the adoption of common work rules and methods of compensation or reward which tend to eliminate competition. What is, in this case, the better choice – to have separate union contracts for different plants or to have one master labor agreement? The negotiation table for a labor agreement resembles a battle field. Each participant fights for his own interest, throwing in all the weapons. Each side needs as much power as it can get. From a manager’s point of view it would be more advantageous to negotiate separate union contracts, as it faces a less powerful opponent. Power is determined by a number of factors. In the case on unions, size is the most important (size determined by the number of members). This is why with separate contracts the management may have an upper hand. But, on the other side of the coin lies a great expense of resources. Time and money are wasted when it comes to separate negotiations. However, the purpose is to maintain â€Å"industrial peace†, meaning that whatever the results of the negotiations, they must meet both sides’ exigencies. At the very heart of it, the labor agreement represents written policies and procedures created to ensure functionality and satisfaction. This is why negotiations are problem-centered; more time is spent on day-to-day problems than on defining abstract principles. Given the fact that current problems are usually very specific to a certain situation, it means that separated labor contract would have the advantage of dealing adequately with issues every time. A master agreement is in certain circumstances too general and irrelevant, leading to a variance between contract and practice. Although trying to cover all grounds in a written document is a lost cause, the contract has to be the foundation of the labor-management relationship, thus variances should be minimized. The aspects that escape the consideration of the negotiators have to be as few as possible. Another situation that may be encountered is a request for an increase of the wage at one of the plants. In the case of a master labor contract this would be resolved at a central level resulting in a waste of financial resources. But if the contracts were negotiated separately then the request could be met at an individual level. This would save money to the company. There are also other points to consider when deciding for a level of negotiation. Separate plants are located in different areas, characterized by different socio-economical factors. The area’s degree of development may influence the discussions, providing an extra set of arguments to one of the sides. The high unemployment rate, for example, turns the scale in favor of the employer, while a low one represents a vantage point for the union. Environment, the degree of education, the minimum wage, as well as other issues, add extra weight to one side of the balance. An investigation is required (such as an environmental analysis), in each particular situation, in order to determine the better choice. Regarding the administration of the contract there are a few aspects worth to be taken into consideration at this point. Separate contracts allow the management to deal with problems one at a time, whereas a centralization of the process reduces the degree of mobility and may even result in financial losses or crisis situations. It is true, no doubt about it, that it is easier to conduct one labor contract agreement for a number of plant locations. However, it is possible for the union to strike, closing down all the plants. As opposed to this undesirable situation, if you have separate contracts, the union can only strike one plant at a time, giving the management the time required to resolve the situation. Management must not take a unilateral action without first considering whether it has an obligation to discuss the action with the union. Matters of legitimate concern for the employees include: personnel policies, practices and working conditions. In these cases the management must provide the union an opportunity to negotiate. So, whenever the company wants to bring change into any one of these fields it has to consult the union and it the chance to express its position. In this case it is somewhat difficult to negotiate separate contracts. Bringing union representatives from each plant to the same negotiation table would require great synchronization and it would be a logistic nightmare. Also, to ease a smooth relationship with the employees, the management must inform them even concerning the changes that don’t have to be negotiated (retained management rights not subjected to negotiation). Another way management can help assure union understanding and, thus, facilitate efforts to properly administer the agreement, is to distribute brief explanations of at least the key parts of the agreement in order to avoid misunderstandings. Jointly prepared articles can be included in the installation bulletin and union paper. Similarly, labor and management can work together in the preparation of special bulletins explaining the contract as the situation demands. All these actions are easier to perform and less demanding in the case of a master labor agreement. Worker representation and participation in management, through the union, could plausibly increase productivity in one or both of two ways. In the first place, it could serve as a no pecuniary incentive for workers by reducing the monotony of work and enhancing the individual worker’s dignity and self-esteem. As a result, job satisfaction would be increased, and increased job satisfaction is allegedly conducive to higher productivity and lower unit costs. These would be even more true in the care of separate labor contracts. When the employees are represented by people they know or have a chance to meet and work with they will feel personally involved – an underlying bias in favor of â€Å"insiders†. This is also a way to increase employee loyalty. The evaluation process helps creating a better contract. In order to evaluate, the management has to communicate with the union members. Failure to â€Å"talk to the troops† is a problem that has been encountered with increasing regularity in the recent past in labor-management relations. Communications should take place regarding all actions affecting the work force. The management’s task is to make sure that the communications process works for, not against, management. There are two different aspects to be taken into consideration: the functional ones and the psychological ones. On a functional level, the communication process would be easier to sustain in the case of a master agreement, due to the fact that the management would deal with only a few union representatives. However, in the case of separate labor agreements, the communication would be more efficient because it would be more personal. The companies tend to be organized from the top down while unions tend to be organized from the bottom up. This is why the functional and the efficiency aspects of communication do not coincide in the two perspectives. How to cite The Federal Program for Labor Management, Essay examples

The Plague Essays (2718 words) - Plague, Epidemics,

The Plague Albert Camus The Plague, takes place in the desert town of Oran, Algeria, in northern Africa. It is the perfect setting for this story to take place. The ordinariness of Oran is contrasted with the extraordinary business of the plague. Sprintzen points out that There is a mythic significance of Oran. Given the previous description of the quality of Oranian life, the selection of Oran as the location for the outbreak of plague should not come as a surprise(Sprintzen 38). In Oran, life for its inhabitants has lost meaning. The plague offers them a chance to give meaning back to their lives. The plot of the story is revealed in five parts, over which we see the characters undergo changes. Through the Oranians attitudes towards death in The Plague, they go through stages, which leave them with a final hope for life. As the novel starts, the Oranians are completely unaware of what is happening or what is about to happen around them and therefore cannot possibly be aware of the coming plague. The opening portion describes mens individual actions in a city as yet not officially touched by the plague. Riley believes that First the people of Oran, and they are not extraordinary in this way, are characterized as making no effort to reach the true nature of each other, and, unaware of the reality of their world and it other inhabitants, they are unfit to become easily aware of the coming plague (Riley 93). The main focus of every person in Oran is himself. Everyone in Oran wishes to be an individual, to have none of the problems of the rest of the world. Sprintzen observes that The people dont want to be stuck in the same boat with someone else; each believes one mans problems are his own, while they truly affect everyone(Sprintzen 84). The emphasis on the habits which have been formed and cultivated b y the soulless people of Oran are significant. Vital living can be stifled by habits. Todd suggests that It is at this point that one should revolt against his stultifying pattern of living. Recognition of bottomless death makes a habit-bound life even more absurd(Todd 165). Considering that they are completely unaware of anything around them, it is easy to see that the disease captures the city completely by surprise; no one is prepared for it. Doctors gather to discuss the matter. They have trouble naming the disease at first, and refuse to accept it for what it is. This reflects the whole attitude of the town, as the citizens do they very same thing. Doctors in particular are the first attempt to combat the disease. The individual efforts are valiant but have a negligible effect. An epidemic is a problem, which belongs not to a person but to people. It becomes apparent, however that it cannot merely be one who must oppose the plague. No matter what the doctors do one their own, t hey cannot stop the dying. The number of victims lost to the plague climbs higher and higher. Sprintzen writes The Plague does, beyond any possible discussion, represent the transition from an attitude of solitary revolt to the recognition of a community whose struggles must be shared(Sprintzen 103). Yet slowly at first, people begin to die, and the citizens of Oran take notice. The residents of Oran do not need to worry about looking for society and its common welfare, as each of them is wrapped up in his own concerns. The citizens awareness of the plague, however, changes all of this. At the end of Part one, Plague is proclaimed. The second part of the book begins with the statement that from now on, it can be said that plague was the concern of all of us. Once the town gates are shut, the individual actions, emphasized in the first part of the book, give way to the more universal feelings of fear and separation shared by all. The town and citizens have moved to a point of awareness of the plague and whats going on around them. Riley claims that Then the brutal statistics awaken them, and they psychologically gird for battle(Riley 93). Throughout part one, there is a sense

Ch. 15 LO Essay Example

Ch. 15 LO Essay Example Ch. 15 LO Essay Ch. 15 LO Essay Learning Objective Chapter 1 5 LOI Decisions about technology and innovation are strategic, and managers need to approach them systematically. Assessing the technology needs of a company usually begins with benchmarking. Benchmarking compares the organizations practices and technologies with those of other companies. Then the company will look at the environment through scannings. These scannings focus on what can be done and what is currently being developed. Both of these practices still might not be enough to stay ahead of the innovation curve and use disruptive innovation which efers to a process by which a product, service or business model takes root initially in simple applications at the bottom of a market and them moves up market. Managers should make an effort to be aware of disruptive innovation that could potentially displace established competitors in their industry. L02 After managers have thoroughly analyzed their organizations current technological position, they can plan how to develop or exploit emerging technologies. Managers must consider several criteria when planning how to develop or exploit emerging technologies. To begin a manager must consider the market potential. Many innovations are stimulated by external demand for new goods and services. Next they should consider whether technological innovations are even feasible. After that they must carefully consider whether there is a good financial incentive for doing so. Then they must link technology and innovation strategies to their organizations core capabilities. Finally, a manger must decide whether to adopt technological innovations while also taking into account the culture of the organization, the interests of managers, and the expectations of stakeholders. L03 Developing new technology may conjure up visions of scientists and product evelopers working in research and development laboratories. In many industries, the primary sources of new technology are the organizations that actually use it. However, new sources can come from suppliers, manufacturers, users, other industries, universities, and overseas companies. Essentially, the question of how to acquire new technology is a make-or-buy decision which is the question an organization asks itself about whether to acquire new technology from an outside source of develop it itself. These questions include if it is important in terms of competitive advantage that the technology remain proprietary, are the time, skills, nd resources for internal development available, and is the technology readily available outside the company? The answers to these questions guide the manager to the most appropriate technology acquisition option. L04 Successful innovation is a lot more than a great idea. A study found that the lack of good ideas is hardly ever the obstacle to profitable innovation. Organizing for innovation involves unleashing the creative energies of employees while directing their efforts toward meeting market needs in a timely manner. Companies can unleash creativity y establishing a culture that values intrapreneursnip, accept and ven celebrate failures as a sign of innovation, and reinforce innovation through goal setting, rewards, and stories of creative employees. A powerful tool for managing technology and innovations is the development project. A development project is a focused organizational effort to create a new project or process via technological advances. These development projects typically feature a special cross-functional team that works together on an overall concept or idea. L05 Managers today want, or should want, their organizations to become world- class. Being world-class requires applying the best and latest knowledge and ideas nd having the ability to operate at the highest standards of any place anywhere. In order to get to world-class a company must build their organization for sustainable, long-term greatness. Great companies have strong core values in which they believe deeply, and they express and live the values consistently. They are driven by goals and have the ability to change continuously by driving for progress. A company must also replace the tyranny of the or with the genius of the and. The genius of the and is that multiple important goals can be achieved simultaneously and synergistically. World-class companies create high-value products and earn superior profits over the long run and that is what every company should be striving for. L06 Change happens, constantly and unpredictably. And competitive advantage you may have depends on particular circumstances at a particular time, but circumstances change. Effective change management occurs when the organization moves from its current state to a desired future state without excessive cost to the organization or its people. People dont like change for reasons such as inertia, poor timing, surprise, peer pressure, and management tactics. Motivating people to hange often requires three basic stages that include unfreezing, moving, and refreezing. Managers can also use education and communication, participation and involvement, facilitation and support, negotiation and rewards, manipulation and cooptation, and explicit and implicit coercion. Each approach to managing resistance has advantages and disadvantages. Finally, managers must lead the change in order to establish a sense of urgency to their peers in order to maximize efficiency. L07 Most change is reactive. A better way to change is to be proactive. Reactive change means responding to pressure after a problem has arisen. Preparing for an uncertain future requires a proactive approach. Proactive change means anticipating and preparing for an uncertain future. It implies being a leader and creating the future you want. People can proactively forge the future by being a shaper more than an adapter. An adapter takes the current industry structure and its future evolution as givens and choose where to compete. People can also actively manage their careers and their personal development, and become an active leader and a lifelong learner. Being willing to seek new challenges, and reflect honestly on success and failures is key to creating a successful future.

Eleanor, Queen of Castile (1162 - 1214)

Eleanor, Queen of Castile (1162 - 1214) Eleanor Plantagenet, born in 1162,   was the wife of Alfonso VIII of Castile, daughter of Henry II of England and  Eleanor of Aquitaine, sister of kings and a queen; mother of several queens and a king. This Eleanor was the first of a long line of Eleanors of Castile. She was also known as  Eleanor Plantagenet, Eleanor of England, Eleanor of Castile, Leonora of Castile, and Leonor of Castile. She died on October 31st, 1214.   Early Life Eleanor was named for her mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. As a daughter of Henry II of England, her marriage was arranged for political purposes. She was paired with King Alfonso VIII of Castile, betrothed in 1170 and married sometime before September 17, 1177, when she was fourteen. Her full siblings were William IX, Count of Poitiers; Henry the Young King; Matilda, Duchess of Saxony; Richard I of England; Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany;  Joan of England, Queen of Sicily; and John of England. Her older half-siblings were  Marie of France  and  Alix of France Eleanor as Queen Eleanor was granted control in her marriage treaty of lands and towns so that her own power was nearly as much as her husbands. The marriage of Eleanor and Alfonso produced a number of children. Several sons who were, in turn, expected heirs of their father died in childhood. Their youngest child, Henry or Enrique, survived to succeed his father. Alfonso claimed Gascony as part of Eleanors dowry, invading the duchy in his wifes name in 1205, and abandoning the claim in 1208.    Eleanor wielded considerable power in her new position.   Ã‚  She was also a patron of many religious sites and institutions,  including Santa Maria la Real at Las Huelgas where many in her family became nuns.   She sponsored troubadours to court.  She helped arrange the marriage of their daughter  Berenguela  (or Berengaria) to Leons king. Another daughter, Urraca, was married to the future king of Portugal, Alfonso II; a third daughter, Blanche or Blanca, was married to the future King Louis VIII of France; a fourth daughter, Leonor, married the king of Aragon (though their marriage was later dissolved by the church). Other daughters included Mafalda who married her sister Berenguelas stepson and Constanza who became an  Abbess. Her husband appointed her as ruler with their son upon his death, and also appointed her executor of his estate.   Death Although Eleanor thus became the regent for her son Enrique on her husbands death, in 1214 when Enrique was only ten, Eleanors grief was so great that her daughter Berenguela had to handle the burial of Alfonso. Eleanor died on October 31st, 1214, less than a month after Alfonsos death, leaving Berenguela as her brothers regent. Enrique died at age 13, killed by a falling roof tile. Eleanor was the mother of eleven children, but only six survived her: Berenguela  (1180 - 1246) - she married Conrad II of Swabia but the marriage contract was annulled. She married Alfonso IX of Leon, but that marriage was dissolved on grounds of consanguinity.   She became regent for her brother Enrique (Henry) I, and became Queen of Castile in her own right when he died in 1217. She abdicated right after that, and her son Ferdinand III of Castile brought together Castile and Leon.Sancho (1181 - 1181) - briefly heir to Castile, died at three monthsSancha (1182 - 1185)Enrique (1184 - 1184?) - heir during his very short life - there is some doubt that this child existed.Urraca - Urraca of Castile, Queen of Portugal (1187 - 1220), married to Afonso II of Portugal.Blanca -  Blanche of Castile, Queen of France (1188 - 1252), married the future Louis VIII of France, crowned Queen in 1223. She served as regent of France after Louis died and before their son was of age.Fernando (1189 - 1211). Died of a fever, heir to the throne at that time.Mafalda (11 91 - 1211). Betrothed to Ferdinand of Leon, stepson of her sister Berenguela. Constanza (1195 or 1202 - 1243), became a nun at Santa Maria la Real at Las Huelgas.Leonor - Eleanor of Castile (1200 or 1202 - 1244): married James I of Aragon but separated 8 years later, with consanguinity as the grounds.Enrique I of Castile (1204 - 1217). He became king in 1214 when his father died; he was only 10. He died three years later, struck by a tile that fell from a roof.

Fatigue and performance in aviation Annotated Bibliography

Fatigue and performance in aviation - Annotated Bibliography Example The second part of alert management focus on implementing information gained through research such as scheduled sleep, which will help in improving alertness of pilots. According to findings, scheduled naps have the potential of enhancing alertness to 100%, and increasing performance by 34% (Fiorino 2). This is a credible article published on Aviation Week & Space Technology, which is a reputable publication. In addition, the author constantly refers to information by Mark R. Rosekind, Rosekind is former NASA research scientist, and a consultant on Alertness Solutions, which means he has a good background on the issue of fatigued pilots in aviation, and thus, making the source credible. In addition, the source is objective as it draws information from various people and sources, rather than making personal assumptions. The author is a senior editor with this publication in Safety & Training category, thus, given the background she provides reliable information. This source relates with other sources in this bibliography because of its major focus on fatigued pilots. This source will be helping in my research topic by arguing that fatigue in pilots is the cause of airplane accidents. Thus, it engages in a similar conversation with the other sources, as well as give an insight into the solutions for combating fatigue of pilots. This article investigates the effect of long layovers and a short layover for pilots on sleep and alertness. The research carried out on pilots of Long haul airline reveals through mixed model regression analysis that the length of layover present no effect on inflight sleep, as well as ground based sleep. On the other hand, the study showed that a layover length impacts on the alertness of pilots. For instance, with short layovers, pilots exhibited high levels of fatigue and poor sustenance of attention. On the other hand, pilots who took long layovers were more attentive. According to the authors,

Athenian Proxeny Decree Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Athenian Proxeny Decree - Essay Example Whatever the authorities and the Greek leaders have in mind in the granting and institution of proxenia is the concern of this paper. The researcher shall attempt to make a comprehensive discussion of what the word really means. It shall trace its origin and the significance of its institution in the history and the struggle of Athens as an imperialist empire. Specifically, this paper shall deal with the political implication of the word by answering the following questions: (1) How did proxenia help to articulate the relations between Athens and her allies (2) How do the extant proxeny decrees enhance our understanding of proxenia And (3) What specific problems of interpretation do the epigraphically attested proxeny decrees present This paper is a significant study as it shall provide the students better understanding of what proxenos means. It also provides understanding of the significance of proxeny decrees and the impact of such to the early societies of Athens and its allies. The rationale of the proxeny decrees shall be unraveled which provides the researcher rich understanding as regards to what Athens want to achieve from its allies for the good of its people and for the great elader of Athens. Most importantly this study is significant to the society as it shall be able to provide some theories that other researchers can use in conducting deeper studies not only of Athenian Proxeny decrees but on the political and cultural life of the Athenians. Proxenia in the Articulation of Athens Relations with her Allies As Athens rose to its imperialistic power it was necessary to hold on to many of its allies. It needed to make peace with different nations such that of Persia. It needed to make Sparta recognize the 30 years of peace. It needed to establish alliances to different countries in order to win several wars. Athens implemented policies that could not only reform its own cities but it also made changes on policies concerning their foreign activities however, these provoked war and affected many of its intimate allies as they were called to fight and play their roles in the battles. Athens at that point needed to have people who would be more concerned in establishing good relationship with other nations. Proxeny decrees were found out for instance to have entered into by several nations to be come allies of the Athenian empire. Athens created and imposed several proxeny decrees creating the proxenos and granting such individuals several privileges making sure that they would serve Athenian empire with utmost loyalty. Having served for the glory of the Athenian empire proxeny decrees were later established to honor and grant privileges to these foreign benefactors. Oaths of allegiance were also imposed on defeated allies. As regards to their enemies and allies that turned against the Athenian empire proxy decrees were also imposed depriving them of opportunities for better political and economic standing. Mattingly (1996) described explicitly in his book the plight of Chios that remained "autonomous" ally of the Athenian empire but when they begun to build a new wall that brought suspicions to the powerful Athenian empire, they were told to put down the wall to which they complied with