Check-in starts 1/2 hour prior to the start time of your class. You should bring a blue card filled out properly for this class. If you are not familiar with how to fill out a blue card, you should familiarize yourself with Scoutmaster Bucky's "How To Fill Out A Blue Card" document. Click here for Scoutmaster Bucky's "How To Fill Out A Blue Card".  Remember it is a Scout's responsibility to take care of their own blue card from beginning to end.


Your Scout Uniform is required to be worn for attending this Merit Badge session.   If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact Brian Reiners; Scoutmaster Bucky via email or on the phone at 612-483-0665.

Reviewing the merit badge pamphlet PRIOR to attending and doing preparation work will insure that Scouts get the most out of these class opportunities. The merit badge pamphlet is a wealth of information that can make earning a merit badge a lot easier. It contains many of the answers and solutions needed or can at least provide directions as to where one can find the answers.  It is NOT acceptable to come unprepared to a Scoutmaster Bucky event.

You can (and should) use the Scoutmaster Bucky American Labor Merit Badge Workbook to help get a head start and organize your preparation work. You can download the Scoutmaster Bucky American Labor Merit Badge Workbook by clicking here.

It should be noted that this merit badge class is not meant for those who just want to come and see what they can get done. It is possible to complete this merit badge by being properly prepared and having done the preparation work prior to the class. Preparation is a MUST.


Things to remember to bring for this Merit Badge Class:

1. Merit Badge Blue Card properly filled out and signed off by your Scoutmaster
2. Your Registration Receipt
3. Scout Uniform
4. Scoutmaster Bucky Merit Badge Workbook for this merit badge printed out and preparation work filled in
5. Any additional supporting documentation or project work pertinent to this merit badge 
6. A positive Scouting focus and attitude

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, and retirement benefits.

   It is strongly recommended that Scouts use the Scoutmaster Bucky American Labor Merit Badge Workbook to assist in readying themselves for the class. Having written notes for all of the items required will prove to be beneficial when sharing their brief descriptions with the counselor and class. Scouts not choosing to prepare ahead of time may find it difficult to complete this requirement as well as many of the others.

2. With your counselor's and parent'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 EACH of the following

   1. Find out what the organization does.

   2. Share the list of issues and concerns you made for Requirement 1.  Ask the people you communicate with which issues are of greatest interest or concern to them and why.

   3. Draw a diagram showing how the organization is structured, from the local to the national level, if applicable.

   This requirement will NOT be completely covered in the class, HOWEVER time will be allotted for those Scouts who do the initial work prior to the class and will be given the opportunity to be able to present their work during the class to the counselor and other class participants.  NOTE: Scouts need to email their choice to Scoutmaster Bucky for approval from the Counselor prior to the class and meeting in order for proper credit.

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 (nonunion) shops, grievance procedures, mediation, arbitration, work stoppages, strikes, and lockouts

   Scouts should have this written out to show the counselor that some thought and research has gone into this requirement and Scouts should be prepared to explain their findings.

4. Explain what is meant by the adversarial model of labor-management relations, compared with a cooperative-bargaining style

   This requirement will be covered in class, however Scouts should have read the section in the merit badge pamphlet that references this subject and be prepared to help give explanation from their readings and research in the class in order to complete this requirement.

5. Do ONE of the following:

   1. Develop a time line of significant events in the history of the American labor movement from the 1770s to the present.

   2. Prepare an exhibit, a scrapbook, or a computer presentation, such as a slide show, illustrating three major achievements of the American labor movement and how those achievements affect American workers.

   3. With your counselor's and parent's approval and permission, watch a movie that addresses organized labor in the United States. Afterward, discuss the movie with your counselor and explain what you learned

   4. Read a biography (with your counselor's approval) of someone who has made a contribution to the American labor movement. Explain what contribution this person has made to the American labor movement

Scouts should choose one of the options in this requirement to work on prior to the class and bring their completed work to the class ready to share for completion.

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.

   Scouts should review this requirement and its components and be prepared to explain.  It is strongly recommended that Scouts bring any notes or supporting documents they may have to help show the counselor that they have prepared for explanation of these items.

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
   
   Scouts should be prepared to share their findings with the class and should be prepared with this requirement prior to the class.  1/2 of this requirement is preparation and research, the other 1/2 which will be facilitated in the class is the presentation.  Scouts cannot complete this requirement by only doing one or the other, both parts must be done. Scouts not coming to class with preparation work will find it difficult, if not impossible to complete this requirement on the day of the class.  Preparation is a MUST for this requirement along with active class participation.

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
   
   This requirement will be completed as a part of this class. Scouts should come prepared having reviewed the information in the merit badge pamphlet and be knowledgeable of the components of this requirement.

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
   
   Scouts should review this requirement and its components and be prepared to share their findings in class

this page last reviewed and updated - May 2011