Trade Union Factor Q Flashcards
Into/conc
Sorry if these make no sense the handwriting is so hard to read
Actions of unions- Important as they were able to overcome their obstacles and influence legislation, yet this was limited due to persistent divisions and sustained change was only accomplished depending on the receptiveness of the FG.
Actions of government- Hardened attitudes of presidents such as Raegan, Cleveland and Hoover undermined FDR’s New Deal. Laissez-faire attitude of employers
Role of the economy/employers-
Actions of unions
NEGATIVE
Decreased sympathies which lead to stricter union legislation.
Internal divisions during the Gilded Age evidenced through divisions over immigration and union exclusivity, exclusing the majority of the workforce which hindered unions…
Exclusion of womenled to the creation of the women’s trade union league in the 1903 and 1974, presenting a divided image in the face of employer mistreatment.
Pullman and PATCO strike decreased public sympathy towards unions due to the hostility of employer retaliation, presenting unions as unable to withstand intervention due to their divisions and presentation of the violent aggressors rather than a victim of mistreatment.
POSITIVE
Membership of the KOI at 600,000 in addition to their solidarity after WW2 which saw an expansion of membership for both skilled and unskilled workers; demonstrated through the creation of the IWW- emphasised significant change in overcoming the obstacles that hindered their progression places them in a stronger condition, particularly before the onset of the 1960s (Equal Pay Acts) which was similar to that of FDR’s New Deal.
TU’s succeeded in, somewhat, overcoming their obstacles and influencing legislation but this was LIMITED and dependant upon the FG and economy for sustained change.
Actions of government/employers
Introduced a lot of regressive legislation which reversed a lot of progress made throughout the period, especially the progression made in FDR’s “New Deal”.
Success of Wagner 1935 which provided legal union recognition and established standardised codes of practice and its reversal through Taft-Hartley in 1947 which damaged the position of unions by limiting their recognition.
This regressive legislation mirrored the SC’s legislation of yellow dog contracts and the introduction of “welfare capitalism” & 1920’s fordism- showing a favour of maintaining good relations with the employer rather than union advancement, demonstrating a hinderence to TU rights.
Both FG and employers succeeded in hindering TU rights by totally reversing liberal legislation that was previously reduced, destroying all progress.
New Deal- FLST 1938, which offered wage increases and hour reduction, Social Security Act 1935 etc- HOWEVER, this only occured to alleviate the economic depression of the 1930s rather than a change of FG attitudes towards TU.
Cleveland, Hoover and Ragean-continued opposition to the development of rights shows sporadic rather than consolidated progress.
Demonstrating how other factors contributed to worker improvement not the attitudes/ work of the FG.
Role of the economy
Important due to a shift between the necessity of workplace rights
