For Contractors, Who's the Boss?

In a decision that’s been called the greatest expansion of union rights in decades, the National Labor Relations Board has ruled that if a corporation uses contractors or franchisees, contract workers who unionize can negotiate with the parent company and their direct employer. Previously, unions could often only deal with the contractor or franchise owner, greatly limiting their bargaining power. Critics of the ruling say it unfairly makes corporations responsible for workers they haven’t hired and conditions over which they have no control.

Should companies have responsibility for all contract workers, even if they don't employ them directly?

Responses:

Companies Must Take Responsibility for All Workers
Ruth Milkman, sociologist

An Impractical and Dangerous Ruling
Marshall B. Babson, employment lawyer

A Fair Decision That Reflects Globalization and Technology
Tamara L. Lee, professor of labor studies

A Trade-Off for Large Franchises and Companies
Arturs Kalnins, professor of hotel administration