1900 - 1945 (Trade Unions and Labour rights) Flashcards
What was the open shop policy and how did affect Trade Unions?
- ‘Open Shop’ meant that workplaces were union membership was not required
- employers used this policy to undermine unions, preventing mandatory union membership
- strengthened employer control
when was the Lochner v New York and what was the significance for trade unions?
- SC ruled that state laws limiting working hours violated the ‘freedom of contract’ under the 14th amendment
- made it harder for states to regulate working conditions, favouring business owners
- weakened labour rights, as courts consistently sided with employers
What was the Industrial Workers of the World and how did it differ from the AFL
- founded in 1905, the IWW was a radical labour union
- accepted all workers, including unskilled, Black and immigrant labourers
- advocated for direct action, mass strikes and socialism
- rejected AFL’s focus on skilled workers
What happened to the IWW during World War 1?
- government used its power to harshly control and supress radical unions
- Espionage Act 1917 and Sedition act 1918 used to arrest IWW leaders
- by 1919, IWW lost much of its influence
What was the Espionage act and when was it?
- 1917
- WW1 law initially targeted spying but used to punish anti-war speech and actions
- IWW’s opposition to WW1 was framed as interfering with the war effort.
- IWW leaders were arrested for giving anti-war speeches, distributing anti-war leaflets and organising strikes in industries deemed essential to the war effort
when was the Sedition act and what was it?
- 1918
- further banned disloyal/abusive language about the US government, flag or military
- The IWW’s criticism of the capitalist system, gov war policies and the draft was targeted under this act
- IWW’s newspapers and pamphlets that expressed anti-war views were used as evidence to arrest and prosecute leaders.
When and what was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire?
- 1911
- fire broke out in New York garment factory
- 146 workers died, mostly young immigrant workers
- doors were locked to prevent theft, trapping workers inside
what was the impact of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire?
- mass public outrage led to calls for labour reform
- New York passed stricter fire and safety laws
What are examples of legislation passed in response to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire?
- Mandating fire escapes, sprinkler systems, and fireproof construction
- Requiring unlocked exits, fire drills, and limitations on working hours
- established safety commissions tasked with inspecting factories and enforcing new regulations
When was the Clayton Antitrust Act and how did it benefit Labour unions?
- 1914
- declared that unions were not illegal monopolies
- limited use of injunctions against strikes
How did the First Red Scare impact trade unions?
- 1919-1920
- weakened trade unions
- fear of communism after Russian Revolution led to crackdowns on radicals
- many union leaders were accused of being communists
- strikes were violently suppressed and union membership declined
when was the great depression and how did it affect trade unions?
- 1929
- unemployment reached 25%, making workers afraid to strike
- Union membership declined
- desperate workers accepted lower wages
When was the National Industrial Recovery act and how did it impact trade unions?
- 1933
- Section 7 gave workers the right to unionize
- led to huge increase in union membership
- however, NIRA was declared unconstitutional in 1935, limiting its impact
When was the Wagner Act and how did it impact labour rights?
- 1935
- guaranteed the right to collective bargaining
- established the National Labour Relations Board to mediate labour disputes
- union membership doubled to 9 million by 1940
when was the Congress of Industrial Organisations formed
1935
Why was the Congress of Industrial Organisations formed and how did it differ from the AFL?
- AFL focused on skilled workers, CIO organised unskilled workers
- led by John L Lewis, CIO aimed to unionize industries like steel and auto
- Helped lead major strikes such as the Flint Sit-Down Strike
When was the Flint Sit-Down Strike and what happened?
- 1936 - 37
- Workers at General Motors occupied factors, refusing to leave
- Michigan Governor refused to send troops, unlike previous labour conflicts
- GM recognised the United Auto Workers as a legitimate union
Why was the Flint Sit-Down Strike significant?
- victory for industrial unions and the CIO
- showed that peaceful occupation was an effective strike tactic
- led to widespread unionisation of the auto-industry
when was the Fair Labour Standards act and what labour protections did it introduce?
- 1938
- established the first federal minimum wage (25 cents per hour)
- banned child labour in most industries
- set the maximum workweek at 44 hours
How did World War 2 impact trade unions
- Union membership increased to 15 million due to war-time production
- ‘no-strike pledges’ were made to support the war effort
- Women and Black workers entered the unions in large numbers, but faced discrimination
when was the Smith-Connally act and how did it affect labour unions
- 1943
- allowed federal government to seize industries if strikes threatened war production
- made it illegal for unions to trike in key wartime industries without gov approval
- limited the power of unions, many strikes were deemed as a national security risk
How did the New Deal impact labour unions
- established through the Wagner Act
- guaranteed workers the right to form unions
- prohibited employers from interfering with union activities, firing workers for union involvement and refusing to negotiate with unions
- led to increased union influence post war e.g. by 1945 35% of non-agriculture workers were unionised
