Timeline Flashcards
Change in work force between 1865 and 1900
Industrial workforce doubles
Foundation of Iron Moulders Unions
- Joining with others to become the National Labor Union in 1868
Sudden death of William Sylvia (NLU leader)
1869
Formation of the Knights of Labor
1869
Railroad strike of 1877
Response to a 10% wage cut. Public sympathy but president Hayes sends troops to end the violence.
The Haymarket Affair
- Violence breaks out between harvester strikers and the police resulting in 7 police and 4 workers deaths
Formation of the American Federation of Labor (AFL)
1886 by Samuel Gompers
The Pullman Strike
- Pullman Palace Car Company cut wages for workers within price controlled model village. American Railway Union led by Eugene Debs coordinated the strike.
The Homestead Strike
- 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
1871-1905 number of striking workers
7 million
Difficulties for workers in the Gilded Age
Old v/s new immigrants divided Racial divisions Laissez faire Capitalism Supreme Court partiality Gender divisions
Example of Supreme Court partiality against workers
Lochner v New York (1905) declares that a 10 hour day imposition was unconstitutional
Industrial Workers of the World
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.
Consequences of the Homestead Strike
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
Consequences of the Pullman Strike
Collective bargaining used.
Anti union attitude clear and enforced by federal intervention.
Injunctions could be used against unions
The Socialist Party of America
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.
Achievements of workers by 1914
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.
Impact of WW1 in labour
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.
Welfare Capitalism
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.
Example of welfare capitalism in the 20s
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.
The Red Scare
1919-20. Driven by fear of immigration and anti-German feeling following WW1, anti Communism and unrest and violence.
Violence of the Red Scare
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.
Sacco and Vanzetti Affair
- Factory guard was murdered and 2 anarchist American immigrants were arrested and tried. “Morally culpable” if not actually guilty and electrocuted.
Abatement of the Red Scare
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?
Great Depression
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
The National Industry Rscovery Act
- 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
Wagner Act achievements
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
Fair Labor Standards Act
$25 minimum weekly wage for industrial workers and no employment of under 16s
Limitations of the Wagner Act
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
Congress of Industrial Organisations (CIO)
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
Memorial Day Massacre
- 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
Norris LaGuardia Act
- Declares yellow dog contracts illegal and limited use of judicial injunctions in labour disputes
WW2 and labour
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.
Taft Hartley Act
- Banned closed shop unions, federal employee striking, Communist union leaders, and empowered states to pass ‘right to work’ laws
Positives for workers in the 1950s
Unrivalled period of economic expansion
Merging of the AFL/CIO
1955, A’s a consequence mostly of anti Communism destabilising the CIO, brought 80% of Union members into greater solidarity
Positives of the 50s
Unrivalled period of economic and technological expansion - 87% of families owned a television by the end and wages had increased on average by 35%
Negatives of the 50s
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.
Policies of Kennedy
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.
Policies of LBJ
Great Society plan to create an ‘unconditional war on poverty’ to both redistribute and give greater opportunities to overcome poverty.
Gains of unions in the 60s
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.
Acts of Johnson’s
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
Beginnings of the Chicano movement
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
Strike at Delano
- 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.
Young Chicanos for Community Action
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.
Successes of the Chicano Movement
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…
Limitations of the Chicano Movement
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
Reagonomics
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.
Acts of Reaganomics
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
Actions of the PATCO strike
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
Consequences of the PATCO strike
Hostility towards labour, led by Reagan
Lack of solidarity from other workers
Negative public opinion of strikes
Positives for workers in the 70s and 80s
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
Negatives for workers in the 70s/80s
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
Women in trade unions 70s/80s
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
