Labor Union Business Agents
Requirements
Education and Training Requirements
High School
Union business agents should at least have a high school education. To build a solid background, take courses in business, English, mathematics, public speaking, history, and economics.
Postsecondary Training
A college degree can also be very valuable for union business agents. Many colleges now offer curricula in labor and industrial relations. Additional courses that you will also find useful include psychology, business, collective bargaining, labor law, occupational safety and health, economics, and political science. Some unions may offer to reimburse some of the costs of higher education for union members interested in leadership positions. In most cases, business agents will receive additional training on the job while working under experienced union leaders.
Certification, Licensing, and Special Requirements
Certification or Licensing
There is no certification or licensing available for labor union business agents.
Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits
To succeed as a union business agent, you need to have both relevant job skills and leadership qualities. Agents should have previous work experience in the trade, industry, or profession in which they represent in order to fully understand and appreciate the problems and concerns of the workers. Most business agents begin as industrial or craft workers, join a union, become involved in its affairs, and progressively move up through the ranks.
Agents must also possess leadership skills and be committed to the cause of the union and to the rights and concerns of the workers. Their role in negotiations requires intelligence, persuasiveness, self-discipline, and patience. They must be able to command the respect of both the employer and the members. A good command of the English language, both written and oral, is essential to vocalize the concerns of the workers, understand the terms of union contracts, and persuade the representatives of the company and the union members to accept an agreement. If the union leadership has reached a decision that may be unpopular, the agent will have to explain the reasoning behind it to the members.