Please be courteous and arrive early for registration and instructions PRIOR to your scheduled class start time. Remember that your Scout uniform is required to be worn when attending.
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 organize your preparation work. Please note that the use of any workbook is merely for note taking and reference. Completion of any merit badge workbook does not warrant, guarantee, or confirm a Scout's completion of any merit badge requirements. Merit badge counselors may refuse to accept workbooks, but they are NEVER allowed to require their use.
The merit badge pamphlet has a wealth of information that provides valuable insight and clarification and can make earning any merit badge a lot easier. Doing preparation work and reviewing the merit badge pamphlet PRIOR to attending will ensure that Scouts get the most out of these class opportunities.
If you have any additional questions or need further clarification, please feel free to contact Brian Reiners (Scoutmaster Bucky) via email at scoutmasterbucky@yahoo.com or via cell phone at 612-483-0665.
Things to remember to bring for this merit badge class:
- Your BSA ID # (not your Scoutbook ID #)
- If you do not have your BSA ID # (or did not provide it with your online registration) you will need a Merit badge blue card properly filled out and signed off by your Scout Leader
- American Labor Merit Badge Pamphlet
- Scout uniform
- Supporting documentation or project work pertinent to the American Labor merit badge, which may also include a merit badge workbook for reference with notes
- A positive Scouting focus and attitude
If you are unfamiliar with the Blue Card Process, please read and understand the Scoutmaster Bucky Blue Card Process.
Scoutmaster Bucky Online Class links will be sent out 12 to 24 hours prior to the class start time. Notification will be sent to the email address provided in the registration, so please make sure your email is correctly entered.
Please be courteous and arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the scheduled class start time. Ensure that your internet connection, camera, microphone, and broadcasting environment are working and optimal for class participation. Remember that your Scout uniform is required to be worn when attending.
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 organize your preparation work. Please note that the use of any workbook is merely for note taking and reference. Completion of any merit badge workbook does not warrant, guarantee, or confirm a Scout's completion of any merit badge requirements. Merit badge counselors may refuse to accept workbooks, but they are NEVER allowed to require their use.
The merit badge pamphlet has a wealth of information that provides valuable insight and clarification and can make earning any merit badge a lot easier. Doing preparation work and reviewing the merit badge pamphlet PRIOR to attending will ensure that Scouts get the most out of these class opportunities.
If you have any additional questions or need further clarification, please feel free to contact Brian Reiners (Scoutmaster Bucky) via email at scoutmasterbucky@yahoo.com or via cell phone at 612-483-0665.
American Labor Merit Badge
Current Scouts BSA Requirements
as of February 17, 2023
Please make sure you read the top portion of this page for general participation expectations in a Scoutmaster Bucky merit badge class.
Pay careful attention to the action verbs within the requirements. An example to note:
"Tell", "explain", "describe", and "discuss" are commonly used and will require the Scout to perform these actions during the class. When these action verbs are a part of any requirement, Scouts are expected to be prepared to share. Reading responses is not acceptable since it does not fulfill the requirement of showing the Scout's knowledge and understanding.
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, continuing education, 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:
a.
Find out what the organization does.
b.
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.
c.
Draw a diagram showing how the organization is structured, from the local to the national level, if applicable.
Scouts may work on this prior to the class, but please note that the counselor reserves the right to accept or deny your work on the basis of meeting the expectations of this requirement and it's components to their satisfaction. Make sure your work is pertinent to the requirement and be prepared to share your work. Scouts not having done preparation work on this requirement will have an opportunity to review options with the counselor to pursue after the class.
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 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:
a.
Develop a time line of significant events in the history of the American labor movement from the 1770s to the present.
b.
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.
c.
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.
d.
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 elements 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.
