4. The attitude of management to organised labour and strikes

Question 1

throughout the period employers often

Answer 1

took a hardline against workers

using powers or appealing to federal gov for support

Question 2

at the start of period what did employers resist and why

Answer 2

introduction of health and safety measures

would impact on profits

Question 3

how did employers react to Homestead strike of 1892

Answer 3

locked out workers
called in state militia
brought in agents

Question 4

how did employers react to Pullman strike of 1894

Answer 4

appealed to federal gov for help

troops were sent

Question 5

Employer Henry Ford’s actions

Answer 5

closely controlled his new factory (which opened 1927)

used security men who attacked and intimidated potential union organisers

Question 6

how did Employers react to Pullman dispute of 1920s and 1930s

Answer 6

company sacked union leaders

used spies and even assaulted union organisers

Question 7

what did many companies do particularly in the 1920s and 1930s

Answer 7

set up own unions 
offered benefits (tried to diminish need for unions and discouraged workers from joining them)

Question 8

what did employers do particularly in the period after ww2

Answer 8

made employees sign no-strike and non-union agreements

Question 9

employers brought in scab labour to break strikes. what is scab labour?

Answer 9

workers who are willing to work during strikes often crossing picket lines

Question 10

what did employers do to gain an economic advantage over their competitors

Answer 10

ignored law over wage agreements, hours and conditions (particularly after they were aware the NLRB was on their side)

Question 11

in the first half of the period much of the employers concern had been to

Answer 11

break strikes and intimidate worker which discouraged others from joining

Question 12

towards the end of the period employers were able to

Answer 12

erode some of the legislative gains employees had made