Final answer:
Hours of employment and conditions of employment in the private sector are considered mandatory topics for bargaining. This requires employers to negotiate in good faith with unions over key employment terms. Historical struggles of unions and government regulations set minimum standards for these employment terms.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the private sector, hours of employment and conditions of employment are typically considered mandatory topics for bargaining. This means that employers must engage in good faith negotiations with unions on these issues, as they are essential terms of employment covered by collective bargaining laws. When unions and management negotiate, they must address these fundamental aspects of the employment relationship, such as wages, hours, and other working conditions.
The historical context shows that there has been a significant struggle for unions to secure these rights. Unions have contributed to the establishment of safer working conditions, fair pay, and reasonable work hours. However, they have often been met with resistance from businesses, which have lobbied against collective bargaining and have sought to limit the influence of unions through various means, including passing laws to restrict labor rights.
Government regulations play a crucial role in setting minimum standards for employment, like minimum hourly wages, maximum hours of work, and health and safety conditions. These regulations are designed to protect workers and create a floor for the terms of employment to prevent exploitation and ensure a basic level of fairness in the labor market.