How did the World Wars affect the development of trade union and labour rights until 1945? Flashcards
What was workers life and trade unions like during WW1?
-during this period the position of workers and unions improved
-factory owners saw an increased demand for their products (eg textiles for uniforms, steal for weapons)->there was an opportunity to increase profits-> resulted in employers being more willing to be conciliatory towards their workers
-working hours were limited to 8 but in return workers agreed to a no-strike policy
Conciliatory meaning
-likely to pacify->show willingness to end disagreements with workers
What was the National War Labor Board (NWLB)?
-to ensure production was maintained the government began to recognise and negotiate with unions through the NWLB
Who was the National War Labor Board created by? Why?
-first created by President Wilson in 1918 to settle disputes between workers and employers->ensured that production would not be interrupted by strikes
Despite there being a rise in real wages and a decline in unemployment…
-Workers didn’t always benefit. During WW1 progress was made but didn’t continue into the 1920s. Eg steel profit went up but there was no change in wages
Although workers gained benefits such as pensions and a reduction in working hours…
-Welfare capitalism undermined union activity. Workers and unions became associated with communism which led to reluctance by the government and employers to engage with them
However most employers still refused to recognise unions, such as Henry Ford, meaning that…
-There was hostility between businesses and workers. Workers had limited influence. Any unhappiness couldn’t be challenged
What does Welfare Capitalism mean?
-a policy followed by employers during the boom of the 1920s to reduce industrial unrest (reduce unionism). It entailed offering workers improved working conditions and other benefits such as pensions, in return for the establishment of unions under the control or direction of the employers
What does Red Scare mean?
-hysteria over the perceived threat posed by Communists in the U.S. during the Cold War. There were two waves: 1917-20 and 1940s-50s
What was a yellow dog contract?
-Contracts that workers signed where they agreed not to join a union
What does nativism mean?
-Hostile response of one cultural group seeking to preserve its inherent characteristics in the face of increasing ethnic diversity. Also influenced by fear of communism
What does assembly line mean?
-a production process that breaks the manufacture of a good into steps that are completed in a pre-defined sequence
What was the Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters?
-Pullman porters->worked for Pullman company on the sleeping carts
->union for Pullman Porters
Why was the Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters made?
-made because Pullman Porters wanted to ‘fight or be slaves’
-during this time the Communist also began to focus on rights for black workers
What did the Pullman Company ban?
-the Pullman Company banned meetings of this group though - despite nearly half the porters joining the union, they didn’t gain recognition until 1928
What were the Pullman Porters hardships?
-porters relied on tips for a lot of their income
-had to pay for their food, lodging and uniforms->half their wages
-job offered no career structure or promotion prospects due to next job higher was reserved for whites
What barriers did Pullman Porters face to unionisation?
-the campaign for the recognition of the BSCP as a Company union was a lengthy one since it was opposed not only by the Pullman Company but also by many AAs
What was the first AA trade union?
the Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters
How have the federal government’s attitude towards trade unions had changed?
-to maintain production in WW1 the government began to recognise and negotiate with unions through the National War Labor Board (NWLB)-> didn’t legally recognise unions before
Why did WW1 had a positive impact on trade union and labour rights?
-factories were making more money so were more likely to be conciliatory towards workers
How long lasting were the gains post-WW1?
-post WW1 factories increased working hours and decreased pay - weren’t held accountable to government once war was over->welfare capitalism eg Henry Ford
What are the key Alphabet Agencies introduced with the New Deal relating to TUs? And what were they? (4)
-National Recovery Administration (NRA)->encouraged minimum wage and abolition of child labour
-Social Security Act (SSA)->pensions and benefits for people with disabilities
-Farm Security Administration (FSA) ->lent money to sharecroppers
-Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)-> employed 2.5 million young men. Tree planting, flood control and conservation of national parks
When was the National Industrial Recovery Act passed? (NIRA)
-1933
What did the National Industrial Recovery Act do? (NIRA)
-Established the National Recovery Administration
-Agree codes of practice about issues such as production levels, wage rates, working hours, prices and trade union rights
-Law gave workers the right to organise TUs and collective bargaining
What was the National Industrial Recovery (NIRA) declared in 1935?
unconstitutional
When was the Wagner Act passed and what did it promote?
-1935
-promotes trade unionism
What did FDR fear to do with the Wagner Act?
-Roosevelt feared that TUs would limit employer control over their workforce
What did the Wagner Act aim to do?
-Aimed to regulate and reduce labour disputes by providing a structure for bargaining
-Aimed to reduce picket line violence and disruption to production caused by strikes
What was the Wagner Act the first legislation to do? (need to know)
-First legislation to recognise the right of workers to elect their own representatives for bargaining. Workers had the right to join trade unions
Did the Supreme Court name the Wagner Act constitutional? When?
yes->1937->crutial support
What was banned as a result of the Wagner Act?
-Spies on shop floors and blacklisting agitators was banned
What did the Wagner Act set up/do?
-Set up National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) could bargain on behalf of workers and reinstate those unfairly dismissed
-Expansion of TU membership from 3.7 million in 1933 to 9 million in 1938
What was the Fair Labor Standards Act?
-Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 created $25 minimum weekly wage, time and a half for working 40 hours + as well as banning child workers under 16 yrs
What was the effectiveness of the Fair Labor Standards Act?
-TU membership increased but disputes continued to occur
-Divisions within the TU movement continued to deprive unskilled workers of their rights
-Particularly in mass productions –cars/textiles
-AFL was focused on amalgamating craft unions without including unskilled workers
-1937 Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) formed from 8 unions within the AFL
-Split weakens the labour movement until it reforms in 1955
What was Congress like on Industrial Organizations Union?
-Aggressive leadership led to expelling from AFL in 1937
-Attempted to organise labour in mass production industries – had 3.7 million members
-Established closed shop was resisted by employers
-Sit ins and sit downs became the new form of protest- used against car industry in 1937
-Supported women and African-American labour rights. AA’s encouraged to join in strikes
What did the Fair Labour Standards Act do? When?
-1938
-created $25 minimum weekly wage, time and a half for working 40 hours + (more pay) as well as banning child workers under 16 yrs
What is a picket line?
-stand outside place of work and show you are not going to work->strike to intimidate other workers
What Alphabet agencies do you need to know for TUs? What did they do?
-National Recovery Administration (NRA)->encouraged minimum wage and abolition of child labour
-Social Security Act (SSA)->pensions and benefits for people with disabilities
-Farm Security Administration (FSA)->lent money to sharecroppers
-Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)->employed 2.5 million young men
-tree planting, flood control and conservation of national parks
What negatives did the New Deal bring about the position of workers? (5)
-many employers, including Henry Ford (car industry) did not recognise the NIRA and the Wagner Act-> welfare capitalism but forced into following the Wagner Act
-the Supreme Court declared NIRA unconstitutional in 1935
-employment used those willing to break strikes or strong-arm tactics to intimidate workers->there was also continued violence against workers
-unskilled workers particularly agricultural domestic workers and those at the lower end of the pay range did not benefit from the improvements nor did women->as pay differentials were upheld by the NIRA and the Far Labor Standards Act of 1938
-although welfare reforms helped some of the poorer paid, there were limits to this because of conflicts between state and federal rights
What positives did the New Deal bring about the position of workers? (6)
-the government passed NIRA in 1933 which set up the NRA to improve relations between employers and workers
-Wagner Act was passed in 1935-> gave workers the right to elect their own representatives to take part in collective bargaining and gave workers the right to join unions->a National Labor Relations Board was established which could bargain
-membership grew from 3.7 million in 1933 to 9 million in 1938
-some major industries which had resisted recognition now recognised unions
-a minimum weekly wage was created by the Fair Labor Standards Act
-CIO encouraged whole industry based unions and ethnic groups to join in
