Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Labour Rights And Trade Unions > Timeline > Flashcards

Timeline Flashcards

1
Q

Change in work force between 1865 and 1900

A

Industrial workforce doubles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Foundation of Iron Moulders Unions

A
  1. Joining with others to become the National Labor Union in 1868
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Sudden death of William Sylvia (NLU leader)

A

1869

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Formation of the Knights of Labor

A

1869

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Railroad strike of 1877

A

Response to a 10% wage cut. Public sympathy but president Hayes sends troops to end the violence.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

The Haymarket Affair

A
  1. Violence breaks out between harvester strikers and the police resulting in 7 police and 4 workers deaths
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Formation of the American Federation of Labor (AFL)

A

1886 by Samuel Gompers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

The Pullman Strike

A
  1. Pullman Palace Car Company cut wages for workers within price controlled model village. American Railway Union led by Eugene Debs coordinated the strike.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

The Homestead Strike

A
  1. Between steel workers and the Carnegie steel company.
    Labour lock out and strike for 143 days over enforced wage cuts. Supposedly successful although wage cuts eventually accepted
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

1871-1905 number of striking workers

A

7 million

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Difficulties for workers in the Gilded Age

A 
Old v/s new immigrants divided 
Racial divisions
Laissez faire Capitalism 
Supreme Court partiality
Gender divisions
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Example of Supreme Court partiality against workers

A

Lochner v New York (1905) declares that a 10 hour day imposition was unconstitutional

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Industrial Workers of the World

A

Formed in 1905, as a more militant union, used more violence and so faced a lot of arrests. Peak membership in 1923 at 100,000 but broken up in 1924.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Consequences of the Homestead Strike

A

Organised and purposeful despite aggression from management (Frick)
Unification of unions, eg the Knifhts of Labor joined the walkout
However it almost bankrupted the union which then seriously declined as a major power. Peak membership at 24,000 in 1891 down to 6300 in 1909

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Consequences of the Pullman Strike

A

Collective bargaining used.
Anti union attitude clear and enforced by federal intervention.
Injunctions could be used against unions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

The Socialist Party of America

A

Between 1901 and 1914, has 2 members of Congress and over 70 mayors. Often supported by more radical immigrants or ex Populists.
In 1912 Eugene Debs gained 6% of the popular vote in the presidential election, but decline in membership during WW1 because of pacifism.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Achievements of workers by 1914

A

Increase in members from 500,000 in 1900 to 2 million in 1910.
Solidarity hampered by inner divisions
1912- new Department of Labor
1914- Clayton Antitrust Act limited use of injunctions against workers.
Popular identification of anarchism with striking workers.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Impact of WW1 in labour

A

Increased demand led to more conciliation towards workers.
Government negotiated with unions through the National War Labor Board
Exchange of no strike policy for max working day etc
Union membership increased from 2.7 million in 1916 to 5 million in 1920.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Welfare Capitalism

A

Policy followed by employers first during the boom of the 20s to reduce industrial unrest.
Improving working hours, pension plans etc in return for ‘company unions’ who could meet to negotiate but signed “yellow dog contracts” preventing other union joining or striking.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Example of welfare capitalism in the 20s

A

Henry ford on his car production line, reduced the working day to 8 hours and doubled the daily wage in 1914, but kept the workforce tightly controlled and intimidated against potential organisation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

The Red Scare

A

1919-20. Driven by fear of immigration and anti-German feeling following WW1, anti Communism and unrest and violence.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Violence of the Red Scare

A

1919: 100,000 workers went on strike in Seattle
1919: member of the Industrial Workers of the World was lynched, as vigilante groups like the Loyal Legion were set up.
1919: bombs sent in packages to business tycoons and governments, used by Palmer to set up a new Bureau of Investigation which then raided left wing organisations.

23
Q

Sacco and Vanzetti Affair

A
  1. Factory guard was murdered and 2 anarchist American immigrants were arrested and tried. “Morally culpable” if not actually guilty and electrocuted.
24
Q

Abatement of the Red Scare

A

Palmers prediction if revolution did not occur
Anti-immigrant sentiment remained, leading to the 1924 National Origins Acr which put quotas on certain ethnic groups of immigrants.
Protection of ‘Americanism’ leads to removal of civil liberties?

25
Q

Great Depression

A

Following Wall Street Crash of 1929.
Agriculture already depressed.
13 million unemployed in 1923 leading to easy replacement
Conflict between employers and workers by desperate workers and lots of use of strike breakers

26
Q

The National Industry Rscovery Act

A
  1. Establishing the National Recovery Administration.
    Organised agreement of codes of practice on wage rates and working hours.
    Limited to certain industries
    Declared unconstitutional in 1935
27
Q

Wagner Act achievements

A

1935.
First piece of national legislation recognising the right of workers to elect their own representatives for collective bargaining.
Supported by the Supreme Court in 1938.
NLRB has the power to support workers and reinstate those that were unfairly dismissed
Union membership rose from 3.8 million in 1933 to 9 million in 1938

28
Q

Fair Labor Standards Act

A

$25 minimum weekly wage for industrial workers and no employment of under 16s

29
Q

Limitations of the Wagner Act

A

Divisions within trade union movement continued to leave out the mass of unskilled workers. (Until CIO formation in 1937)
Significant numbers of agricultural and domestic workers who had no leadership
African Americans badly affected by the depression and generally discriminated against in help agencies
Position of women not advanced and pay differentials confirmed

30
Q

Congress of Industrial Organisations (CIO)

A

Founded in 1937 to organise labour in mass production industries. Used effective sit-in strikes, especially effective against car manufacturers.
Eg 1937 sit in strike at General Motors Assembly Plant. Attempts to break the strike failed and the company signed s contract recognising the United Auto Workers.
Consistent support for equality of labour, eg women

31
Q

Memorial Day Massacre

A
  1. Steel workers organising committee had successfully signed a new contract with US Steel.
    Others then struck against companies not following a ten hour day
    10 strikers killed in violence with police.
    Descriptive of limitations of the Wagner Act
32
Q

Norris LaGuardia Act

A
  1. Declares yellow dog contracts illegal and limited use of judicial injunctions in labour disputes
33
Q

WW2 and labour

A

Entente between labour, employers and the government during wartime.
As with WW1, negotiated through the National War Labor Board (wages rose av 70%) and a no-strike policy. Several unauthorised wildcat strikes anyway- difference between on the survival of unions and the detail of union contracts.
Union members rose from 8.9 million in 1940 to 14.8 million in 1945.
Women increased to 1/3 of the workforce in 1945.

34
Q

Taft Hartley Act

A
  1. Banned closed shop unions, federal employee striking, Communist union leaders, and empowered states to pass ‘right to work’ laws
35
Q

Positives for workers in the 1950s

A

Unrivalled period of economic expansion

36
Q

Merging of the AFL/CIO

A

1955, A’s a consequence mostly of anti Communism destabilising the CIO, brought 80% of Union members into greater solidarity

37
Q

Positives of the 50s

A

Unrivalled period of economic and technological expansion - 87% of families owned a television by the end and wages had increased on average by 35%

38
Q

Negatives of the 50s

A

Union membership in blue collar, industrial workers dropped by more than 50% partly reflecting a change in work.
Organised labour decreased from 36% in 1953 to 31% in 1960.
20% of americans still living below the poverty line in 1960 often in bear slum ghettos.
Unions spent a lot of money supporting political parties within the system and avoiding bad press.

39
Q

Policies of Kennedy

A

The New Frontier - unifying society to fight Communism abroad by raising minimum wages and expanding social care.
Lack of support in Congress meant that minimum wage bill in 1961 was rejected. Style and rhetoric rather than substantial change.

40
Q

Policies of LBJ

A

Great Society plan to create an ‘unconditional war on poverty’ to both redistribute and give greater opportunities to overcome poverty.

41
Q

Gains of unions in the 60s

A

Merging of AFLCIO increased bargaining power. Wages rose steadily by at least 2% per year and union workers earned around 20% more on average than other non union workers. Also forced non union employers to match what was being offered benefit wise to those in unions.
However relative prosperity meant that many workers were less likely to be roused to action.
Technological change had altered the composition of the workforce and often skilled workers were less militant in unions.

42
Q

Acts of Johnson’s

A

Civil rights Act (1964) prohibited discrimination on the grounds of race or sex and so benefited minorities within the workplace.
Economic opportunity Act (1964) established the Office of Economic Opportunity to train young people in vocational skills.
Medicaid and Medicare programmes provided the poor with medical care
Minimum wage act (1965) raised

43
Q

Beginnings of the Chicano movement

A

Mexican Americans often divided and working in poor agricultural conditions. Life expectancy 49 years and no unions in existence. Movement led completely by Cesar Chavez and the National Farm Workers Association (1962). Initial success in Hernandez c Texas (1954) where it was ruled that Hispanic aamericans had to be allowed on juries

44
Q

Strike at Delano

A
  1. Grape pickers at Delano went on strike and were joined by Chavez and the NFWA to match to the capital of California, mimicking the non violent protest of black civil rights activists. From 1968 Chavez led a hunger strike and eventually in 1970 the strike was recognised.
45
Q

Young Chicanos for Community Action

A

Formed in 1967 by a group of high school students, wearing brown berets in imitation of the panthers, involved in ‘blowouts’ or walkouts from schools in 1968 demonstrating for better teachings. ‘Brown Berets’ then produced their own newspaper and continued protests eg against Vietnam.

46
Q

Successes of the Chicano Movement

A

National and cultural self pride grown and Cesar Chavez gained national recognition.
Committee on Mexican Affairs establishes by Johnson bht not with massive impact. Nixon made some attempt to be helpful…

47
Q

Limitations of the Chicano Movement

A

Not the same impact as the Black American civil rights protest, particularly as they were a smaller minority and lacked the power of the black vote.
Divided within themselves

48
Q

Reagonomics

A

Belief in the ‘trickle down economy’ through deregulation so that individual wealth gain would lead to greater investment. Reduction of taxes and increased military spending.

49
Q

Acts of Reaganomics

A

1981: Economic Tax Recovery Act cuts personal income taxes by 25% (!)
1983: creation is SDI
Cutting of federal aid programmes, particularly those of non republican voters

50
Q

Actions of the PATCO strike

A

Call for wage rise and shorter hours meant PATCO went out on strike, 13,000 out of 17,500 members went on strike and Reagan called their bluff and said strikers would be banned after 48 hours.
They were sacked and temporary replacements brought in. Leaders imprisoned for ignoring court injunctions

51
Q

Consequences of the PATCO strike

A

Hostility towards labour, led by Reagan
Lack of solidarity from other workers
Negative public opinion of strikes

52
Q

Positives for workers in the 70s and 80s

A

Technology had created need for more skilled workers
Increased opportunity for married women in the workplace
Nixon’s policy of Affirmative Action had some positive effect on ethnic minorities
Occupations Safety and Health Act of 1970
Increase in membership amongst public service workers, eg 1970 Postal Workers Strike
Black trade unions sought to establish themselves, eg 1972 formation of the Coalition of Black Trade Unions

53
Q

Negatives for workers in the 70s/80s

A

In 1979 prices had risen by 13% meaning a fall in real wages for many
Establishment of industries in rural, traditionally anti union areas
Reagan appointed Labor Board officials who’s were likely to favour the employer
Negative public opinion of strikes - down from 381 in 1970 to 31 between 1980 and 1995(!)
Membership of industrial unions fell from 27% in 1970 to 12% in 1990
No longer held voting balance for the Democrats

54
Q

Women in trade unions 70s/80s

A

Radical feminism and anti feminist backlash, affected tendency to join unions both positively and negatively.
1974: Coalition of Labor Union Women- creates to explore how women could have a stronger influence in unions. Led by Olga Madar
1975: Navajo (!) women (!) occupies their electronics factory in protest for not being able to form a union
Beginning to assess issues in the workplace eg sexual harassment

Labour Rights And Trade Unions (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions