Labour Movement position of Unions 1947-92 Flashcards
What did Kennedy do for labour?
1963 Kennedy passes Equal Pay Act which gives men and women equal pay for equal work. Those on poverty line or close to it benefited from Johnson’s Great Society.
What legislation did Johnson pass?
Great Society legislation by Johnson included: 1964 Civil Rights Act banning discrimination on race, gender, colour, religion or national origin. 1964 Economic Opportunity Act increased training opportunity. 1968 Age Discrimination Act protected employment of those over age of 40 years.
What were benefits of the AFL-CIO merger?
1955 American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations merged bringing 85% of union members together and giving movement more power and influence with 16 million members. CIO initially the Committee for Industrial Organisations was set in 1935 and took in 8 members of AFL who were expelled in 1936 for links to Communism. More unions could bargain over conditions/wages, negotiate contract conditions, gain medical/dental insurance, negotiate paid holiday, gain pensions, and negotiate unemployment insurance.
How did position of unionised workers change in 60s compared to AAs?
Unions gained increased attraction with unionised workers making 20% more than non-unionised workers. However, AAs made little gains as industry changes required more skilled workers and they lacked same education quality as their white counterparts.
What decline in striking was seen? What threatened unions in 50s-60s?
Economic changes threatened position of unions from the 1950s-60s but the right to join unions had been firmly established and increasingly they were collaborating with employers and confrontations were in decline. 1950 3 mil workers on strike compared to 1.5 mil by 1965. Workers gained benefits and this reduced striking.
How was the United Farm Workers union set?
In 1960s agricultural workers benefited from merger of Agricultural Workers Organising Committee, AWOC, and the National Farm Workers Association, NFWA, founded by Cesar Chavez, which formed the United Farmworkers Organising Committee, 1966, and by 1972 became the United Farm Workers Union, UFW.
Outline background of Cesar Chavez.
Cesar Chavez in 1946 moved to San Jose California. Worked in fields until 1952 and worked for Community Service Organisation, CSO, a Latino civil rights group. In 1962 he left the CSO and founded the United Farm Workers Association which eventually became the United Farm Workers in 1972. He championed Hispanic rights but in the 1970s found clashes with other union members leading to his decline in leadership.
What was Chavez’ work in the 70s?
Chavez promoted nonviolence and turned struggle of farmworkers into moral cause. Growers forced to recognise UFW as union for field workers in California and Florida. In early 1970s UFW took part in strikes and boycotts including Salad Bowl Strike, largest US farmworker strike in history and this increased wages for those working for lettuce and grape growers. Involved in struggle to limit immigration as he believed it undermined position of those born in US and exploited immigrants.
What were final accomplishments for Chavez?
In 1972 Chavez fasted in protest of Arizona law which prohibited boycotts and strikes during harvest time. The UFW declined in the 70s but in 1975 he achieved victory when the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act established the California Agricultural Relations Board to oversee collective bargaining for farm labourers.
What caused decline in union membership from 60s-90s?
60s saw decline in union membership as rise in technology created skilled workforce not in need of protection from unions. Furthermore, the government and public attitudes towards unions changed due to events such as the 1981 PATCO strike which didn’t gain sympathy, discouraging further strikes. In 1970 2.5 mil were striking falling to 185,000 by 1990.
How did employers gain power from 1970-90?
Decline in size of factories and businesses made it more difficult to organise workers and this affected union recruitment. In 1970 19.3 mil were members of unions falling to 16.7 mil by 1990. Generous welfare packages further reduced gains which could be made from union membership. Female and white collar workers had less interest in joining unions. To continue, non-unionised forms increased with employers denying workers their rights. NRLB less willing to defend union rights.
What was labour’s position in 1950s?
In 1950s US was more prosperous. The public argued that workers had less hours and easier conditions. In 1950s average income was 200% higher than it was in the 1920s and 75% of Americans owned cars. Hours and workers needed declined with a mechanised industry. Blue collar workers declined and organised labour had only 31% of workforce by 1960.
In 1979 how much did prices rise?
- 1979 prices rose by 13% and coincided with a reduction in productivity. 80% of semi-skilled and unskilled workers saw a fall in wages.
In 1970s and 80s why did strikes decline? how did the top get richer?
- Strikes declined with rise of skilled workers. The chief executives at top saw wages rise 340% while the majority got poorer. Introduction of married women to work provided secondary income which enabled families to maintain reasonable standard of living while in Reagan administration welfare cuts meant people didn’t strike as they wanted any work they could find.
In 1960s and 1970s how did the composition of the workforce change?
- Service industry increasingly employed women part-time on low pay. In 1965 Hart-Celler Act was removed welcoming immigrants from Asia who fled communist regimes, they accepted low pay often and had little interest in unions.. In 1980 there were 50.5 mil white collar workers compared to 30.5 mil in 1960. Benefited from generous welfare schemes and unlikely to join unions.
