United Steel Workers of America and Kaiser Aluminum Essay Example for Free

United Steel Workers of America and Kaiser Aluminum Essay The issue of discrimination has pervaded many aspects of social life. Women, minorities, and unwanted individuals usually suffered from either institutional or bigot discrimination. Because discrimination rests on the twin principles of racial superiority (or its equivalent, the so-called ‘white man’s burden’) and conservatism, it usually transcends beyond what is perceived and indicated. Discrimination, therefore, is sometimes not evident and consequential. Discrimination is the direct manifestation of behavior and psychological outlook of individuals, groups, and even institutions. Thus, discrimination can virtually be found in all aspects of social life – in the family, in the workplace, and in government – so long as the society in general promotes discrimination both on the individual and institutional levels. Case Summary In 1998, the Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation and the United Steelworkers of America engaged in bargaining which led to prolonged and almost intractable labor dispute. On September 18, 2000, the two-year strike ended, after a binding arbitration. About 3000 workers were involved in the strike. Five plants were affected. The major issues which lead to the dispute are as follows: 1) the company decided to allow budgetary cuts in bargaining unit jobs; 2) there was substantial elimination of supplemental and local agreements; and 3) there was a proposal which reserved 50% of the available jobs in the company to African-Americans. Kaiser argued that it needed to institute several productivity improvements because it was a medium-sized aluminum producer facing tight competitive issues. However what enraged the union is the proposal which reserved 50% of the available jobs in the company to minorities, especially African-Americans. The proposal was generally beneficial to the company because it could theoretically replace union-affiliated employees with employees of minority background. The union saw the move as a general alibi for budgetary cuts in bargaining job units. The Ethical Issue From a moral point of view, the proposal is justified. The proposal not only dispenses distributive justice (this is justice based on opportunity) but also allows affirmative action on the part of the employees. It can therefore be argued that the proposal is an extension of the equal opportunity clause of economic liberalism. By reserving 50% of available jobs to African-Americans, the proposal is essentially increasing the marginal opportunity of such group with respect to other groups. The counterargument which states that ‘the proposal induces discrimination on the part of whites (reverse discrimination)’ is wholly inaccurate. The proposal only decreases the opportunities available to whites; it does not impinge on the right of the whites to equal employment. Perhaps, it may be helpful to employ a historical point of view in analyzing the validity and soundness of the counter argument. For almost three centuries, the minorities (especially the African-Americans) suffered from economic inequities. Many of them were underemployed, underpaid, and to some extent overworked. It may be argued that the proposal is a good-to-fit move to decrease such economic marginality. It may be viewed as a move in improving both economic (opportunities) and social justice (overall standing in society). Deontological Point of View From a Kantian point of view, the proposal has moral universal standing. A proposal which dispenses distributive justice is a general universal ethos. Categorically speaking, the proposal does not in any way put groups into the same categorical ethos. Rather, the proposal is a general tool for evaluating justice of any type – it promotes justice which ought to be directed to particularities – groups, individuals, and institutions. Hence, from Kant’s view, the proposal is simply a manifestation of a universal value.

Legalization of Prostitution Essay -- Prostitution Should Be Legal

Prostitution, considered one of the oldest professions in the world, was legal until 1915 when most states passed laws making it illegal. One of the main reasons for the prohibition of prostitution was to keep soldiers out of the brothels so they would stay focused on the war. After WWII, lawmakers left the prohibition laws in place instead of repealing them. Prostitution should be legal, regulated, and taxed. This would increase the quality of police protection, reduce waste in the judicial system, decrease the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and increase federal tax revenue. By legalizing and regulating the act of prostitution, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) will decrease. Opponents of legalization believe that STD’s will increase substantially. However, licensed brothels will be required to enforce testing for STD’s. Implementing weekly sexually transmitted disease testing for all licensed workers will reduce the likeliness of spreading diseases to multiple partners. Also, having laws in place to enforce condom use by stating that anyone (worker or customer) caught not using protection will be arrested, fined, and will lose their license to work, will ensure the reduction of the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Brothels are legal in ten of the seventeen counties in the state of Nevada. Those counties are, Churchill, Esmeralda, Pershing, Storey, Lander, Lyon, Humboldt, Elko, White Pine, Mineral, and Nye Counties., â€Å"In those ten counties combined, there are fewer reported cases of STD’s than the other seven counties in the state† (Nevada State Health Division STD Program 2013). The Nevada State Health Department collects data concerning sexually transmitted diseases from every d... ...port groups, and attending protests, the legalization of prostitution can ensue. Works Cited â€Å"Nevada brothels want to be good neighbor† Associated Press. 10 May 2014. 11 April 2015. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7805733/ â€Å"STD Statistics† Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. 2011. 11 April 2015. http://health.nv.gov/CD_HIV_STDProgram.htm#stats Puzzanchera, C., B. Adams, and W. Kang "Easy Access to FBI Arrest Statistics 1994- 2012" Online (2009). 11 April 2015. http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/ezaucr/ â€Å"Prostitution Related Arrests† Arlington Police Department, 2014. 11 April 2015. http://www.arlingtonpd.org/Prostitution/ProstitutionArrestsFebruary.pdf Cundiff, Kirby R., â€Å"Prostitution and Sex Crimes† The Independent Institute, 8 April 2014. 11 April 2015. http://www.independent.org/pdf/working_papers/50_prostitution.pdf

Information system theory Essay

Information system theory describes about the theoretical knowledge of computer sciences. It is system that process the knowledge related to a particular study. The information system theories effectively contribute in creating, building, compiling, organizing and transferring data into the information to make better results from the research. There are several IT theories that can be used to get good outcomes such as agency theory, game theory, organizational information processing theory and knowledge-based theory of the firm (Lerner, 2004). The data, information and knowledge are quite similar words that are used in the firm. All these words have different meaning due to their use in the IT theories (Nickerson & Zenger, 2004). Data refers to the records that are used to refer the statistical observation and collection of components. Thus, data is the collection of evidence that is used to record for the purpose of firm. On the other hand, information is the process that is used in different forms. Generally, information is considered as the meaningful data that are appropriately converted and managed by the organizational managers with the use of conversion process. It is perceived as potentially signifying something and a process of informing that is used to develop sustainable resources. †¨At the same time, knowledge describes about what someone knows, what they believe etc. Knowledge is the relationship between data and its elements that are collected from the information. Thus, knowledge is proper collection of information that is useful for the organizational purpose to attain competitive advantage and superior performance. In a real world situation, it can be described that when anyone memorizes any information, then it combines the knowledge (Liew, 2007). Knowledge also has useful meaning for the information that is settled in the mind of a human. In computer phrasing, all the application contains stored knowledge that is exercised by applicants. From the list of IT theories, knowledge-based theory of the firm is selected as an IT theory. This theory contains the  most important strategic resource of the firm that is information. Information is the processed data that is converted into the data to use in a firm. The supporter of this theory argued that it is a quite difficult and socially complex theory to sustain competitive advantages and superi or corporate performance from the market (Leonard & Swap, 2005). This theory is based on the heterogeneous knowledge and information of the firm. In this theory, the firm to take strategic actions effectively uses knowledge. Information is gathered by the organization from the organizational people. The data is quite applicable in the knowledge-based theory of firm, because data is the important part of the organizational processes. These data are used by the organization to make identity, policies, routines, documents, systems for the organization and its employees. The data is recorded and reported by the organizational people (Leonard & Swap, 2005). The subordinates provide this data to its superior that is maintained by the top managers. For example, all the firms use the financial and accounting data to take further data. Strategic management is another way that develops and expands the resource-based view of the firm (Levinson, 2007). Thus, it requires the data as well as information to improve the knowledge based on the resources. All three terms are different from each other due to use in the knowledge based management theory. It is because knowledge can be memorized, but data cannot be memorized since it is not properly managed by anyone. The knowledge provides the effe ctive results by applying knowledge-based theory of firm. At the same time, organization uses the information by converting organizational data into information form (Liew, 2007). References 1. Leonard, D. & Swap, W. (2005). The Knowledge Coach. HBS Working Knowledge. Retrieved March 6, 2012 from: http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/4562.html. 2. Lerner, V.S. (2004). Introduction to information systems theory: concepts, formalism and applications. International Journal of Systems Science archive, 35 (7), 1-10. 3. Levinson, M. (2007). Knowledge Management Definition and Solutions. Retrieved March 6, 2012 from http://www.cio.com/article/print/40343. 4. Liew, A. (2007). Understanding Data, Information, Knowledge And Their Inter-Relationships. Journal of Knowledge Management Practice, 8 (2), 1-8. 5. Nickerson, J.A. & Zenger, T.R. (2004) A Knowledge-Based Theory of the Firm: The Problem Solving Perspective. Organization Science 00 (0), 1-16.

Search Of Our Mothers Gardens By Alice Walker - 1743 Words

â€Å"In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens† (Summarize the Story) In Search of Our Mothers Gardens is a collection of autobiographical short stories of Alice Walker that focus on Walker s understanding of the difficulties and hardships that black women had to endure in the past. Alice Walker’s point to the reader that black women were not able to show their creativity in society. They had no opportunities, careers, or jobs to show what they were capable of doing. Women were not allowed to express their creativity and intelligence through art and writing. She write that women were unaware of their potentials, at that time they thought they were nothing more than bodies that were used for hard labor work or getting pregnant. Despite oppression, African-American women of the past were able to overcome obstacles by taking on the role of artists. They relied on their creative spirits to carry them through their wretched existence. In Alice Walker’s essay â€Å"In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens,† she explains how the mothers and grandmothers of her generation held on to their dignity and strength through their expression of creativity. The boldness represented by this creativity shows the dynamic depth of their souls and the courage they found within it. Walker gives examples of some of these women in her essay and uses this method to effectively express her point. Women such as Mahalia Jackson, Elizabeth Catlett, and Frances Harper were able to rise above negative circumstances from theirShow MoreRelatedSearch Of Our Mother s Garden By Alice Walker1368 Words   |  6 PagesAlice Walker’s essay, â€Å"In Search of our Mother’s Garden† describes the violence towards African American women during the time of slavery and post Reconstruction Era in the United States and the grave, but not permanent, mark this suffering has left on these women. The author first mentions Jean Toomer, a black poet, who notices the toll of this assault. He describes seeing these women, but observing that a part of them was missing and stolen from them because of the physical and sexual abuse theyRead MoreAnalysis Of Alice Walker s Search Of Our Mother s Gardens Essay1910 Words   |  8 PagesMuch of Alice Walker’s work, including ‘In Search of our Mother’s Gardens’ is an expression of her thoughts and ideas on the subject of black history and with it explores racism, oppression, slavery, self-identity, freedom, enlightenment and independence. She writes about the scope of her history as a black woman, both personally and through the past experiences of her ancestors. In an interview with John O’Brien, when asked what determines her interests as a writer she responded stating â€Å"I am preoccupiedRead MoreWomen of Creativity in Virginia Woolf ´s Shakespeare ´s Sister and Alice Walker ´s In Search of Our Mother ´s Garden1164 Words   |  5 Pagesmargins. In response to Woolf, African American novelist Alice Walker wrote In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens to offer a theory of black female creativity. Though Walker agrees that all gifted women faced troubles when attempting to express themselves creatively, she argues that African American and Caucasian women faced different types struggles due to their race. Nevertheless, though they sometimes differ and are sometimes similar, Woolf and Walker both offer an in depth analysis of a gifted woman, strugglingRead More Alice Walker Essay662 Words   |  3 Pages Alice Walker nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Alice Walker is an African American essayist, novelist and poet. 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It is an essay primarily written to inform the reader about the history of African American women in America and how their vibrant, creative spirit managed to survive in a dismal world filled with many oppressive hardships. This piece can be read, understood, and manage to conjure up manyRead MoreEssay Art and All in Our Mothers Gardens1024 Words   |  5 Pagesand All in Our Mothers Gardens      Ã‚   Alice Walker uses Virginia Woolfs phrase contrary instincts to describe the creative spirit that her female ancestors revive spirit that her female ancestors revered while working and living in oppressive conditions.   Her mother had a difficult life, but she managed to keep her creative spirit alive.   She held onto what she could in the simplest ways.   Where there was a will there was a way.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Walker explains that her mother, though tiredRead More Alice Walkers In Search of Our Mothers Gardens and Virginia Woolfs A Room of Ones Own1342 Words   |  6 PagesAlice Walkers In Search of Our Mothers Gardens and Virginia Woolfs A Room of Ones Own It is interesting to contrast the points of view of Alice Walker and Virgina Woolf on the same subject.  These writers display how versatile the English language can be. Alice Walker was born in 1944 as a farm girl in Georgia. Virginia Woolf was born in London in1882. They have both come to be highly recognized writers of their time, and they both have rather large portfolios of work. The scenes they mightRead MoreMary Wollstonecraft s A Vindication Of The Rights Of Woman1489 Words   |  6 Pageshabits. It is sort of like if you can’t beat them, join them. Wollstonecraft states that, â€Å"†¦men who, considering females rather as women than human creatures, have been more anxious to make them alluring mistresses than affectionate wives and rational mothers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (17). Regardless of what women do there will always be men who will continue to degrade and discourage rational, intelligent, and freethinking women. Humans have been around for thousands of years, ye t men still disgrace. In my point of view, she